GGG and my faux pas

Thanks for the replies so far. I am looking forward to the next one.

Ken! I read and meant to respond last night but got distracted helping with homework.

As someone who's met and hiked with you, I know that your message to David is sincere and with the intent to further this community. I hope that any misunderstandings can be put in the past. Thanks for sharing this!

I don't think what happened will prevent us all from getting together again. I do enjoy the smaller gathering more ; 100 + people ends up being a lot of two minute interactions …
Maybe we can continue to have the big one and Ken and David ( and others) can work together so it is not all on one person and hopefully we can still have smaller gathering that do not happen at the same time.

I too would like to see Ken and David (and others) share the load of the big GGG in the future. My 2 cents worth is that I would prefer a backpack site rather than a car camping site, if given the option.

I guess I never saw what the big deal was. You explained all this early on and that should have been the end of it.

I could see how some folks could have been a bit offended by this, but only in the absence of an explanation. I think your email should put that to rest since it really explains what happened and why.

It's awesome that people in the community are getting together to meet in real life.

+1 On what Katherine said.

The legacy of the GGG simply is that it is getting UL/Lightweight backpackers together and allowing curious Traditional Backpackers a chance to check out the gear and see what it is all about.

Ken….you should be proud of what you have managed to create by pulling people together to create something special. (And special thanks to all those who have generously volunteered year after year to help out….it really is a team effort, but with Ken at the helm).

New friendships have been made and backpacking trips taken by people who met at the GGG.

Flattery is that other GGGs have popped up, perhaps inspired by your efforts.

On a personal note, I am not sure if many people are aware of this, but Ken really is a high introvert at heart and prefers smaller groups.

Despite this, he has been willing to push himself out of his comfort zone and to be the social butterfly and host of the GGGs.

He has admitted that hosting the GGGs has been something to get him out of his shell, but it is an effort for him to do so.

I can't blame him from wanting to take a break and to return to something that is more intimate and smaller in size.

As anyone who has hosted a party at their house, often the host is the last person who gets a chance to relax and enjoy themselves.

Anyway, thanks for clarifying and sharing your letter with David.

Hats off for David for stepping up and continuing the tradition.

Going forward, I hope that ruffled feathers can be smoothed over and we can look forward to the next GGG in 2016.

It is all about getting like minded people together and share a common love.

Tony

Every open group I've been involved with eventually has some quietly organized trips among the cool kids for totally understandable reasons (need to limit group size, requiring a highly technical skills without the time / desire to assess them in newbies, known group dynamics, wanting that girl along without competition, etc). I find I'm increasingly doing something similar in the high-level math tutoring I do (for free) with middle-school students. The kids *I* think are fast learners can be taken further, faster, and I have a better time; than when I take everyone whose *parents* think are good at math. Pro-tip: unless you had an objective criteria (e.g. "can lead climb a 5.11b", "scored over 10 on the AMC-8"), don't include trip photos in the slide shows for the larger group.

Yeah, it's a little disappointing to not get invited, but as SCOTUS has repeatedly told blacks, gays and women, the freedom of assembly requires the freedom to exclude. More disappointing for me was to find out on Sunday morning, that JenniferM and DougI – two forum members whose contributions I find so valuable – were just 5 miles away, over Bolinas Ridge, at the campsite where I met my wife. Being 2,000 miles away and with young kids, I only make it to a BPL event about every other year and have really appreciated Eugene instigating the R2R2R and DavidG organizing the 2015 open GGG event. While it was well-known names like Hikin' Jim, Manfred, and DavidG that motivated me to stretch a check-on-ancient-Dad trip for another day, meeting people I hadn't known before and hearing Maya's tales of the PCT and learning that Jane and I have so many connections was special, too. So I try to keep that in mind – one of those "my kid is good at math" just finished second in State and is going to Nationals next month.

Ken – no hard feelings. Don't fret about what might have been in hindsight. Thanks for all the events you've organized in the past. In about 10 months and 24 days (but who's counting?), I'll be freer to flit about the country for reasons other than family and toxic waste sites. I've got a mini-horde of ULers descending on us in August. I could imagine announcing an Alaskan GGG for 2016 once I've hosted a smaller event (stove contests? pffft! we're talking grizzly bear viewing and halibut-fishing trips). "Permits?, we don't need no stink'n permits!" (we're on 13 acres).

If anyone starts imagining organizing an open event, they should quickly realize decisions about group size, permits, logistics, park rules, schedules, etc all need to be made. By the person who's stepped up, not by some keyboard jockey out in the ether. And if you'd do the event differently?, great! Organize one yourself.

David you ABSOLUTELY have to host an Alaskan GGG!!!! I would be there in a heartbeat!!!!

And I will say that I was terribly disappointed that both GGGs happened on the same weekend. I would love to have met Hikin' Jim and you, David!

No particular reason other than these things must escape my head or my head will start hurting.

Besides, Morrison is dead.

People are strange when you're a stranger
Shelters look ugly when you're alone
Water seems wicked when it’s untreated
Trails are uneven when you're down

When it’s strange
Jackets wet out in the rain
When it’s strange
That new cuben mid seems so lame
When it’s strange
When it’s strange
When it’s strange

[musical interlude!]

GGG folk won’t let you feel like a stranger
Everyone’s pretty ‘cause you’re not alone
The gear seems so wicked (and that’s in a good way)
You’re all warm inside when you're wearing your down

When it’s strange
Jackets wet out in the rain
When it’s strange
That new cuben mid seems so lame
When it’s strange
When it’s strange

Apologies for shortening the subject: line … I am allergic to multiple re:'s :-)

Morrison is dead.

