Post by Deborah on Nov 13, 2019 18:02:54 GMT -8
How the gathering came to be
In August of 2007 RoamAround and I thought it would be fun to have a car-camping gathering, for the many active forum members living in or around Denver. We set about to find a good location and plan the gathering.
We found Pickle Gulch, that seemed perfect, with group sites that are away from the parking lot and no RVs permitted. But, they typically close after Labor Day and we wanted the second weekend of September. I managed to talk them into letting us use it, we simply had to take water. No problem for a bunch of backpackers.
Initial planning was for people close by, then ChuckD said he would be in Denver that weekend and wanted to join us. We welcomed that Texan with open arms and it became a multi-state gathering.
Where is Pickle Gulch and how do you get there?
Pickle Gulch is in Colorado, west of Denver off Highway 119, approximately 90 minutes from Denver International Airport. Anyone who flies in gets help with gear, transportation, or whatever is needed.
Some arrive several days before the gathering and enjoy the fall weather in the CO high country. Others stay after the gathering for more hiking or touristy activities. Some fly in Friday morning and back home on Sunday evening.
How it has evolved
The first year (2007) was interesting, in that many of the people had not met in person. Several brought spouses who were a bit lost, with all of the talk about activity on the forums. Wiggy Wars, Alps gear, Pam or butter, blue shirts... Most of the spouses went to their tents early Friday night while the rest of us talked long into the night.
Everyone had such a great time that we decided to schedule another one for the following year. We had site #1 the first year and reserved it for the second year as well. But in 2008, someone wandered around and spotted site #5 and felt it was a better fit for our group. We have been at that site each year since.
Food
2007 was strictly bring your own food for all meals except Saturday night. That night we had a potluck with everyone contributing to a group meal.
I cannot recall what year it was, maybe 2009 or 2010, ChuckD started driving from Texas, bringing his full outdoor kitchen, and preparing group meals. His early morning breakfasts, for those who were going to climb a 14er, were most welcome. Group meals became part of the tradition.
MsDoolittle became enamored with his dutch oven cooking and started collecting her own set of gear. Lostone often joins us from Oklahoma and he too is quite the camp cook. Over the years, Zeke, swimswithtrout and several others have made outstanding contributions to the group cooking.
Now we have a large awning that is the official Pickle Gulch kitchen. The setup is rather elaborate and many hands pitch in to help with the cooking and clean up. MsDoolittle is the queen of the dutch oven cooking and she has made some fantastic meals for us.
Drink
Yes, there has been drinking at Pickle Gulch. A few years, one could barely see the surface of the booze table for all of the bottles, and rumors of rowdiness and excessive consumption are true. However, that has changed, for the last three or four years the weekend has been much more sedate.
Hiking
On Saturday we typically split off into smaller groups and do day hikes. From an easy 4ish mile stroll around some open space, to busting your backside as you bag a 14er, there are several options close by.
How will it look going forward?
This year (2019) was our 13th year at Pickle Gulch. Several people have only missed one or two years, some from out of state have been here many times. I'm the last one who has been there every year. We would love to have more people join us. I know that several here have wanted to do so, but have conflicts that time of year.
We also talked about another group, on the forums, that has been entertaining the idea of a gathering in the east.
It seemed to be time to shift Pickle Gulch to alternating years, with another group gathering the other year. So, the next Pickle Gulch gathering will be in 2021.
We have had a suggestion to invite a guest speaker, one of several famous outdoor enthusiasts who live in Boulder. The idea is a good one and we will make plans for that in 2021.
Suggestions for the people planning other group gatherings
1. In the beginning keep the food simple. Everyone do their own, possibly combined with an evening potluck.
2. The people who live the closest to the meeting place know the area the best, and should be prepared to advise on day hike options. In fact, planning two or three options with varying degrees of difficulty would be helpful to those who are coming from other parts of the country.
3. Reservations will need to be made early to get the dates you want. Be sure you know just what amenities the site has (water, outhouse, etc.), and share that information with the participants.
4. Money. Group sites cost money. Someone will need to front the money and pass the hat at the event, or else arrange to have people pay in advance. Realistically, it might be some of each. At PG we share the costs of the group meals, too.
5. One thing that will likely be a shared expense, in addition to the campsite, is the firewood. Make sure someone is in charge of getting enough firewood for the weekend, either by delegating several people to bring modest loads, or by filling their own vehicle.
6. Put together a document that tells all of the planning details, so you can easily share it each time you are asked one of the FAQs.
7. I suggest having each person bring their own eating utensils, so you don't end up throwing away dozens of single use plastic utensils.
8. Keep a list of those who attend. I have often wished that we had done that, but it's too late to reconstruct the lists from 13 years.
