FL>LWRSF>Feb 21-23, 2014>3rd Annual Sherpa Hang

[MAD777]

lilricky, I'll bring a dozen eggs.

We have to limit the number of trips you make to the car

[Floridahanger]

It's hard for me to believe that there's gear out there that we don't own two of but we don't own a water filtration system.
Do we need to get one? (or two)?

It's always good to have one. Especially since you and Gumbo go on various camping trips.

I'm sure you boil the water you use, but, you never know if the campsites have tainted ground water.

Also, remember, DON'T let the filters freeze. They can get ruined.

[FLRider]

For those who've walked it, is the Jeep trail at all confusing? I remember trying to come on in in the dark last time along the FT there, and it was...suboptimal. If the Jeep trail is fairly easy to follow, I think that might be a better call for me.

Thoughts?

[lilricky]

The jeep trail is very easy to follow, its pretty straight, you just need to make the turn to the Creekside camp, fortunately the turnoff is marked with a white diamond saying "Creekside ----->" Cant miss it.

[samsara]

Sandy, if you don't mind camping out in the woods with your babies then I see no reason why you can't be out there. If, however, being out in the woods might make it a bit difficult then you could camp at our (very) primative campground near where everyone is parking. It has fire ring, picnic table, porta-johns, and garbage dumpsters. Or... if you want to live the life of luxury there is a county campground at the north end of the lake (less than 5 minutes from the trailhead) that has bathrooms/showers and I think some sites with electric (and a pretty view of the lake). You could hike in each day and hang out with us if you wanted.

The jeep trail is easy but then again no unmarked trail that you've never been on (with a few extra old service roads to make things confusing) is ever super easy. Especially at night... do you have a gps? I could get you a gps track that will take you to the trail to the campsite. For the most part the trail is easy, just stick to the main trail but then it splits and you need to go to the left when you go from sandy to a cutthroat grass covered road. After that you're back on the orange trail and soon come to the turn to the campsite trail. If you hiked out with the gang at Grinder's BD hang then you have been on the jeep trail.

For all of those that chimed in about bringing their filters... you can bring them (especially if it's a new toy that you want to play with) but you don't need to. Between MAD and olddog we should have an ample supply of filtered community water and nobody should need to filter their own (unless they want to). If you want to do a longerish hike on Saturday then you might want to bring a filter for restocking along the trail but at camp we're covered.

Dave

[FLRider]

Thanks, lilricky, Samsara!

I do not have a GPS, aside from the smartphone. While I get signal out there in LWRSF (tried it last time, just to see), I wouldn't quite rely on my phone to be accurate enough for more than a general area that far from a major road. (It's led me astray a couple of times out on back roads--not often, but often enough.)

I did not hike out with the gang; Great White and I took the FT orange blazes back to the lot. On the other hand, I did hike out to where the creekside camp trail meets the FT.

Pretty much stay straight on the forest road until I come to a left that has the sign with a white diamond saying "Creekside", yes? Is that where the creekside camp trail (the one that actually runs into the campsite) meets the FT? If so, I can find it, no problem.

[olddog]

Update.

So far we have.
Timberrr & Gumbo - cobblers, onions & 2 DO
lilricky - 3 doz. eggs,make that 5 doz.
barich942 - chili for Saturday evening, potatoes & charcoal
olddog - cheezy bacon grits, cobblers & 1 DO
emcee - bacon dates
hangnyak - 2 lbs. of sausage
Bla1z3 - peppers 4 to 6, cheese 2 lbs.
MADD777 - DO, Aztec Stew and more bacon dates, 1 doz. eggs
happycamaper - charcoal, a second pot of chili
Flrider - calzones?
Tuck - Brats & Kraut

I've never done a MM so those that have please check that we have all the ingredients. If we do end up with a larger group and need to do a second MM each morning we could use bacon for some variety.

[olddog]

Since I'll be arriving early Friday the Sherpa will be empty and available to assist anyone bringing in a load later in the day. I'll also mark the major turn offs on the trail with some tea lights for those coming in after dark.

[Gumbo]

Okay guys, after giving some thought to the number of folks coming, I'm not going to bring both dutch ovens after all. I will be bringing my 2 burner stove and my large non cast iron DO that is my largest pot that is not "boil pot" large. All of that probably still weighs less than the Lodge DO.

Barich if you want to use it for the chili you are welcome to do so. I will use it to make a thai chicken soup on Friday evening to go with the asian noodle dish that Shannan makes.

Aside from the soup and maybe a DO dessert, that is all I plan to cook to share this trip. I will be happy to bring in ingredients for others to use in cooking, but this round I'm taking a back seat and enjoying some R&R.

[barich942]

Barich942, let me know what is needed for the chili ? I will be happy to bring it.

Chili Recipe

INGREDIENTS
For the chili:
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium yellow onions, medium dice
1 medium red bell pepper, medium dice
6 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (14-ounce) can tomato sauce
2 (15-ounce) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup coarsely chopped pickled jalapeños or green chiles, drained
For serving:
Shredded cheddar cheese
Thinly sliced scallions
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onions and bell pepper, cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes.
2. Add the garlic, chili powder, and cumin, stir to coat the vegetables, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the ground beef breaking the meat into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until the beef is no longer pink, about 7 minutes.
3. Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker, add the diced tomatoes and their juices, tomato sauce, and beans, and stir to combine. Cover and cook until the chili thickens and the flavors meld, about 8 hours on low or 6 hours on high.
4. Stir in the jalapeños or green Chiles. Serve with the cheese, scallions.

I will Dbl the recipe for a serving of 15. and only cook all the ingredients together for 1 hour. Then cool in the refrigerator over night and freeze. Adding the jalapeños at the hang

Thank you for helping out

I tried to send this private but it was 1000 characters to long.

I will be making and freezing enough Chili for about 15. Adding step #4 on sight. So use of your pot would be great, thank you Gumbo!!!

Happycamaper will you want to cook up a batch at home or in camp?