Subject: 2000-01-13-update

To all 98ers/99ers & other AT friends:            
 
Use REPLYALL when responding so I can get your msgs at work: mailto:datkinso@att.com & on the road mailto:fannypack96@hotmail.com
   
>>>> 1) If u are receiving this msg & do NOT want to receive these msgs, just e-mail me & I will NOT send these msgs to u again.

>>>> 2) Also if u want your e-mail, name, etc added (or corrected) at the bottom of the future msgs, the let me know.  Hopefully we will be able to continue to share these msgs with each other.

>>>> 3) NOTICE: To reduce the size of our msgs, in the future, we will try to remember to send the list of addresses only the 1st send of every other month.   We are working & taking suggestions on how to improve these communiqués, pls give us your suggestions.  We enjoy sharing these msgs with u & hope to make it an enjoyable experience for u.
        - FannyPack & Lucy & Roger
   
  I. Questions or inquiries or info to share:
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added/changed the following names to our list:
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  Numbnut -James Beck -mailto:jamesbeckmega@yahoo.com -1999ME2GA -added 01/12/00

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----Original Message Follows----
From: Tim Hewitt <thewitt@fairchildsemi.com>
To: Rick Bombaci <rpb@eoni.com>
CC: at-l@backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [at-l] Re:maildrop schedule
Date: Sat, 08 Jan 2000 09:29:24 -0500

>>snip<

One of my nicest zero-days of the trip was spent at Fontana - staying at the hotel - not the Hilton :). More than 15 hikers stayed at the Hilton, at  least 30 more were in town. This was the last time before Damascus I saw this many hikers, and nearly the last time of the trip.

There were lots of hikers there I never or rarely saw again. Some took their time through the Smokies and never caught up. Some dropped off in the Smokies and I never saw they again. Some skipped out at Gatlinburg and got drunk for three days and I never saw them again. Fontana turned out to be sort of a turning point for me in my hike.

I got up early that morning to "run" into town so not to miss the PO - only open 10:00 till 12:00 on Saturday, or something like that. I was not going to be  here on a Saturday by my original schedule - I was a day behind due to the snowstorm
just before Franklin. As it turned out, a combination of getting into hiking shape and easy terrain got me to town by 9:00. Enough hikers were staying in town that I said "What the hey" and took a zero day myself.  Played  miniature
golf, ate ice cream, did laundry, ate ice cream, played basketball, ate ice
cream, oh and did I say I ate ice cream?

The climb out of Fontana was pretty tough, but I did not consider it brutal.  It seems that many others did, and bailed out right there. Spring had not yet come to the Smokies when I went through - it sleeted, snowed and hailed and was some cold - but it was beautiful enough country that I'll be going back. After the first day, you could hear me coming a mile away. I was singing some modified words to "Cheeseburger in Paradise," that alluded to "Cheese Burgers at Mountain Mamas" at the top of my lungs.

   "I like mine with lettuce and tomato
    Heins 57 and french fried potatos
    Big kosher pickel and cold Root Beer [no drinking at Mt Mamas]
    So good Gawd Almightly which way do I steer for those
    Cheese Burgers at Mountain Mamas..."

People who saw me months later still remembered that was the way I came into camp, generally at dusk, last or nearly last to arrive, still out on the trail, still goin' north.

-Paddler
GA>ME Class of 99
http://wcga.org/hike
* From the AT-L |  Need help? http://www.backcountry.net/faq.html  *
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-----Original Message-----
From: Margret Stone [mailto:magnolia45@hotmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2000 11:53 AM
To: Atkinson, David L, JR (FannyPack), BGM
Subject: Re: 2000-01-06 - update from FannyPack

hello fannypack,

just a little note to say happy new year from the killington crew.  we had some hikers for the new year celebration including baltimore jack, sy, last exit and red stripe.  as always, we had way too much fun (is that possible?)

life has been settling down after the new year. i went back to teaching school this week; it was quite an adjustment after a week of night life!  creeper, gruff and pale rider continue to work their various jobs.

just another note of congradulations to all of the southbounders who have finished lately.  woo hoo!!!!!

take care,
magnolia
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-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Howard [mailto:sthoward@arches.uga.edu]
Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2000 3:58 PM
To: Atkinson, David L, JR (FannyPack), BGM
Subject: RE: Hi to Snickers & Duke from FannyPack in VA

