I stumbled on a camp idea.

So I was just sitting in my recliner leaning over my TV tray inhaling a medium cooked steak from Applebees and watching the Mountaineers beat the living shit out of Caniessius when an idea hit me. My meal, as you probably guess from my bachelor existence, was Applebees Carside To Go. Anyway, they put the food in this giant oval shaped container and as I hoovered the last of the mashed potatoes I thought, "Hey, these would make super duper AWESOME camp trays to eat out of. They even have a divider in them so our camp beans won't run into our main course!!!! So, save your carside to go containers for camp. Another nice thing about the large oval is that you can rest it on your lap!! Yeeeeeee Haaaaaaa! Jeremy's corn can easily roll in the main course divider and have continuous sopping of butter and salt. Mmmmmmmm.

Captains Log, December 21, 2007 The Point

There is a place at the Cooper property I personally named "The Point". The first time I was there John took me for the purpose of pointing out where the Blackwater snaked by his property. It was getting darker out and as we talked about dryflies, hatches, streams and gear, I kept a pointed eye to the expansive view in front of me. The purple-ish hue of the evening framed in the spruce dotted horizon and below was a least a 3/4 mile of boggy terrain.
I visited the point on the second trip by myself. I didn't tell anyone where I was going but I needed some "Gene Time". I sat there and stared for what seemed like an hour. I was drinking a St. Pauli Girl Dark and toasting mother nature. I pondered many things sitting there on my perch. I even came to some conclusions. I was tempted to amble down to the Blackwater and listen to the moving water. I could imagine it though, and I was soothed by its memory. My mind spun different pictures of it's banks, and I imagined the same sight in different times of day. The frosty morning with mist across the eddies. The Bright afternoon with piercing blue sky above. But my favorite, the evening, when the river boulders turn golden from the amber light, was my favorite image. These are just a small sample of my thoughts when I visit the place I call "The Point".

Captains Log, December 14, 2007 - The Perfect Fire

Starting a camfire is an art really. It never ceases to amaze me the number of people who start campfires with newspaper, gasoline and even hairspray. They are wrong in doing this for a couple reasons. First, and in most cases, these methods don't work. I have watched folks dump at least a quart of fuel just to be left with a smoldering mess, especially when the wood is damp or wet. Secondly, they miss the pure joy of a primal camp activity. They don't know the pleasure of gathering minute twigs and tinder, then the accumulation of different sizes and stages of wood to be methodically fed to flame as it matures and begins to come alive. The gentle breath on the small flame, just enough to coax it a little before adding more wood. Indeed, one can get a roaring fire in no time with only a match and this proper planning, as evidenced in this attached picture. This fire was constructed by Tbone and Jeremy - I added some tinder too. It was planned perfectly with stages of wood gradually getting larger and larger. It was fun to watch one little match ignite tinder and spread faster and faster, kissing larger pieces of wood and finally erupting into a large campire. After the large flame burnt down into glowing coals, it was perfect for Jeremy to cook his corn on the cob among other delightful vegetables. That's fun. Little projects in camp make you feel like a kid again. Tbone was the mastermind and main builder of this fire and I enjoyed watching him construct it. I can guarantee, with absolute certainty, that Tbone was completely stress free during this project. Thank you Tbone for not cheapening a wonderful outdoor experience for not only us but especially for yourself!!!

Camping List

They are definitely correct when they say to bring at least three pairs of shoes.

They also misspelled spatula.

The camp list was great but missed some things...

Like KT ...

Handy dandy camping checklist

If you're like me, sometimes you are so anxious to get to the woods you leave frantically, wondering if you forgot anything. I hate this feeling. So, check out the link to help you with your checklist and get more organized. http://www.butlerwebs.com/camping/checklist.htm



I hope this is a good starting point for us next year. We can even separate who brings what with this tool. We can

The Captain's Winter Mission

I hope this finds the crew in good spirits and well rested. I have been asked to partake in a reconaissance mission to Northern Minnesota January 17th. I will bear witness to some of the harshes conditions imaginable and sleeping in a "Quinzee" or snow cave. Here is some footage

172 Days left till Camp...

I have found that this site is proving to be quite cathartic and a blessing for me. I really appreciate all who participate in this. It makes the time away from camp a little more bearable. "...and the most important of these is love."- Paul got this one right for sure. I love each of you thanks for making my 36 trips around the sun so very special. By the way I would like to turn each of you onto a musical project that seems to me to be a marriage made in heaven. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. It fits our camp music to a "T". Much love and respect.





DaGeek aka T-bone

Camp Slideshow from last summer (173 days till Cooper's Camp opens for business.)

Why things taste better at camp... oh yeah and only 174 days left

I would suggest to you that things taste better at camp.

I have found that the food consumed at camp is more satisfying to the palate. I opine that the reason for this is that our senses are enhanced by the positive environment from which we have the experience. I have also found that flame broiled anything tastes damn good. The veggies, which were consumed via-camp fire last year were simply to die for. If the morsel can be wrapped up in aluminum foil then it is likely going to be good to eat when it is unwrapped post fire. I also think that the culinary experience is a good one from the perspective of accompanying legal beverages. Any food consumed with Jer's Strange Brew is going to simply taste better. For that matter Jer's Strange Brew can stand alone as a culinary experience. I have found that even a simple item such as a hot dog could be absolutely delightful at camp. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I am starving and wish I could be at camp right now eating the wonderful morsels, which will be there in May.

What are your thoughts on the topic?

Yummy,
DaGeek ala T-bone

Yeah, now that it's been snowing in Pittsburgh for two days straight, I'm looking forward to the summer. But one thought-- imagine what the waterfall will look like frozen over. I'm almost tempted to hike down there this winter to see.

Captains Log, December 7, 2007

This morning, I did the zombie walk into kitchen to retrieve my half consumed propel fitness water. It was 7:00 a.m. and as I chugged the cold drink I looked out my back french doors and saw the USS Fleetwood asleep, dry docked. A good 5-6 inches of snow covered her deck. She was in her winter slumber and all closed up and frozen. Inside her frame I knew possessed year round items such as flashlights, firestarter, toilet paper, etc. But the most treasured cargo on the Fleetwood lay in the lazarette, always kept aft for easy access by the captain. The ships journal documenting all missions and thoughts of the crew is resting in the stern and waiting until the sails are raised once again to embark on the next journey. Until then, keep your powder dry and flint around your neck.

The Captain

The Cooper Campout's Lord's Prayer

Oh campout, which art in Davis
Hallowed be Geno's camper
Jer's brew come
Hotdogs be done
And two bags for each camper
Give us this day our daily reefer
And forgive us our hangovers
As sometimes we get loaded
Lead us not into revolting beverages
But deliver us from TBone's coffee
For thine is the firepit, and the music, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Just 175 more days till opening weekend at camp!!!

• Well I realize that I am maybe jumping the gun on camp excitement but I just love it so much I feel compelled to write about it.
  


• I love Holly; I love Mountaineer sports; and I love camping out with my people. This blog allows me to expound on that.
  


• I was motivate to do this so that we as campers will have a place to post ideas and itineraries as is necessary for preparation of weekend one on '08.


• As was the case with my other blog space you are going to be permitted to publish what you will regarding this topic. Anything from food, to activities at camp, captain's log, etc.


• Anyway welcome to this blog...