Message Board Get Together?

[magikwalt]

Its almost the 4th of July and BBQ is on my mind. Since its going to take me forever to bump into most of you on the trail I was wondering about a get together for some BBQ. I grew up outside of California so BBQ doesn't mean hotdogs and hamburgers for me. I'm talking about meat thats been slow cooked for 12-14 hours and causes vegans to reconsider.

Maybe we could all just bring a dish or pot of something and see how we communicate without the keyboard.

Perhaps someone might know some nice cool place to gather. I don't know if the tram will allow coolers to go up there. The Indian Canyons might be nice or even somewhere up in Idyllwild. I'd love a reason to get out of the valley floor.

If anyone has any ideas post them up and lets see if we can puts something together in the next week or so. In the mean time I hope all you have a wonderful 4th of July.

[Perry]

Awhile ago, Cynthia had a deal at her place for Skyline hikers. That was before this message board existed. I heard her talking about doing that in the fall again...

[Hikin_Jim]

I kind of doubt that the Park Svc would let us grill "up top," but it couldn't hurt to ask.

If not, there are a couple of CG's and I think a couple of day use areas over on the Idyllwild side. Be kind of fun: come up early, bag Red Tahquitz or San Jac or Marion/Jean/Drury or just hoof it up the DST for a little conditioning and then "do some Q" afterwards.

Um, just don't do it July 21/22 weekend; I'll be in Rocky Mtn NP attempting a 13'er (say a prayer -- or two). Well, actually if that's when everyone is available, go for it, but it would be fun to put some names to some faces. And maybe I can steal the design of Z Dude's Rocket shoes. How many mpg, Z Dude?

[magikwalt]

Now we aren't talking grilling here. I'll cook it nice and slow for a long time and then transport it up. All I need to be allowed on the tram is a large plastic cooler filled with hot meat. If its Idyllwild or somewhere else then I have a rig that is self contained and as long as a 4WD Excursion can reach the location we have BBQ. No open exposed flames to worry about.

[zippetydude]

Two things -

First: Walt, I understand exactly what you mean. That BBQ comment triggered one of my most delicious childhood memories - good southern barbecue. I'm from Georgia, and they serve a mean barbeque down there.

Second: To keep the plan from getting too complicated, trying to be absolutely perfect, remember we can always set up another simple get together only a little farther down the line. Too many times I've seen cool ideas like this fizzle on boards because there are so many ideas and no clear decision making structure. I think the idea is a great one, so I'd suggest we pick a place and date without further ado.

It should be possible to make the decision in, say, the next 5 days. By Sunday, we've got a place and a time, and then we can all schedule it into our lives.

Everyone okay with that?

A couple of location suggestions from easy to hard:

At someone's house
At Fulmor Lake (on the way to Idyllwild)
At Long Valley
At Barton Flats (near San G)

My recommendation would be to keep it as easy as possible this first time, picking one of these because they are easily accessible. (Subsequent get togethers might well be more elaborate, at increasingly challenging destinations. Maybe Mount Whitney one of these days?)

A couple of possible dates:

Next Saturday (the 7th) morning (if it's outdoors)
Nest Saturday (the 7th) evening (if it's at someone's home)
A week from Saturday (the 14th) with the same choices
Corresponding Friday evenings

Any other specific ideas that we can add to the list so that we can come to a quick concensus and set this puppy up quick?

If so great, let's add them in, then pick a time and place. If not, we can jump right to the decision making.

Incidentally, please tell me if this calal to action comes across as a bit pushy. This is such a nice, friendly group, that we run the risk of bogging down eternally in the planning stage, so I'm trying to be helpful. Again, don't hesitate to mention if I seem a little abrupt, and I'll ease back.

z

[halhiker]

It's probably to late to take the suggestion and I have to work on the fourth anyway but the Tram does have picnic tables on the left as one heads to the Ranger Station. If I'm not mistaken there are also BBQ grills there. I remember thinking it'd be cool to have a BBQ up there. Next time someone goes up, how about checking it out and reporting back to us?

[magikwalt]

Thank you Zippety. I agree and its been my experience that the best results typically happen after driving a stake in the ground and fixing a position. So here we go.

July 14th should give everyone to plan or schedule so unless I hear a few major objections its a date. If you think you'll be attending please post up and give me an approximate head count for your party. I'll happily take care of bringing the BBQ. Everyone can bring some type of dish and whatever they want to drink.

If you can make it great. If not then maybe the next time. No pressure, just a friendly get together! If we keep it easy then it will happen more often. As far as the location I like the outdoors in the morning.

The "where" is still needing a fix but both of your locations work for me. If there are further suggestions then lets hear them quickly. Otherwise I'll flip a coin.

Right now I'm planning on having a BBQ on Saturday July 14th middle of the morning. Jean and I will be there and hope to see the whole board.

[Cy Kaicener]

The best place is the picnic tables at the top of the tram. I will be taking the first tram up on the 14th of July. As soon as the gates open which is usually 5.30 am I will be hiking up the tram road. Does anyone want to take their car together with mine to the top of the road and park it there in the lot. Then we can drive mine down and hike up.? That way we dont have to hike down, and can still make the first tram.

[magikwalt]

I have spoken with the Tram and they will not allow a fire source at all but if we bring pre-cooked food and/or cooler they will allow them on the tram car.

That being said I now accept that we have 3 potential sites for the get together. I must admit that given the dominant topic of this board the top of the tram would be tops on my list.

[zippetydude]

Me too. I was hesitant to mention it because I was trying to come up with free alternatives. I have an annual pass, so it won't cost me anything. I'll plan on being there. If I do Skyline on the way, I won't be able to bring provisions, except some real tasty chocolate Accelgels. If I don't do Skyline, I'd be happy to bring anything. Let me see if my wife will be able to attend, but I'll plan on being there.

z