Hey FannyPack!  Good to hear from you!  I finished up with Nets, Ernest P., Kafka, Speed, Veedub and a few others on August 10th.  We had a beautiful day.  Thanks for keeping up with all the hikers, it's a great resource.
Talk to you soon,
-Snickers
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-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2000 5:35 PM
To: Atkinson, David L, JR (FannyPack), BGM
Subject: "Mr.Clean"

Hi Fannypack,
        "Mr. Clean" has arrived! He showed up at our door in Brownville Junction at 5 P.M.  today (Jan. 9). He started in freezing rain at Abol Bridge on the first.  He said it is slow going with 18 to 24 inches of snow above the 2,500 foot level. Glenna just took out a pan of hot biscuits from the oven as "Mr.Clean" came through the door.  How is that for timing!
Sign off for now from Maine.       "B.J"
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-----Original Message-----
From: Lori Kessler [mailto:lkessler@pfvsarch.com]
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2000 9:28 AM
To: Atkinson, David L, JR (FannyPack), BGM
Cc: Fannypack96 (E-mail)
Subject: Re: 2000-01-06 - update from FannyPack

Hi Fannypack-
Happy New Year.

Frodo '98 and I just came back from a winter hike in the Adirondack Mountains (New York) with Goodsign '98.  Everyone had some unforgettable experiences in the snow and ice. We spent New Year's with Goodsign in CT, and then had a four-five day excursion planned around Mt. Marcy.  We were all geared up for the most extreme of weather conditions, including crampons, snowshoes, -20 degree sleeping bags, and plenty of warm clothing.  One thing we didn't plan for was rain, knowing that at this time of year, in those conditions, rain would be snow.  Well, as luck would have it, we actually did have rain for the first two days, although a foot of snow and ice covered the ground.  Frodo was taking it real slow on the first day, as he was feeling a little under the weather, but once we were out in the elemants, it really kicked in, so we made a base camp,
and Goodsign, our friend Brendan, and I took a day hike to some amazing partially froxen waterfalls and white waters: the headwaters of the Hudson River.  Frodo held down the fort. He was so sick that night, I was worried about how to get him out and into a warm space, and the temperature dropped from 35 to -5 that night.  As our boots were soaked from the rain before, they were frozen solid into a position that was inpassable by our feet.  It took a fire and many harm warmers to warm of the boots enough to force our feet in, and a great deal of effort.

After trooping out, we spent the night in a hotel rooms, where Frodo spend the next day, too.  Brendan, Goodsign, and I hiked up to Algonquin, the second-highest mountain in Maine, and well above tree-line.  (Only one hour from Montreal.)  It was quite an experience, with winds at 70 mph, and ice covering everything.  I was almost blown off the peak!  Overall, we had a great time, using crampons for 3 days and snowshoes for one.  On top of the sickness, poor Frodo also seems to have gotten a bit frostbitten on the tips of his fingers. They are not discolored, but the tips are still numb, alomost a week later. He's at the doctor's now, checkin' it out.

I'm so glad we spent some time doing some hiking again.  It was great to spend time with old friends and new.  We ended our trip with a day trip to New York City.
Love to all!!!!
Dr. Daisy G '98
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-----Original Message-----
From: brandon friedman [mailto:icecreamman63@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 9:48 AM
To: Atkinson, David L, JR (FannyPack), BGM
Cc: fannypack96@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: 2000-01-06 - update from FannyPack

Hey everyone. I just want to reiterate that I'm putting together a compilation of short stories from '99 thru-hikers. Submit your favorite and most entertaining stories to me about hitches, trail magic, locals, animal encounters, or anyhting else that you think would put a grin on your fellow hikers. I ultimately would like to get the collection published. The first
step of the ladder is for ya'll to submit your stories. You can either send them to me via e-mail (mailto:icecreamman63@hotmail.com) or by mail:
Brandon Friedman
6590 Scott Valley Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30328
                         Peace and love,
                           IceCreamMan
P.S. I submitted my icecream flavor prposal to Ben and Jerrys. They thoroughly enjoyed it and are considering creating "Hungry Hiker."   I'm gonna send an e-mail to everyone shortly and I want you to forward it to Ben and Jerry's with your opinion of the flavor. I'm pretty sure that will clinch it.  We'll then have our own B & J flavor. Pretty cool. Take it easy
everyone.
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-----Original Message-----
From: glenna dean [mailto:bjdean@midmaine.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 8:21 PM
To:
Subject: Re: 2000-01-09 - Mr Clean sighting in ME

