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MountainMeet 2k18: September 26-30

propav8r

F*ck Edgar
Joined
Jan 17, 2010
Location
Franklin, NC
On the heels of SE, I figured I'd go ahead and throw up the planning thread for MountainMeet since we're about 4 months (!) out. I've got the time off work and the wife has been picking up meat and throwing it in the freezer, so I guess that's the unofficial start of prep.

Anyhow...

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What is it?

Five days (plus or minus, however long you want to stay) of hanging out in the woods with Volvo people, driving really damn fun roads, benchracing, and consuming mass quantities of smoked and grilled meats.

Where is it?

So glad you asked. Balsam Lake Lodge, NC. It's about as remote as you can get without hiking the AT. It's a 16-bed lodge with a nice big yard for tent/hammock camping, and plenty of parking.

Where am I staying?

Well, one thing led to another last year and all the beds got bought up in short order for this year. However, there is more than enough room to shove things around inside for air mattresses, or you're welcome to pitch a tent (the kind you sleep in) or put up a hammock in the yard. There are also two large, comfy couches inside that can be claimed, but sleep there at your own risk. I think we're gonna do the beds the same way again this year, probably on Sunday morning, so if you want a bed for 2k19, be sure and stick around.

What does it cost?

Not much. Those who wanted beds have already paid. In past years, I've divvied up food into groups, and people have volunteered to bring a group. That worked okay, but also led to a lot of food getting wasted, or some people overspending.

I think this year, I'm going to take up a collection via paypal for food prior to the meet, and I'll just buy everything beforehand and bring it. For those who don't contribute early, there will be a donation bucket out as in years past.

Since this place is so remote, the closest decent restaurants are probably an hour and a half round trip. If you went to Waffle House for breakfast, by the time you got back, you'd need to leave again to get lunch.

For that reason, we generally cook 3 meals a day there, and for a group of 30+ people, cooking 3 meals a day is not a cheap or trivial undertaking. It is fun though.

Now the fun part: The Plans

Wednesday/Thursday 9/26 and 9/27

Those who want to arrive in the first wave can show up at the lodge at any time after 3pm on Wednesday (check in times got bumped back). The rest of Wednesday is pretty much set up/dinner/chill. As always, I fronted the cost of these two nights since we're never sure exactly who will show up. If you bought a bed, your cost did not include this night. Beds on Wednesday and Thursday are first-come, first-served. Bring a little cash and we'll even it up based on who shows up.

Friday 9/28

I'll probably lead a group on a short drive around the area and hit some of my favorite roads close to the lodge. The lion's share of you tend to arrive Friday evening. We'll throw something together for dinner (maybe spaghetti...that's easy to do in mass quantities and keeps well).

Saturday 9/29

First we eat, then we drive. I'll do a better job this year of planning cruise routes. I'll probably plan several loops, a short, medium, and long. I'll lead one and let others do the rest if they're interested.

That said, I HATE going to meets where everything is planned out and super rigorous. I don't care what you do. If you want to go gem mining, do that. If you want to bring a rod and reel and go fishing, do that. If you want to drive with us, do that. If you want to mountain bike in Pisgah or something, do that. I want YOU to have a good time, not be beholden to my whim.

Saturday night: 40s and ass.

Sunday 9/30

Wake up, clean up, GTFO. Check out is 12pm this year, and by that point, the lodge has to be completely clean and in the condition it was in when we arrived. Help accomplishing this task is greatly appreciated.

Lodge Rules:

Technically, alcohol is not allowed at this place. There will be a trash can for your empty bottles and cans. Use it. Under no circumstances should you leave trash, particularly bottles and cans, laying around. We're in the middle of nowhere. There is a caretaker's house about 1/4 mile away, but as long as we don't get excessively rowdy, we'll be fine. There has been no historical issue with alcohol consumption. Let's not make this the first year.

I plan on leaving the lodge in the same condition it's in when we arrive. Your assistance in this mission is greatly appreciated.

You do not need to bring linens, however, you CAN bring your own, and it helps immensely with cleanup. Every sheet/towel/blanket that we use has to be washed, dried, folded, and put away. If you want to bring your own sheets/blankets/sleeping bags/whatever, that will save a TON of time and effort Sunday morning.

Also, there's no need to bring cooking utensils, pots and pans, stuff like that. It's all there.

The Fine Print

1: A note on attendance: If you plan on coming, have the courtesy to let me know in the thread. As a general rule, if we've met before and are cool, come on out. If we haven't met, just shoot me a PM and let me know you'd like to come. I try to open my events to everyone, but see #4 if there are any questions.

2: If you want to arrive Wednesday, you can. Do not arrive before say 3pm on Wednesday the 26th (well, no one at my house. you can come whenever I reckon). I will gladly host a couple people at my house Tuesdaynight. Pre-arrival coordination with me is required. First night at the lodge is Wednesday night. Do not arrive at the lodge before 3pm.

3: Bring enough 'stuff' (clothes, swimsuit, towel, bath accouterments) for the weekend and some emergencies. The lodge has running water and hot showers. Use them. Don't stink. Seriously, why do I have to say this every year? Take a damn shower ya nasty hobos.