2019 PG Thread
More PG Photos
In August of 2007 RoamAround and I thought it would be fun to have a car-camping gathering, for the many active forum members living in or around Denver. We set about to find a good location and plan the gathering.
We found Pickle Gulch, that seemed perfect, with group sites that are away from the parking lot and no RVs permitted. But, they typically close after Labor Day and we wanted the second weekend of September. I managed to talk them into letting us use it, we simply had to take water. No problem for a bunch of backpackers.
Initial planning was for people close by, then ChuckD said he would be in Denver that weekend and wanted to join us. We welcomed that Texan with open arms and it became a multi-state gathering.
Where is Pickle Gulch and how do you get there?
Pickle Gulch is in Colorado, west of Denver off Highway 119, approximately 90 minutes from Denver International Airport. Anyone who flies in gets help with gear, transportation, or whatever is needed.
Some arrive several days before the gathering and enjoy the fall weather in the CO high country. Others stay after the gathering for more hiking or touristy activities. Some fly in Friday morning and back home on Sunday evening.
How it has evolved
The first year (2007) was interesting, in that many of the people had not met in person. Several brought spouses who were a bit lost, with all of the talk about activity on the forums. Wiggy Wars, Alps gear, Pam or butter, blue shirts... Most of the spouses went to their tents early Friday night while the rest of us talked long into the night.
Everyone had such a great time that we decided to schedule another one for the following year. We had site #1 the first year and reserved it for the second year as well. But in 2008, someone wandered around and spotted site #5 and felt it was a better fit for our group. We have been at that site each year since.
Food
2007 was strictly bring your own food for all meals except Saturday night. That night we had a potluck with everyone contributing to a group meal.
I cannot recall what year it was, maybe 2009 or 2010, ChuckD started driving from Texas, bringing his full outdoor kitchen, and preparing group meals. His early morning breakfasts, for those who were going to climb a 14er, were most welcome. Group meals became part of the tradition.
MsDoolittle became enamored with his dutch oven cooking and started collecting her own set of gear. Lostone often joins us from Oklahoma and he too is quite the camp cook. Over the years, Zeke, swimswithtrout and several others have made outstanding contributions to the group cooking.
Now we have a large awning that is the official Pickle Gulch kitchen. The setup is rather elaborate and many hands pitch in to help with the cooking and clean up. MsDoolittle is the queen of the dutch oven cooking and she has made some fantastic meals for us.
Drink
Yes, there has been drinking at Pickle Gulch. A few years, one could barely see the surface of the booze table for all of the bottles, and rumors of rowdiness and excessive consumption are true. However, that has changed, for the last three or four years the weekend has been much more sedate.
Hiking
On Saturday we typically split off into smaller groups and do day hikes. From an easy 4ish mile stroll around some open space, to busting your backside as you bag a 14er, there are several options close by.
How will it look going forward?
This year (2019) was our 13th year at Pickle Gulch. Several people have only missed one or two years, some from out of state have been here many times. I'm the last one who has been there every year. We would love to have more people join us. I know that several here have wanted to do so, but have conflicts that time of year.
We also talked about another group, on the forums, that has been entertaining the idea of a gathering in the east.
It seemed to be time to shift Pickle Gulch to alternating years, with another group gathering the other year. So, the next Pickle Gulch gathering will be in 2021.
We have had a suggestion to invite a guest speaker, one of several famous outdoor enthusiasts who live in Boulder. The idea is a good one and we will make plans for that in 2021.
Suggestions for the people planning other group gatherings
1. In the beginning keep the food simple. Everyone do their own, possibly combined with an evening potluck.
2. The people who live the closest to the meeting place know the area the best, and should be prepared to advise on day hike options. In fact, planning two or three options with varying degrees of difficulty would be helpful to those who are coming from other parts of the country.
3. Reservations will need to be made early to get the dates you want. Be sure you know just what amenities the site has (water, outhouse, etc.), and share that information with the participants.
4. Money. Group sites cost money. Someone will need to front the money and pass the hat at the event, or else arrange to have people pay in advance. Realistically, it might be some of each. At PG we share the costs of the group meals, too.
5. One thing that will likely be a shared expense, in addition to the campsite, is the firewood. Make sure someone is in charge of getting enough firewood for the weekend, either by delegating several people to bring modest loads, or by filling their own vehicle.
6. Put together a document that tells all of the planning details, so you can easily share it each time you are asked one of the FAQs.
7. I suggest having each person bring their own eating utensils, so you don't end up throwing away dozens of single use plastic utensils.
8. Keep a list of those who attend. I have often wished that we had done that, but it's too late to reconstruct the lists from 13 years.
2019 PG Thread
More PG Photos