Hi All,
      Mr.Clean stayed the night here at our home in Brownville Jct (the 9th). Our kitchen and living room looked like a shelter as Mr.Clean spread out all his gear to dry. We had a wonderful visit and he was very appreciative to have a warm and dry break from the Trail.  He left here around 11 o'clock on the morning of the 10th under sunny skies but the forecast called for snow and rain, which hit here around 9 o'clock that night. Today (the 11th) the sun returned with temps in the 40's, not bad for Maine in Jan. Our prayers go with Mr.Clean as he journeys on towards Monson and we will be watching for
news.
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http://web.utk.edu/~rsmall - max. to the bottom of htis page for a great picture of Roan High Knob Shelter aka a Fire Warden's Cabin, I never got to see it in this kinda of weather, i.e., not is the clouds but clear
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MSG from another scholar from the hiker community, Richard Bailey aka 'The Old Fhart' 98GA2ME aka TDD ('Tumble Down Dick'):
(remember that we can learn from these OLDtimers)....also Mr Bailey is our resident expert on Mt Washington, actually I believe he is there right now... Hey TDD, look for Mr Clean on his SOBO journey......
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-----Original Message-----
From: Dick Bailey [mailto:rjb0343@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2000 4:25 PM
To:
Subject:

Thought this might be of some help to you in speaking the language.

  Bostoneze to English Dikshunry

   Pete Sir =  Most say pizza
   Otch = A tourist attraction in St. Louis
   Cotton = You buy milk in it (carton)
   Seen Ya = Last year of school
   Holly = An excellent motorcycle
   Budded Con = Corn on the cob with butter
   Bonnie = A purple dinosaur you probably detest
   Ah = Letter between q and s
   He Has A Cap On = He has a fish on his head
   Lodge = Opposite of small (large)
   Bulkie = Sandwich bun
   Bah Rum = Bar room
   Wicked Boah = A not-so-interesting person
   Southie = Someone from South Boston
   Ba Ba = He cuts your hair
   Bub Bluh = Water fountain to most
   Awed = Opposite of even
   Ann Tenor = Transmits radio waves to your car
   Khakis = Start your car with them
   Pita is a Cheetah = Peter cheated on this test
   Spa = Ma and Pa convenience store
   Seltz = Our basketball team
   Directional = Car's blinkers
   The Hub = The world revolves around here
   Had = Opposite of soft
   Tea Potty = Precursor to American Revolution
   Clabbids = Wood boards that cover many houses here
   Lemon Stir = Leominster, Mass
   Low Gin = Logan Airport
   Match = Month between Feb and April
   Foddy Doll Us = $39.99 plus one cent
   How Ah Ya? = Boston Greeting
   Have Id = Our famous University
   Hoodsie = Small cup of ice cream
   Wicked Spooney = Something very cool
   Pots = Pieces to your kids toys
   Packy = Buy liquor or 6 pack there
   Boy Gawd = By God
   Frappe = Milkshake to most
   Had Licka = Gets you drunk fast
   Spooky = Italian sub sandwich (from spucadella)
   Chow-Duh = Most prefer the white New England vaiety
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: Dick Bailey [mailto:rjb0343@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2000 2:43 PM
To: Atkinson, David L, JR (FannyPack), BGM
Subject: Nice day up here

Fanny Pack,
 Yes I'm on top. The current conditions are -5 degrees and dropping, winds out of the NW at 40-50mph, and we've been below the clouds all day but it looks like that's not for much longer. I can now check my AOL e-mail from up here so either address will work fine.  Food is good and plentiful and I have a warm place to bunk. You probably remember the huge food supply I showed you when we were up here in September. Well, I'm trying to make a dent in that without much success. I'll be up here from 12th-19th then spend a week down and repeat until about April 1st. I may do a small piece of the AT then (Springer->Damascus), I haven't decided. TDD a.k.a. The Old Fhart
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some good hiking links here: http://www.pennaweb.com/kta/ktalinks.htm
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Use REPLYALL when responding so I can get your msgs at work: mailto:datkinso@att.com & on the road mailto:fannypack96@hotmail.com
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PACK IT IN!!!   PACK IT OUT!!!
Trail Magic, PB&J's, & AYCE rule.
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Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is a process; working together is success. -Henry Ford
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Thanks for your feedback & cooperation.
David  L  Atkinson Jr
mailto:datkinso@att.com
Fanny Pack
96GA2ME
cell -   703-470-2320
work -   703-713-7320
pager -  888-602-7551
PO Box 2892
Sterling, VA 20167-2892
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