4:I reserve the right to throw your ass out, don't try me. I also know (on a first name basis) the people to call if you push the issue. Please don't. Quickest way to get tossed: Piss off a bear or mess up the lodge. If you do anything dumb or anything that would jeopardize my ability to use NFS facilities in the future, there will be issues. This is a small community. Word gets around.

5: Bring more money than you "think" you'll need. Incidentals are a bitch and you're IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. The cost of the weekend really isn't that high, but double what you anticipate you'll need and you should be alright.

6: Do not bring marginal vehicles. If you're not confident in your car's ability to safely make the trip out and back, leave it at home and buy/beg/borrow/whatever some other means of transportation. You do not want to get out here and have something big fail, and I don't want to have you get out here and have something big fail. This is coming from someone who broke a T5 at the first MountainMeet.

6a: Rule 6 does not apply to anyone coming from the Gump. Poking fun at you provided a lot of enjoyment for Mr.Bill last year. Let's not upset tradition.

7: If you're unsure about something, bring a spare. If you're planning on driving your car on Sunday and you've got an M46, bring a spare or tow your car. Insert other parts where needed. Bring sufficient equipment to repair whatever you think you'll need to repair. Refer to the marginal vehicle paragraph above. Yes, I'm local, but in this case, local means that we will be anywhere between 1 and 3 hours away from my driveway and garage. Don't plan on using them, but they may be available in a pinch.

8: Not 21? Don't drink. Yeah, I know, laaaame. But in the unlikely event we do attract unwanted attention, I don't want to have to deal with some drunk 18 year old landing me in jail.

9: If you're gonna smoke the devil's lettuce, at least do it around back or something. I have no issues with it, but it is federal property, and I really don't want to get booted for future years. The caretakers can (and have) shown up randomly to check in on us.


Oh, and let's go ahead and get this out of the way:
Hate I missed it! Next year!

Don't bitch out again Stephen.
 
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Who's Coming?

An * means you bought a bed.

1: Ian/Mr. Bill*
2: Mackeever/Itsmackeever*
3: Matt/HondaMatt*
4: Kenny/Linuxman51*
5: Gordon/Volvstang*
6: Towery*
7: Kyle/Kyote*
8: Propav8r*
9: Bayleigh/Propav8rette*
10: Dana/Boostdemon*
11: Derrick/940Guy*
12: MikeSr.*
13: Sam/Roadracer4life*
14: Sarah/Roadracer4lifette*
15: AndrewNance*
16: Wren*
17: 89_740Turbo
18: Scotty/Douchenozzle
19: Audrey/Douchnozzlette+offspring
20: Joseph
21: Troy
22: MikeJr.
23: JohnMC
24: Kyle/Stick70
25: 740ATL
26: Stephen/Manbeard *coughbullsh<z>itcough*
27: 240wagonguy
28: David/DMFWallace
29: Mbeas96
30: Mbeas96ette
31: Luckadoo
32: Carson/Acepeekaporn
33: Tyler
34: Conor
35: JohnMC
36: Randy
37: Michael (local)
38: 240wagonguy
39: Fast740fromSC

Maybes:

1: Jen/XxJenoxX plus juan
2: soclosenotsonear
3: Peter/Flyingtog
4: Aaron/Slow240
5: MikeP
6: EivlEvo
7: EivlEvo +1
8: Kaplan/blkaplan

Who's sent money for food
See HERE for what we're doing for food this year.

1: Kenny
2: Towery
3: Gordon
4: MrBill
5: HondaMatt
6: Sam/Sarah
7: 740ATL
8: JohnMC
9: Boostdemon
10: AndrewNance
11: Fast740fromSC
12: DMFWallace
13: AcePeekaporn
14: MikeSr.
15: Mbeas96/Austin
16: Kyote
 
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I'm in, I'm sure the wife will want to come. She will more than likely fight over a couch, I'm camping.
 
lmao. I'm pretty sure I left my stainless ladle last year, I'll be looking for it this time around. Hopefully some other miscreant hasn't run off with it in the interim.
 
Jared what do you think the total food cost would be? I am good to paypal you some $$ or I'll bring what ever you guys suggest.. I am really looking forward to hanging out with you guys again..
 
+1 /\ /\ /\ I'd like to help pre-fund the main food as well (along with bringing snacks and stuff).
 
If anyone wants to sell a bed let me know - I believe my astronomer buddy Matt is going to come with me.

We also might be either going up early or staying a few days later in the area to do some telescope stuff at the PARI station if anyone is interested. Not sure on details yet.
 
If anyone wants to sell a bed let me know - I believe my astronomer buddy Matt is going to come with me.

We also might be either going up early or staying a few days later in the area to do some telescope stuff at the PARI station if anyone is interested. Not sure on details yet.

Nice. I was kicking around the idea of snagging Wednesday night at the lodge too.
 
Jared what do you think the total food cost would be? I am good to paypal you some $$ or I'll bring what ever you guys suggest.. I am really looking forward to hanging out with you guys again..

I'm not sure on the food budget yet. Before too long, I'll work up a preliminary list and price it out, and we'll just go from there.
 
I?ll probably bring bacon again. Not sure if we?re making that list just yet. Also not buying a house again this fall so I?ll be there the whole weekend :-P
 
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