6th Annual G.G.G. 1/24-26 2014

Kat should bring her camera.

Thank you Sharon, Ken shot me an email, I just didn't want to place another comment or heaven forbid bump this. :)
Duane

Countdown is at 54 days!!

Hey All,

Here is a list of the owners/reps of cottage companies that have confirmed they will be attending the 2014 GGG West event.

Ron and Brian from Six Moon Design

Jon Fong from Flat Cat Gear

Kat P from MountainGoat Hats & Goods

Jack Elliot from Borah Gear

David Gardener from G.O.L.D. Gear

Still pending confirmation from: Trail Designs, Henry Shires and Gossamer Gear.

I have also been told that Dan Y. (aka: zelph / bplite) will be sending some stoves and such for giveaways, demos, etc.

Great lineup. It's just getting better and better. Me and Ms. EJ are really looking forward.

I have a suggestion for those who are interested in coming, but are on the standby list. Get yourself a campsite at the HQ campground. Costs only a few bucks more than a parking pass. Gives you a place to park, camp,restrooms. It's a short hike in to the group site. Whether you camp there or not,wink, is your business. Most spots are still available there. You can reserve ahead of time or take your chances when you get there. PM me if you have any questions.

46 days and counting.

*If you are camping at the HQ campground bring your own wood and water.

*Edited to make the last sentence more clear.

Are we not going to have water on site this time?

Justin. We will. I mean those who would camp at the car camping campground. We went through 75+ gallons last time.

Ken,

Good to see your are back from exile.

Last year a few of us did a short trail run starting and ending at the group camp. I plan to do a similar run this year and I'd like to invite anyone who's interested to come along.

I'd like to head out Saturday morning around 8 or 9 am. The mileage last year was just under 5 miles and included dropping down to the creek and heading towards China Hole. This involves a fairly steep descent (cautiously runable) and a similar ascent (we power hiked a good part of that climb).

This year I have a slightly different route in mind which should be somewhere around 5.5 ~ 6 miles but still along the same stretch of creek. The direction will also be reversed; the descent will be longer, not as steep, and mostly along a road. The climb out will be shorter but steeper.

It was a beautiful run and a lot of fun. If interested just bring your running shoes, your favorite method of staying hydrated, and a smile.

See you there!

http://gggwest.com/ — 38 days and counting!!

Just a friendly shout out to John Abela from Hikelighter.com for stepping in to fill in Ken's shoes and for setting up a website for the 2014 G.G.G..

Great to see that we have more manufactures coming out to the event.

John….any news on confirmations from other manufactures?

Thanks again for taking point on this.

I will bring out name tags again for everyone.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again.

With any luck, I can get my family to come along to check out the fun!

Tony

Hi Tony. I'm easing back in.

+1 on thanking John. He's a good guy and well behaved in the car too.

Trail Designs should be back. Lee and Russ

Gossamer Gear and Tarptent have not replied to multiple messages, Maybe they'll surprise us. Maybe not.

I still have name tags from the last one. They sure do help.

If anyone is a EMT, WFR, etc… and wouldn't mind being "on call" there would you please PM me.

Edit: Thanks to those who responded.

Hi Ken,

I just got my WFR cert last month, so I'd be up for it.

-Jeremy

I have a WTF certificate, would that help?

Thanks Jeremy.

Doug. If anyone needs medical attention, it's you.

My WFR / EMT certs have lapsed but I'll bring a small trauma kit w/ SAM splints, bandages, etc.

"Sign me up. GOLD Gear will be there again this year. Looking forward to it and the wood and alcohol stove "burn offs".

Did we decide that there would be two wood categories? Natural aspiration and mechanically-aided?

There has been discussion of the alcohol stove burn off, but no firm rules yet, I think. May I suggest two categories: "Limited" and "Unlimited"? "Limited" would be fastest to boil 2 cups of water using 30 ml of fuel or less (given the cold temps and windy conditions last year, this seems like a fair challenge). "Unlimited" would just be fastest to boil, using any amount of alcohol the stove can use.

Any thought of having an Esbit burn off too?

I'm assembling my competition rigs, getting ready."

I haven't planned any burn offs at this time David.

Competition rigs. That struck me as funny. I visualized set ups with sponsorship stickers on them. Pro fuel.

Is anyone else interested in any kind of burn contests?

FYI

There will be NO Gearswap in camp this time. It's always been a cluster and a logistics problem. I think this is best done at the parking lot on Sunday. Discuss.

Ken,

I'd be willing to take the lead to organize and furnish fuel and a digital scale to measure the water for the burn offs, if there is interest.

Yeah, competition rigs. No decals obviously, but specialized stoves optimized for the competition parameters. I know, I'm over the top. My name is David, and I am a stovie.

Regarding the gear swap, does that apply to vendors too? Should we plan on bringing a sampling of our wares to the campground, or leave them at the parking lot?

With concerns about the swap. I mean that I won't be trying to setup a particular place and time in camp. It just never works. Yes, some of the vendors will have a sampling of their stuff to display and then sell off. Zelph is sending me a box of stuff to show and give away. Jon from Flat Cat will be bringing a bunch of different setups, and probably sell them off there as samples. Not sure what Jack has on his mind with regards to Borah Gear. Ron and Brian will have the new packs to show off, but have not used the word sell in any of my communications with them. Kat has not said one way or another about her hats and such. So if you have something new to show, bring that. Leave the other stuff in the car. Let the selling happen as conversation dictates. But trying to get everyone there at one time to able to shuttle their stuff to and from camp is just too much of a PITA.

We had sales out of car trunks the first few GGGs and that seemed to work best.

With the burn off. Let's wait a bit and see if there is interest and plan from there.

I'm willing to do what the majority is interested in, regarding any activity. So if you have an opinion, let's hear it everyone.

I most likely will have very little stock to bring, but I will have some samples and I can teach some folks to knit if there is any interest.
Also, I plan on bringing some trail cameras and showing the different options and set ups.

I have a brass, Optimus 45 alky does that count? :)
Duane

Ken,

Welcome back and good to see you here.

I agree with not having the gear swap at the campsite.

I think that it would make sense for venders to bring in what they can and want as display/demo items and letting the selling happen in the parking lot.

Plus, this will motivate people to clear out of the campsite on the morning of the last day to get to the parking lot for the gear swap and gear sales for vendors.

Come to think about it….do we want to have a designated time for the gear swap and sale on Sunday morning?

This would allow people who can not make the GGG come out to see, touch, taste, etc the gear from the manufactures and maybe make some sales….if the manufactures wanted to do that.

Again, just an idea.

Regarding name tags….you have some from last year.

Do you need me to bring more???

Tony