Mother's Day Weekend at the Gorge V 2008

I posted info on the trips forum, but that doesn't get much traffic. I thought I'd post it here where more attendees will likely see it. Here's the trip info:

APRIL 21 UPDATE

CAMPSITE INFO: Fort Ancient Camping Area #2

Take 15 east (running parallel more or less to Bert T. Combs Mtn. Parkway) out of Slade. Take your first left (you'll go a few miles) onto Rt. 39. Now go past the parking lot on your right which services Gray's Arch, Rough Trail, Pinch-Em Tight & Sheltowee Trace. Next parking lot on left is Archaic, next comes the stone walled scenic view/photography pull off, next lot on left about 30-50 yards is Fort Ancient.

There is no fee to use this campground. It is primitive camping. There is a privy. There is no water so you must bring all your water with you. The camp area is right next to the parking lot so it is easy to bring in.


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Spending Mother's Day weekend in RRG is becoming a tradition for me and my sons, Calvin and Hobbes (13 and 8 ). Because it is planned as a kid-friendly trip, the planned hiking miles are relatively low. This is a good trip for beginners and for anyone with children as well as for anyone who likes to get together with TTers. (There is always that magical time of the day when the little ones are put to bed and the adults can gather round the fire.)

This is a fantastic time of year to go. The morels are out. Everything is budding and starting to get lush. It's not too hot or too buggy yet. But it's warm enough for the kids to splash in the happy creek. They also had fun playing with the giant millipedes that were seen occasionally on the trail.

My plan is to base camp and day hike from there, with plenty of lounge-around-the-camp time to allow the little ones chances to explore on their own schedule.

You are welcome to join us with or without kids.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This would be a great trip for those of you with SO's who are hesitant to camp or backpack. The camping will be a step up from car camping in that we will not be in a campground per se. It's primitive camping with a privy, no water. The RRG is extensive enough that for those who are willing and able, they can do a substantial hike during the day and meet back at base camp at night where the rest of us will be waiting. For those who are not up to the hike, there are plenty of things to see via car. And it is pretty darn comfy to just hang out in camp as well.
Trip Planning Info:

Web site for more info:
[www.fs.fed.us]

You will need to have a car pass in your vehicle to park in RRG. You can buy these at the Shell station in Slade. Last time I checked the Shell station is open until midnight EST. If I remember correctly, they are $5 for a 3-day pass. You also can purchase maps there as well. You may also be able to call the Stanton District Office (of the Daniel Boone National Forest) for information and maps at (606) 663-2852 .


WEATHER FORECAST:
[www.weather.com]


FYI Link to 2007 trip: Here's a link to the 2007 trip: [www.thebackpacker.com]

Here is the updated kid headcount:

Kid headcount update:

Captain Jack: 9G, 6G, 4G
Ruby: 13B, 8B
Helinka: 12B, 11B, 11B
Windigrrl: 13B, 12G, 11G
HPM & Treebait: 5G
Birch and Sass: 7G
Bigpoppa: 8G, 7G
Stokely: 8G
Thriftyhiker: 10B, 2B


I haven't been keeping track of the adults. I figure though that our group in its entirety will be around 30 people.

What a great bunch! Holy moly 18 kids!!

Geez oh Pete! Here's an update:

Captain Jack: 9G, 6G, 4G
Ruby: 13B, 8B
Helinka: 12B, 11B, 11B
Windigrrl: 12B, 11G
HPM & Treebait: 5G
Birch and Sass: 7G
Bigpoppa: 8G, 7G
Stokely: 8G
Thriftyhiker: 10B, 2B
Stomper: 14B
Pinkfleece: 15B, 11G, 7G, 6G

My kids are keeping track since they're so worried about being outnumbered. LOL
10 boys
12 girls

(I'm not keeping track of anyone over 18)

my wife and i are really excited about this trip...we haven't been out in a while...two kids in less than two years!...we haven't been car camping since before our son was born

still a maybe for me...I would LOVE to come so I can meet everyone!!!....my daughter has to work Fri & Saturday....maybe I can drive down from Columbus Fri am, and head back Sat eve..or maybe even Sun am & still celebrate Mom's day with her!!!!!...we'll see..I will have driven 16 hours on Wed or Thursday...it is tempting....I will pack what I need.... so if I decide to come I will be prepared!!!!!
...wooo hooo!!!!!

Hopefully, I will be able to make it. Won't have the kids with me though.

