12/00 Zelski Group Hike

Day 1

This was to be a different type of hike.  It was to be my first group hike in Ohio.  The list is a great one; Hyperpacker, Walkin'dude, Tom and of course BudderBoy, and Walking crow.  A good mixed group.  The weather was just right for hiking, nice and cool (40ish).  

Hyperpacker had come down from Michigan early in the morning and we got on the road in plenty of time.  The drive went so fast as we were talking a mile a minute from too much coffee.  I am constantly amazed at how well Joe and I get on.  I spend very little time with others and it is somewhat disarming to be able to speak so freely and at length with someone who is SO likeminded it is scary.  there are few connections closer than between fellow believers.

We made it to Zelski early so we stopped at this little hole in the wall place to "rehydrate".  Hey!  Check the main ingredient of the next beer you come across.  WATER!  Mostly water!  A guys gotta keep up his fluids.  We then headed for the trail head in time to meet the others.  When we got there we found Walkin'dude and Ton were already there.  Tom and BudderDog are always early!  They always get there at least an hour before me!  LOL!

We all got our gear sorted, changed into hiking clothes and hit the trail after a ceremonial picture at the trailhead.  Even with my usual initial hyper ness, where you don't even notice your pack and feel like you could take off running up the trail, Walkindude was way out front.  this dude moves!  I knew right then that the only time I'd really see WalkinDude was in camp. 8)

We made it to the southern most camping spot on the south loop shortly and found the site too small for our number's needs.  There we met a guy we had met earlier on the trail named Mike.  We ended up sharing the largest camp site with Mike.  Mike was as cool as they come!  Walking crow came in a bit later as we were setting up camp.  I can only imagine what Mike must have thought of this motley crew that cut up with each other as if we had known each other for years.  

We spent the night around the camp fire cutting up, talking crap, and "strategically hydrating".  I learned that Dude neither drinks nor does nay drugs of any kind.  Nor does he need either to have a good time.  A man to be admired!  I have much respect for the Dude.  It got very cold that night but I stayed nice and warm under my tarp.  I recall Crow exclaiming, "Tarping in the winter; you guys are crazy!"  My shelter mantra proved correct once again, "No snow; no tent!"

Day 2

"Oh my God please kill me now!"  Woke up with a major case of the Schmiernoff Flue!  I felt like excrement!  Doom on you Nige!  Breakfast and packing up was a chore.  It felt like I had so much crap with me compared to my summer kit.  We said goodbye to Mike and hit the trail.  the rest of the group hit the ground running.  I hit the ground moaning!  Haha!

Walkin'dude, Hyperpacker and Walkingcrow were GONE!  Tom and Budder were in front of me most of the day but we'd hook up for short stretches and it was nice.  Kind of like group hiking without the group.  I always hate when my 2 MPH pace holds others up.  I much prefer pulling into camp two hours behind everyone else by myself than having to look to the top of the next hill and see the bored look of a fellow hiker waiting for me.  This group was great in that aspect.  Everyone had their own pace and went at it with the unsaid understanding that we'd end up at the same place at the end of the day.  So kewl!

It was a good long, hard day of hiking.  We did 12 miles all together.  The end of the day was great.  I was over my "flu", the sun was setting just as Tom, Budder and I climbed the last hill to camp.  the air was just turning crisp and it was one of those moments when you understand how and why fools stand on the top of ridges and scream at the top of their lungs.  Dude, Packer and Crow already had camp set up and a fire going when we pulled into camp.  Being slower has it's advantages!

the rest of the night was spent around the fire cooking and lying, lying and cooking.  8)  that night I set up my tarp a bit different.  I slung it low from a single tree at one end and a collapsed trekking pole at the other end.  On the high end where the tree was I threw my poncho over the guy line and it made a real difference.  It was slung a little lower than I like but I was better off than if I were in a tent.  

Day 3

Eeewwww!  It's a bit wetter and the weather a bit more serious and slick than yesterday.  We decided to hike down to the road and hike the road out.  We all seamed to have the air about us that we were ready to be back at the traihead and have our separate drives underway.  tom and Budder were the exception.  They were off early to do the north loop before heading home.  What a couple of hikin' fools!  8O)

We all spoke at length of our past hikes and it made me want to hike new trails and see places I've never seen before.  Crow spoke of a place in Indiana called the Twin Lakes Area that sounded cool.  We all parted the trailhead and said we'd see each other on Trail Talk the next day. I feel so lucky to have a place to meet other hikers and have the chance to hike with others.  Were it not for Trail Talk I'd still be hiking solo exclusively.

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