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First year with new days - It's easier for Dave to stay into next week, now that he's working, instead of leaving early, before the weekend. So, we drive to Herb and Betty's on Friday, hike in on Saturday and hike out on Tuesday. During pre-trip meeting, there was much talk about bringing a chain saw in. This is nixed. Dave and Dave, and Mike and Tommy drive up. Dave missed the Concord exit and we take the scenic route, Dave also forgot his ski pole - Cheryl brought it up that night. Davis was not invited this year! Mark misses first year due to moving to Arizona. Tent pairings were - Mike and Bill, Steve and Tom, Dave and Dave and Murray by himself in new tent he got for Christmas. Steve brought up a pot of chilli for the night before and a turkey to have the day we come out. Murray left his gaiters behind at Herb and Betty's. Joy found them and caught up with us while we were having breakfast. Dave and Tom pull in their gear using sleds - Bad backs! Wood supply was plentiful with mostly hardwood. Bill found his stashed bottle of Asti. This year was the year of "low snow" - only a few inches on ground for initial camp setup. About eight inches fell Saturday night before changing to rain.Overall, this was the warmest trip yet - in spite of "high" temperature at night, we still have a "large" fire on last night. It had to be ten feet across. Everyone was standing up on the outer edges of fire to get away from heat! Bill and Dave, while on day hike, find "deer-sign" . Dave tastes to check freshness. Steve and Dave get sick - Dave just caught a bug or something. Steve caught a SO-CO bug. Mark sent along his old hiking stick "Taiwani" to be burned. Mike had a letter to be read while stick was burned. Dave had a box containing leather wrappings and Bill carried in the stick. The stick was inside a four foot tube. Bill looked like he was packing in a bazooka! The handle end was salvaged which was turned into a ceremonial knife. Dave conjured up a dancing bandanna over the fire - In spite of many attempts to burn bandanna, it eludes all attempts by dancing in the thermals over a bonfire!! Even distilled spirits were used as an attempt to "burn it" and failed. Most impressive to watch! A good snowball fight was had with fresh snowfall. Dave, Dave and Bill hike to Big Rock Cave for lunch. On hike out, the group got split up - Bill, Steve, Mike and Murray in the front group, make it out OK. Dave, Dave and Tommy take a wrong turn extending their hike out by about 30 minutes. |