WHAT? Nobody tells me anything;-(

[snail commences a death spiral]

This is the end, beautiful friend
This is the end, my only friend, the end
… fade to black

Adapting lyrics to fit backpacking is a useful wintertime distraction, I have a decent version of Mellencamp's "Hurts So Good" stashed away somewhere.

Here's a challenge for Doug … adapt "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" … start with this perhaps?
The first time ever I weighed my pack
…

"More disappointing for me was to find out on Sunday morning, that JenniferM and DougI – two forum members whose contributions I find so valuable -"

Yeah I know what you mean David. It would have been nice to see David Gardner again this year. Out of aaaaaaalllllll the people at the non hipster mainstream GGG this year, he's one guy who would have been nice to see.

Just good ole David Gardner.

David and his ski boots.

Just him.

No one else.

Because eff them.

The big mistake was calling it a GGG, when it really wasn't. And being a db about others using the name was childish. Started looking for someone to host at the end of June. It's not that I didn't want another GGG. I just wanted to be a guest for a change. By October I had pretty much given up on that notion. Wanted to see some people. Had a number of folks express the desire for a smaller gathering and some who said they wouldn't come again as it was just too much. Had a few beer one night and feeling more cranky than usual I threw the Point Reyes thing together in about two hours. Sent out the invites to those who had expressed wanting a smaller one, and some my friends/hiking partners. Everyone replied by the next afternoon. Done. Then David makes his announcement. Crap. I would never ask someone to change their dates, as I would not not appreciate having to change my plans for someONE else. With the reservations locking me in and not being able to see another date option, my introvert self said nothing.

It's all out of the box now. I would like to do what I can to make next years the best one yet with David. I am open to any suggestions you may have. Any comments good or bad I take as well.

Thanks to those who have responded so far. You all are a great bunch and deserved better from me. For that I am truly sorry.

Baby steps in size 15s.

Awww dude. Let Brenda sing it for you…..

As an "outsider" looking in, I don't see a problem and I fully understand a hand few of people who have developed friendships over the years wanting to get together for a more intimate get together.

Ian,

I truly was only conveying my feelings, of that Sunday morning, when I learned Doug and Jennifer were at the private event. And while I value Jennifer's knowledge of PT, anatomy, injury mechanisms, etc and Doug's thoughtful and humorous posts and that they each, unlike me, both consistently "play well with others" and "don't run with scissors", more so, through PMs and emails over the years, I felt a connection to each of them (even without ever being within 100 miles of either of them).

I didn't mean it as a slight against anyone else. Really. I never saw a guest list. Still haven't, which is fine. Someone just PMed me that Peter Vacco was there. Talk about someone in the center of the deep experience-humor-creative MYOGer-uber trekker Venn diagram! I'll stop now and not attempt to praise everyone else who may have been there.

An analogy: A friend 10 miles up the road doesn't sleep well and she posts great pics of the aurora night after night when I didn't notice anything much in the sky. I'm disappointed I missed it. I'm not upset at her or the solar wind or the clouds over my house. And I don't think her pics are better than some others I've seen. I'm just disappointed. In a so-close-and-yet-so-far way that I don't feel when some Norwegian posts his aurora pics.

Sorry I expressed myself poorly.

Last night a GGG reconciliation dinner was held.
Delegates from the Gardner and Thompson GGG's attended.
Tense discussion went late into the night.
Meeting minutes are available.
A draft "lessons learned" document will be published shortly.
Future reconciliation events are planned.

Perfect! Except I don't see any single malt. Other than that, perfect!

Ken I'm deeply appreciative of all the time, effort and good vibes you put into organizing GGG's to date. Heck the first lightweight backpacking gathering I ever attended was a GGG you organized at Pt. Reyes a few years ago. I almost passed out seeing that many lightweight shelters and packs and cook kits in one place. But by far the best part was the people – the folks I'd known online for years when in the Northeast before moving to Bay Area where there are so many members. I was amazed at how warm and welcoming everyone was. And you may have forgotten, but I haven't – the first surprise BPL gift I ever got was a shoulder bottle holder from you. Thank you again.

I think it was kind and understanding of you to post this. BPL is a voluntary member organization, and anyone is free to get together with anyone. I don't think anyone was angry with you – members just wanted to see other members they had developed real friendships with online. It's a natural and powerful human drive.

Same was true of the gathering David G organized. Great people and a great vibe. It was a big thing for him to step forward, with a very busy year going back to school full time. For those of you who haven't met him yet, he's a great guy and a talented maker and MYOGer. Photos don't do justice to the event, because the shelters were far from the group gathering spot.

I enjoy both big gatherings and smaller gatherings – they both have their place. But as I wrote on the original planning thread, I'm grateful to have any GGG rather than no GGG. My vote would be a for a larger gathering once/year as well as smaller ones otherwise.

Casey, Danny and Kristin, I love the spirit of the posting and photo above. Little ones shall lead the way. They don't care what your jacket weighs or which shelter you use.

Doug, single malt + a Quaich, a great symbol of joining together and sharing.

The Ms. is of Scottish ancestry and a true whiskey connoisseur. Her clan was the most politically skilled of all the clans, something I suffer from to this day…

Casey and Emily treated us to a lovely evening with sunset views, a home-cooked gourmet feast, and a very warm family atmosphere. How could we resist an offer of reconciliation?

"Sorry I expressed myself poorly."

No worries David. I've got a shot at taking the gold in the Perpetually Offended Relay in Rio and I'm just trying to keep my A game up.

If you're not familiar with the sport, don't worry, you're not alone as it's a new event for 2016 Olympics where you have to fill a bucket full of tears as you run a lap. I'm running/crying the anchor leg so there's a lot on my shoulders and I can't take a day off.

Your tears or those who you offend?

Stay hydrated