All I ever do is boil water on the trail...can't wait to see someone BAKE something!
Can't wait!!
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All I ever do is boil water on the trail...can't wait to see someone BAKE something!
Can't wait!!
Yes, me too! Actually it doesn't even have to be baking. If someone makes something besides adding hot water to a commercial dehydrated meal -- that would be cool too. Show off your favorite meal. A taste testing of any favorite meal would be quite fun. You could hand out recipe cards.
OK, I'm going to officially change this to Trail Baking Demonstrations and Favorite Meal Tastings - 1 PM at Pavilion.. Baking will be just one part of it and this way I think it will up the number of people participating.
I'd love to see different techniques for making egg breakfasts.
Is going from around the Lynchburg area that i could hitch a ride with?? i would really appreciate it.
-Dan
Maybe I should have asked this last time before I attended the last Hang in Pine Grove furnace. Are singles and newbies welcome? I just didn't get the Warm and Fuzzies last time at PGFSP which was the opposite from what I expected based on the chatter here. I packed up and left shortly after nightfall. This is not a criticism of the event. I just felt like I was intruding on a family reunion and I wasn't family.
Atreus,
The MAHHA has been going on for quite a few years now and it certainly has that "Family Reunion" component. Especially the first night. So I can understand your feeling but if you stay into the weekend, I think you might get a different vibe.
If you look at the sign-up sheet lots of people are coming as singles. Me included since my husband doesn't camp unless there's fishing involved!
We do try to have a few "organized" activities that I think helps newbies assimilate. :) We do the "house tours" of different setups Saturday morning where new people can see different types of hammocks without having to feel awkward about asking to see private setups. There's gonna be the trail baking demonstrations. You can participate and bring your favorite meal or show up and yak it up with everyone there.
The Saturday potluck and raffle will probably be another event that has the Family Reunion feel to it, so be prepared if you do come for the weekend.
I have a core group of hiking friends that met at the first few MAHHAs. Our curent MAHHA complaint is that we don't get to spend enough time together because there's always so many new and interesting people to meet. So we've started hiking together at other times so we can continue to meet newbies at this event.
Not intentional to ignore you. I was a tiny bit on the outside edge of my first MAHHA too. It didn't take long tiil talk of gear got me going. We have our equipment and love of the outdoors in common. There are certain friends at the MAHHA that we will try to catch up with and all of us are guilty of acting like one big family. Real sorry you weren't warmed and fuzzied all up. Try it again in the daytime.Quote:
Originally Posted by Atreus
It can definately be a little intimidating at first, but if you revel in your "newness", it helps break the ice. My first (and only) fall MAHHA was two years ago about a month after I decided to try hammocking. I'm a DIYer and cobbed together all my gear and headed out. I was "chosen" to show off my gear as an example of what are the basics you need and that you don't have to spend a lot of money to start out and have fun. Since then, I've built more and better gear, but plan on bringing a picture of what I had so people can once again, see you can hang without fancy equipment. I asked a ton of questions from the veterans and had a blast. I think if you give it another try, you'll have a better experience. My wife is actually kicking me out of the house for the weekend because I keep talking about how I really want/need to get back into the woods, so I'll be flying solo. Hope to see you there!Quote:
Originally Posted by Atreus
I was shy at my first MAHHA, too. Participating in one of the workshops helped, but the big thing is to remember how much you have in common with everybody else. Go up to people and talk to them like you know them. :)
How about this? Set your stove up to cook near one of the campfire groups, but don't take any matches or a lighter with you. Better still, once you've borrowed a source of fire, have trouble getting your stove lit. No matter what kind of stove you have, there will be four or five volunteers to help you.
Variation: have trouble hanging your tarp or hammock. Be sure you're hanging near others. (Do that anyway).
Bring a coffee can and try to get a fire going in it. Then ask WV for help, the man can get a fire going on top of water. ;)
Everyone is right, it may feel awkward at first like nobody is paying attention to you. But you have to realize, if no one knows you, they cannot introduce you. We also usually have a little introduction around the fires at night. Everyone setting around gets to tell you a name, real or not, and any other information you care to share. Just keep in mind, some things are meant to be kept to yourself. :D
I myself don't like large crowds and the MAHHA was a bit of a shock for me. But I realized as a few have said already, these people all love the same thing. Makes it much better, but I still have a hard time committing to the larger hangs no matter what. It's not that I'm shy, just large crowds.
Maybe see ya there. :)
This will be my first MAHHA too and I'm not a "walk up to people kinda guy".
To compensate for my social akwardness, I was hoping to hang up a couple smurfy projects and get in on HappyCamper's tour. That way folks have a reason to chat with me.