Fall NEHHA 2012

[raiffnuke]

We held the Fall NEHHA this last weekend. IT was a great deal of fun and many new friends were met and many old friends were met again. Thanks to all who participated!

Friday afternoon I parked at the Hopper Trail head amongst more cars than I have ever seen at the trail head. As it turns out it was Williams College’s Mountain Day. They gave the entire student body the day off to go and hike Mt. Greylock. Yikes! Fortunately, Hunter and I managed to avoid most of them .

The start of the trip came off with a bang…literally! My hiking pole was jammed and I had to take it apart and bang it on some rocks and a sign post before it freed itself up and worked properly.
The 2.5 mile hike in, all up hill, was enjoyable and uneventful. Hunter and I made it to camp and set up. Just about the time we were finished setting up, R3l@x showed up. We finished making camp and got a nice fire started. An hour or so later, Nighthauk arrived, followed soon after by McRat.

Once camp was all established for everyone, we enjoyed some great steak that I carried in and we grilled over the fire. Hunter was very jealous of us all! He got his fair share in due time.
Later, as we all sat around the fire relaxing, Hunter suddenly took off like a shot and ran into the woods! We heard him yelp, and then start baying. He had treed a porcupine! He had also managed to get quilled in the nose and cheek. So, the 3 others helped hold Hunter down while I pulled the quills out with a Leatherman. Fortunately, he was not quilled very bad and did not require and medical treatment. He was back to his old self and looking for revenge on the porcupine in short order.

Saturday morning, R3l@x ran out to the trail head on the side of the mountain he came in on and retrieved a frying pan that his girlfriend was gracious enough to bring to him on her way to work. Once he returned to camp, we had a great breakfast of bacon and eggs.

Soon after, Nighthauk had to leave to meet his son, and McRat had to leave and return home. About mid morning Mp3prozak and Sunshower arrived with their 2 dogs, Bob Marley and Ember. Later that evening DaveP arrived and we all had a great time sitting around the campfire, talking gear, and swapping stories.

Both nights were cool and the lowest temp we saw was about 35*F. We were all kept toasty warm by our various bits of downy gear.
Sunday Morning, we all packed up and headed our respective ways.

Thanks to all for coming! It was a great time and I look forward to the next time we can all get together!
This is a short video of the weekend, and I hope that the others will post their pictures and memories.