GGG 2024

[Kattt]

Yes thanks David!

I am bringing the hot tent….

[peter v]

peter has a sufficiency of lighting, which for carrying in will be a brace of little AAA flashlights with plastic-cup-light-dispersers, and hanging brackets. along with any possible number of asst-color light sticks.

then we got a big agnes shelter, which is sort of a quarter sphere of nylon you can aim-not-into-the-wind and it’s pretty cool. and then i am bringing a propane radiant heater, maybe two of those if can find a flunky,  opps, i mean a, a kind person, for to tote that second tank in.

i like the idea of the presto logs, that’s good think’n there.  comes already wrapped, no need for burlap log toting bags (got 20 of those now though …). also have warbonnet hammock fly with long rigging. never know when you’ll need one of those, eh ?

[David Gardner]

That is fantastic Katt! Can’t wait to see and try it.

peter v, you are the man. The logs are actually “Idaho logs” of unwrapped compressed sawdust, so burlap sacks (lined with garbage bags) will still be usefull. Sounds like we could both use flunkies…oops, I mean, kind persons… to help schlepp things in.

This is shaping up nicely! Almost cozy even. No steenkeen’ rain or snow is gonna stop us. We are gear geeks, and we will gather!

[Kattt]

What time are you driving in David ( rain permitting) ?

[David Gardner]

My plan is to be at the ranger station by 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm at the very latest.

[Ethan A.]

Safe travels and have a great time all! Andrea and I will miss you. Looks like with the expected weather wood-burning stove contest skills are going to come in very handy.

[David Thomas]

I’m trying to get there!  My ANC-LAX-SJC itinerary got screwed up by frozen potable water on the ANC plane. With a longer connect in LAX, I’m not into SJC until 4:07 pm, so if I rent a car, I’m not to the trailhead until about sunset, huh?  (I do two head lamps along).

If that all happens, you’ll meet the meat above (a sockeye salmon) Friday night with maybe some more Saturday.

Manfred: I’ve reserved a rental car, so you don’t have to wait for me.

if anyone could bring two cans of Sterno, that would be ideal for poaching the fish. If you can, post here or text me at 907/252/2954.

[Kattt]

Fingers crossed we get to see you David!

I should be at the trailhead fairly early ( noon, 1. ?). After I set up I can walk back and help with supplies. My pack is pretty heavy to add anything on the first walk in.

[David Gardner]

Let me see about the sterno. I’ll be swinging by a hardware store and REI on my way there. Can stop by a Target, Walmart, Big 5 or similar too.

My personal pack is 29 lbs. My group gear cargo pack is at 35 lbs. currently, and there’s another 40-50 lbs. of group gear as well (tarps, cordage, bungies, logs, stove fuels). Years back when conditions were similar the rangers gave us a ride in with supplies in one of their official vehicles. Keep your fingers crossed the same crew is working this weekend!

[peter v]

ok ; got sterno, lighting, burlap bags w/liner bags if rqd, and propane .. packed. leaving stockton in few minutes.

cheers,

v.

[Catherine D]

I’m not able to leave as early as I hoped today. I’ll show up sometime tomorrow morning.

[Catherine D]

Update from David Gardner

He is driving now and will be at visitor’s center around 2:30.

[David Gardner]

Thank you for posting that Kathryn. To my surprise I managed to remember my login credentials while driving. Manfred called from the Ranger Station. They told him we can bring in one vehicle today. Does anybody have a four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive? Or maybe a 2 Wheel Dr. with good tires and lots of ground clearance? if so, please meet me at the Ranger Station.
dictated while driving

[Tyler R]

Hey crew!

Sorry for the sparse communication. I’m down in San Martin grabbing some food and charging my vehicle up before I head up to the park. I’ll probably be there sometime around 3pm.

[Richard Niemi]

David, I have all-wheel drive but it doesn’t have lots of clearance. If I remember right There are no giant ruts in the road so I think it will work. I won’t be there till 3ish.

[Doug Coe]

I’m at the visitor center. Should we still each carry in our own water or is there a plan to bring in group water?

[Kattt]

This is crazy

[Kattt]

A bit of weather we’ve had…

[Manfred]

I just returned from GGG 2024 at Henry Coe. What a blast! Who would have thought that three days in the rain, with occasional hail and camping on a ridge with wind speeds above 40 mph can be so much fun? But it was!!!