You can take mine if you want. ;)

We are bringing one of those silly humungo multi-room car camping tents with a puny rain fly. I've decided that in my delicate condition (HA HA) I want to sleep on a real live queen-size air mattress instead of a sleeping pad. Yes, I will also be bringing my pillows and blankies. We will be getting there most likely very late on Thursday night. Unless we decide to get a hotel room down there somewhere and just get in very early on Friday morning.

Sorry gang, we are out.
We had something come up.

Sorry to hear that HPM. Have a great weekend whatever you're doing!


UPDATED kids head count:

Captain Jack: 9G, 6G, 4G
Ruby: 13B, 8B
Helinka: 12B, 11B, 11B
Windigrrl: 12B, 11G
Birch and Sass: 7G
Bigpoppa: 8G, 7G
Stokely: 8G
Thriftyhiker: 10B, 2B
Stomper: 14B
Pinkfleece: 15B, 11G, 7G, 6G

Photos of the Campsite?...could ya pull a small popup into the site or is it tents only?

Over on TT Sticks posted some photos of the site. Pull up this trip thread and go back about a month maybe. From my memory though, I don't think you could do a pop-up. However, if you really wanted to use a pop-up, you could go to the Koomer Ridge car campground and get a site. Of course, you would have to drive "home" at night, which stinks when you're camping.

FYI: Here is a link to a handy map and RRG info. It's not a topo, but will suffice in helping you find the campsite.

[www.fs.fed.us]

We almost had a problem. Birch cannot take Friday off work, so we'll be rolling in late Friday night. Someone save a spot for a three man kelty for us. There was mucho debate on whether the trip is worth it for one night.


Of course it is! Silly man.;)

Silly Birch! I thought you were a backpacker!


We originally planned to drive down tomorrow afternoon, but Jon has been scheduled for a shunt surgery tomorrow. (He starts his Interferon treatment on Monday.) So we will leave early on Friday morning which will have us arriving mid-day sometime.

40 people, 5 dogs, and 1 cat


Once again we arrived home from this trip with me vowing that next year we are going for a couple days more to take advantage of more at RRG. We'll see how that goes when we have an infant. ;)

We got home a while ago and have started unpacking and drying. What a downpour that was this morning!! I was a little worried about those who were left. Jon and the boys and I got nailed with the downpour on our last run to the truck. We were sopping wet but in good spirits. Just as we pulled out of the parking lot a severe thunderstorm warning alert was broadcast for Powell County, among others, saying to be prepared for driving rain, hail, and 70 mph winds and that if you were outdoors to take cover immediately in a shelter. How'd you guys make out?



BTW, we went for breakfast at the True North Outfitters hostel/Gorge Bistro just a few miles from our campsite. What a fantastic breakfast!! You get 3 scrambled eggs with cheese, fruit, 3 strips of bacon, seasoned tomatoes, tea/coffee/milk/juice as well as your choice of 3 pancakes, biscuits & gravy, or waffles for $6. What a delicious bargain! We highly recommend it.

We chatted with the owner after breakfast. He offered to help us out with our annual trip each year, offering a deal on the hostel. I told him I didn't think our group needed the hostel since we were pretty comfortable backpackers/campers. So then he offered to tag our campsites for us next year if we decided we wanted to go back to Koomer Ridge. He also offers canoe/kayak rentals and shuttle. We might try to get a day on the river doing that sometime.


I don't think anyone ever came up with an official head count, but we figured there was around 40 people this weekend, more than half of those were kids. My kids were wiped and slept a good part of our 6.5 hour drive home.

When I asked the kids tonight what was their favorite part of the trip, they said the swim hole at the river. Though the rope swing had been cut and the water was cold, they still loved it. They also loved running around the campsite playing with all the other kids, the s'mores, and the chairlift at Natural Bridge SP.

At the hostel this morning I picked up a book called Hinterland which is an unofficial RRG hiking guide. It has all the details for many, many hikes that aren't on the official maps. I may try to incorporate some of those next year. There are also a great number of more difficult hikes that should be done without kids or dogs, such as Indian Staircase. So if you want to learn about other off-the-map hikes at RRG, you may want to consider getting a copy.


It was so good to see everyone this weekend and to meet some new people. Some random thoughts:

*Stomper's husband is an awesome cook!

*Helinka is an amazing trooper of a mom to take her kids and pets, including a rescued cat, on such a jaunt for a weekend!

*It's not worth arguing with a ranger about RRG's vaguely written rules, even when you're right.

Sounds like y'all had a Blast ----- !

Great Trip!!!