Saturday Night Camping/Hiking/Fishing

From: Morgan Leider
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I'm not sure how many people are going to be left with the Halloween backpacking trip going on and various other partying. But if anyone is still around and up for some fun I"ll lead a camping trip to either Devil's Lake, the Kettle Moraine, or Lake Michigan. Where we go depends on what people want to do. If enough people want to go fishing I can get a 17 foot boat and we can go out on the big lake. Otherwise the Kettle Moraine has well over a hundred miles of trails and Mothy Lake if anyone is up for fishing, and there's Devil's Lake as well. THERE WILL BE PUDGIE PIES!

Costs? $12-15 for the campsite divided by how many go. And expect $2-5 for gas. Plus whatever we get for food. I already have firewood and starter to get the fire going if it's wet, so no need to buy more of that. So likely $10 or less.

Time? Saturday afternoon. TBD Preferably after your hangovers are gone from Friday night and you've all taken showers.

What you need?

1. A sleeping bag rated to at least 30F, but 20F would be better.

2. A sleeping pad as I'm guessing the backpacking trip will be stealing them all.

3. Warm clothes.

4. Fork/Knife/Spoon and a bowl and cup.

5. A fishing pole if you're interested in fishing. And a fishing license.

6. And earplugs are highly recommended if you're a light sleeper as there always seems to be at least 1 heavy snorer.

7. If you're up for an early morning or late evening jog, I'll likely be doing a good 8 miles at some point. So some running shoes would be in order.

I should have everything else we need.

If you're interested send me an email and we'll work out the logistics.

-Morgan

tyrantsilkey@gmail.com

Mounting Marcy, Lake Placid, and the Niagara Falls

From: Ryan Schmudlach
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Ladies and Gentlehoofers,

Mark your calendars for Dec. 3-6 as we make our 3rd and likely final annual attempt to mount Marcy. Having only conquered Mt. Phelps and gotten within eye sight of Marcy's final summit, this year is the year; after all, third time's a charm.

To give you an idea of what you're getting into, this is basically a weekend trip to the Appalachian Mountains in New York with a detour through Canadia and Niagara Falls and crap loads of snow which makes for a pretty surreal climb. This is the third annual trip and the last two years have been amazing; easily in the top five trips I've ever done.

The goal this year is to rectify our failed attempts at mounting Marcy, the highest point in New York State. And also, finally figure out how to get through Canada unscathed (the first time they wouldn't let us in resulting in a circumnavigation of the great lakes, the second time they wouldn't let us out resulting in 7 hours of snowball fights and surviving on Wasa crackers on the Canadian highway system).

Other distractions along the way: Lake Placid was home to the 1932 and 1980 winter olympics (remember Miracle? That was here). This means Lake Placid has a bobsled track....that you can go bobsledding on. Currently 10 people are on the Hoofer Bobsled team (and we have t-shirts to prove it). The cabins we stay in have a sauna. Saunas are sweet. There's also lots of snow. Saunas plus snow are even sweeter. What I'm trying to get at is that you can join the Hoofer 200 club.

Details: Cost will be $150 (with a refund of up to $30 likely) for the essentials (gas, cabins, beverages, 4am gas station map purchase). Lake Placid is pretty awesome, by far one of my favorite towns. Go to http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2497781&id=8607798&l=919d1d3596 to see pictures from last year. We stay in this cabin http://www.cobblemountainlodge.com/cabins2/5.htm and cram up to 12 people into it.

We'll leave Madison at 6pm on Thursday, December 3rd and arrive back in Madison sometime Monday morning (roughly 6am). The detailed itinerary is below. All you need to bring is warm clothes for hiking and a sleeping bag if you're on the floor. Questionable goods will be acquired AFTER crossing borders. Departure times, Canadian detours and the like are all subject to adjustment if they cause issues, just make them known.

Currently there are 10 spots with an option to go to 12 pending vehicular transportation.

If you're seriously interested and ready to put down your $50 deposit if selected, email schmudlach@wisc.edu with answers to the following questions to be considered. Those deemed worthy based on your answers below or my first hand knowledge of you will be notified in approximately 1 week if you've got a space. Hint: make me giggle. Believe the two people who went last year that later told me they were almost too intimidated to go. "I'm so happy I went, I have no idea why I thought everyone would be so hardcore, everybody was awesome."