David Gardner had once again come through and organized the event. A big ‘Thank You’ to him for keeping the event going.

Katharina brought her amazing hot tent that gave our group a dry & warm place to convene in and talk about all things backpacking and otherwise.

David Thomas flew in from Alaska and fed us all with caribou and salmon.

Peter Vacco was a delight to listen to – where can you still find this kind of humor and open direct conversation nowadays?

Catherine, Richard Niemi and Doug Coe were fun to talk with and listen to.

Just listening to Richard and David T. talk about spelunking through caves was so insightful. Having participated in GGGs for over a decade that was more or less what I expected and why I came. These people are just great! But this year’s GGG held one great surprise for me. Tyler Reeves had driven all the way from San Diego in his Bolt EV and gave the GGG a huge infusion of ‘Gear Geek’.

Man, this kid (he is still in his 20s) was so delightful in his enthusiasm and with all his ideas and prototypes of gear reaching from pad inflator over heat exchange pot to tent. His MYOG gear was amazing and he was extremely generous and gave all of us a prototype of his ‘Pad Pal’ for inflating sleeping pads – a single-digit-gram engineering marvel that inflates a sleeping pad in no time.

Tyler is giving me hope that the ‘good old times’, when we were all geeking out over stoves, quilts, tents, backpacks, and other gear are living on in a new generation of backpackers who will come up with new ideas and new designs to make gear even lighter and better. I can’t wait to attend the next GGG and see the newest projects of the next generation of backpackers.

[Manfred]

I almost forgot: I promised several participants of this weekend’s GGG to send a link to my PCT blog. April 17 I’ll start at the Mexican border. Keep your fingers crossed that I make it all the way from there to Canada. It would be fun to meet some of you along the trail.

[Kattt]

Thanks to everyone for the good conversations, the abundant laughter and all around great company!
I mostly took videos and I don’t think they upload  on BPL but here are a couple of pictures :)

[Doug Coe]

Thank you, David, for spearheading this GGG and making it all go smoothly. I considered not coming after seeing the weather forecast but thought, hey, it’s a rare opportunity, don’t miss out.

Katt’s hot tent made the trip—thank you, Katt! The conversations went from tales of past adventures to modern society (don’t get me, or anyone there, started!) to the geekiest of gear tweaks. Frankly, some of the science talk was over my head but it was fun to hear the enthusiasm of the experts.

I brought salad. Not popular in cold wet conditions. The steak appetizer went over better. Lesson learned. Speaking of lessons. both Catherine and I were wishing we could be pretend scout leaders long enough to take Manfred’s training course. I guess we’ll have to find piecemeal training ourselves.

I enjoyed getting to know about each person, David Gardner, Peter Vacco, Katt, Manfred, Tyler, Rick, David Thomas, and Catherine.

[David Gardner]

Thank you my friends for another great experience.

Ultimate weather testing of gear was achieved, but I’m totally spoiled now that I have experienced hot tents. Thank you Katt and Manfred for the luxurious comfort and inspiration.

Thank you Rick for doing double duty and making two runs out on Sunday, and treating me to pizza at Mountain Mikes.

Doug, I can’t believe I missed out on the salad despite your several offers – never seemed to have the right implements at the right time – but the steak appetizers were deluxe.

Always great to see you peter v and crack up with your unique expositional excellence.

Thank you David Thomas for making the trek and sharing your excellent caribou pastrami and salmon!

Tyler, I have to get one of your awe-inspiring HX pot and modified BRS burner with integrated Windburner-style windscreen system. It’s like jewelry, but better; functional art. I hope the drive back to San Diego went smoothly.

Catherine, thanks for braving your injury and the weather, your positive and moderating energy is always appreciated.

I’ll be posting dates for a Michigan GGG this summer!

[Bob Shuff]

Really sorry I missed this. Tyler…I’m in Carlsbad and would love to meet up sometime and talk gear.  Maybe we can organize a SoCal event.

I may also be up for a Michigan event if dates line up. I have brothers in Grand Rapids and Traverse City and am overdue to do some camping there.

[Doug Coe]

It doesn’t rain in Michigan, does it? :)

[Author]

Posts