2nd Annual HTF Skills and Gear Shakedown Campout. Sipsey Wilderness, AL. April 10-12, 2015

Building on the success of last years HTF Campout it's time for round two! Here's your chance to get out and test yourself and your setup in the wild. See what works, or not, for your current skill level and load out. If you plan to attend and have special training or skills you would like to share, or have included in the event, by all means let us know! We want everyone to be safe, have fun, and enjoy themselves.

The event will be limited to 15 attendees. Priority will be given to last years participants.

Location/Details:
Sipsey Wilderness area, AL. April 10-12, 2015. We will be hiking in Friday and leaving on Sunday. If you cant make it Friday, you are welcome to come join us Saturday. We have a meet-up location to safely park our vehicles and carpool to the trailhead if interested. Parking is available at the Campout's trail entrance also.

A short hike is required to make it to the camp area. There will be fresh water on site, but will need to be treated to be potable. Small fires are good to go. Firearms are allowed in the Sipsey, however, this WILL NOT be a firearms or tactics type event. Use good judgement, be safe, and obey all State and Federal laws regarding firearms in the Sipsey.
Exact location and (free) permit info will be emailed to you upon your reply that you are 100% IN to attend. If you reserve a spot but can't make it, let us know ASAP so others that do want to attend get the opportunity!

Agenda:
We plan on having a loosely organized event that will be a chance for all attendees to share and put their skills and gear to use in a friendly atmosphere. We also plan to hold a couple of contests with small prizes for the winners. Our goal is for everyone to have fun and learn as much as possible about themselves, others, and their gear in action.
Unsafe Tom Foolery will not be tolerated! Regular ol' Tom Foolery is good to go. A good attitude will be key to everyone getting the most from the event.

Gear Requirements:
None! Bring what you think you will need to the event. Please keep in mind that if you plan on participating in the Nav course and other skills practice you will need to come equipped accordingly. Some event materials may, or may not, be provided.

Skills:
We plan to practice and execute some basic outdoor survival skills on this outing such as;

Navigation with map and compass. Great link for Nav study:Nav Study Guide
Water procurement and treatment
Shelter Building and Perimeter Security
Fire Making, cooking over fire
Wild Edibles
Snares and Fishing Techniques
Knots
Team movement/tactics
Your Ideas Here!

We hope you can make it out and enjoy the great outdoors with us!


PLEASE REPLY THAT YOU ARE 100% IN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND.

Attendees Thus Far: Updated 4/3

BearJace  (willing to carpool from Atlanta GA area, IM for details)
bcauz3y +1
Saxplayer
bamaflinger +1 (late arrival)
redneckarmy34 +1
axl
Alex the neighbor





Pictures from last years Campout

Nav study before running the course

I'm in, 100%.

Who would want to go camping with you weirdos?

I'm 100% in.  

I'd say in but NRA annual meeting is April 10-12 in Nashville  
Looking forward to hearing about the fun though.

Oh hell yes.

I might bring my son and one of our dogs too.

Sounds good, I'll plus one you.

Do you think the one dog will be enough to feed everyone or should I bring one too?

 

Tell ya what, if y'all bring the dog, I'll bring the seasoning. All joking aside, I'm looking forward to this.

I had planned on being present for this but I'm afraid that my schedule isn't going to fit it.  Will have to see...

 

Thinking 'bout it but old as I am might not even be around in April. Any wheel chair accessible camping spots?

 

We'll have your nursing assistant fast roped in.

Gacy style?

I'll have to look at my schedule, but I'm about 97% sure I'll be there.

wish my schedule permitted, gonna be fun

 

 

More like, you gonna get promoted bro.

What's our count up to?

At this rate who knows.  

7 with 2 maybes. Other than saxplayer it's the same group of us from last year so far. Guess it will be saxplayer being hunted this year!

Are we going to lather him up in pig fat like the last guy?

 

squeal pig squeal

For the FNG hunt, I guess I should leave my cammies at home

May as well. We bring a barney suit for you to wear.

 

lol
You sir owe me a new keyboard.

*UPDATE*

I'm considering teaching some team movement and camp security.


Is there someone better suited for it?


If not, I can do some basic work with ya'll.

Quick question guys, I have a friend who's interesting in going, but he isn't an ARFCOM member. If you're a Tide fan you may remember him, Brenon Meadows from the 96/97 team. Would it be okay if he came along?

Of course, he's more than welcome. I'll plus one you on the attendee list.

Having been on the last one AND remained in lucid condition the entire trip I have  just a subtle word or two of encouragement for the new guys - Be prepared. Have good equipment. Hammocks are for pussies - real men sleep on the ground. And most importantly of all, set exceedingly low standards. They will be reached.

 

Looks like I'm out guys.  

We have ball games all weekend, just got the schedule.  I'm the coach, or I'd just tell them good luck with it.  

If anything changes, I'll let you know.  Sucks.  

 

I may be able to make it out there Saturday late afternoon.  I'll bring my son if so, he'd love it.  

What time we heading out Sunday, early morning?  Same spot as last year?

Yep same spot, early sunday, as soon as everyone is up and moving around.



 

Glad you'll make it!



 

Hope you can make it out man be good to see you again. I'll change you to pussed out, I mean a maybe, on the attendee list




So axl is going to make it out now? Hope so!

COOL
 

Not sure, I'm trying peer pressure, but I'm not sure if it works on civil war veterans.

 

Haha, civil war, that's hilarious. If he does make it out I hope he brings some of his wife's awesome bread again!

I'm looking forward to seeing you all again too, it was a great time last year.  I told my son about it, I pretty much have to go now.  

He's so excited.

Go to hell - damn kids. Just wait - I'll get your ass back on the next compass course. Felt sorry for y'all last time. Not again.

Looks like we may have woken the sleeping tiger guys! bring some of your wifes bread!!!

Look forward to the challenge. I had a tough Nav course at my survival school in January. It rained the whole time and the last half was in the dark, no lights allowed other than our small red personal markers. Good times, mostly when it was all over with

If a noob were to be able to make this event, for Sat and Sun, what trailhead would he park in?

Got to go to Sipsey, once, last year.  Parked at Thompson TH and hiked to The Tree, so I know that  side kind of well.

If I did make it in on a Sat, what are the grid coordinates to the camp area?

We would IM or email you the exact coordinates/directions upon your reply that you are 100% in to attend.

If you can only make it out for Saturday/Sunday that's fine, we'd be glad to have you. Make sure you read the Nav study guide linked in the OP

Bear,

I'd love to 100% commit, but that is never a possibility with my work.  They are bad about dropping production bombs on us, last minute.

Would like to see more of the Sipsey before heat revives the muggy/buggy/snakey stuff and hang out.

The land nav stuff sounds fun. I have a nice compass and a good Cartocraft topo of the Sipsey.  A nice Garmin, too, in case my skills are too rusty.

Also, what entails a "short hike to the camp"?  Short is relative. Last time in, that yo-yo hike around Ship Rock and to the big tree really worked on me with a full pack in that blow-down infested area of Bee Branch. Had to drop it mid-Bee Branch to go on up to the Tree.  I ain't a spring chicken anymore. We talking a mile to camp?  Need to know.  If it's a shorty like that, I can bring luxuries....like real food. :)

IM sent

Just checked the weight on my pack. Currently it weighs 33.5 pounds. Time to find what I don't need and get it gone.

Bring it all, and we'll sort it out at camp.



Mine is ~20 lbs, and has more shit in it than it needs.



 

Been done befo.