1. Are you a current Hoofer member?
2. Are you reliably available from 6pm Thursday to 6am Monday on the weekend of December 3-6?
3. What's your degree? (Bonus given to most obscure)
4. What is your all time life goal?
5. What is one of the things you would put on your “bucket” list?
6. Do you like waterfalls, mountains, glaciers, and all that is pretty?
7. What is the weirdest job you've ever had?
8. Can you poop in the woods, even if the toilet paper is frozen?
9. Do you like riding in the bitch seat of a sub-compact car for 1000 miles while "We Built this City" and swedish techno play on repeat?
9a. Do you have a car with good MPGs that would be willing to make the trip?
10. If you had a yacht, what would you name it?
11. How do you realistically feel about hiking/climbing 14 miles with 4,000 feet elevation change at the crack of dawn while it is snowing and cold?
12. Are you allowed in Canada?
13. Will you be allowed back into the United States?
14. Do you have a passport?
15. What word would you add to the dictionary if you could, what would it mean?
**Extra Credit**: Can you give me a reason that makes you worthy no matter how you answered the previous questions?

Itinerary looks like this:

Thursday (12/3) :
leave Madison ~6:00pm

Friday (12/4) :
~9:00am - see Niagara Falls, stay 10 minutes. ~9:10am - Drive the rest of the way to New York
~4:00pm - Arrive at Cobble Mountain Lodge, walk around Lake Placid.

Saturday (12/5) :
6:00am - get up and climb a mountain via this trail http://www.glidemagazine.com/7/reviews118.html hiking about 14 miles roundtrip to the center of the high peaks range
8:00pm - celebrate successful climb

Sunday (12/6) :
12:00pm - Go bobsledding, leave
~6:00am - get home

rschmud@gmail.com

New Glarus hiking 11/1

From: Lisa Maas (first announcement, woo!)
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Hello Hoofers,

I'm interested in heading to New Glarus state park this sunday (11/1) for a hike (http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/specific/ngwoods/). We could stop at the brewery, too if people are thirsty. I'm thinking of leaving around 10:30 from Park street circle. Let me know if you're interested AND if you could drive. Thanks!

Lisa

Ice Age Trail Hiking and Gibraltar Rock

From: Nan Huai
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Hi,

I am leading a day hike on Sunday. We will hike a short loop around the Lodi Marsh and then go to the Gibraltar Rock. You will emerse in beautiful autum colors, sounds, and smells. We will also drive through rolling hills and see fields with varying textures and colors. Fall is a very rich season for your senses!

Meet at 8:30am on Sunday at Park Street Circle

Bring water and snacks, we will stop at a cafe in Lodi for some brunch/ early lunch, then we will head to the Gibraltar Rock, which is not too far from Lodi. I haven't been there. But people told me it is a very nice look out. It's a short and fairly steep hike to the top of the rock.

We will be back around 2:00-3:00pm.

Please dress in layers and wear comfy shoes. The weather is supposed to be nice, so hopefully we will see beautiful colors.

Sign up:

Please email me

Specify:

1. Do you have a car? if yes, would you be willing to drive?

2. How many passengers can you carry (including yourself)?

Take care.

Nan

E-mail:happyforest@yahoo.com

Trip Swap: Neenah Creek Canoeing is changed to Hiking Ice Age Trail

From: Nan Huai
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Hi, Hoofers:
Sunday Oct 11 forecast involves cold temp and wind, which does not go well with canoeing. But we can still get active and see the fall colors even on a cold day! So we are swapping the canoeing trip (Neenah Creek) for a hike on a section of the Ice age trail, near Lodi (about 45 minutes north of madison). There is a marsh near the trail and it's crane habitat. The landscape varies between prairie and hardwood forest. You will be able to hear and see the cranes, see lots of wild flowers (before they freeze), and the forest that's rich in color. We will do a shuttle and leave cars at Lodi. We hike to Lodi and hopefully have some food at a local cafe.

Time to meet: 8:30am (This is half hour earlier than the Neenah trip announced)
Gear: wear comfortable hiking shoes/ boots. Wear warm layers and rain jacket/pants (just in case). Hat and gloves, please avoid cotton.

Bring: water, snacks (nuts, gorp, or energy bars); cash (2.00 for your driver and cash for food after the hike); camera (optional)
Total distance: About 4-5 miles varied terrain.

Sign up: email Nan at happyforest@yahoo.com
In your email, please specify:
1. Do you have a car? and Are you willing to drive?
2. If yes, how many people (including yourself) can your car take?

Hope to see you on Sunday!

Nan




E-mail:happyforest@yahoo.com