I drove to both places ans saw no one. Even stopped at Woodstock Station. No one.

In actuality, when we hit the parking lot it was coming down hard. I pretty much knew at that point the tail-gate would be called. So just had a couple quick beers with my teem mates and headed home. I did have to stop at the Inn to retrieve something we left in the room Labor day weekend. Took a quick look and saw no familiar faces. I did check in here around 5 and saw nothing. Totally forgot the about the tunnel idea. But I have fairly poor night vision so I was happy to get 3/4's of the nasty drive home in day light. Dark + rain makes for a miserable drive.

Let's not for the Red Rock Pond backpack idea.

Sorry to be brief on my last post but I was bumming the WiFi off of dunks in Lincoln before they closed. It sure was a great time! The hike had a little bit of everything. A bit of sun with great views of the notch. A whole lot of wind that tested the riggings. Ridge walks. Lost hikers on the ridge. Some rain with some sleet thrown in for good measure. Great people to hike with! And of course watching the colors fly with a bugle to boot! I could have used more layers, and more conditioning with a heavy load. its still nothing compared to the what the people this is all about went through 13 years ago. They had no choice.

It was great to get together again for this, add Mike to the crew and meet Greg. Yes a little bit of everything even though the summit was socked in 99.9% of the time we were on it, but this one isn't about the views and the day was a success in my book. Looking forward to next year already and maybe one of these times we'll actually have a nice fall day for this!

Bummer that we missed you Joe but I don't think we had our act together until about 5:30 so you probably were a tad early. Surely the smoke and smell of grilled meat litterally pouring from the underpass would have tipped you off! Then again it never alerted the authorities!

OK, no backpack, but we did throw out the idea of a Hike-NH get together hike more than just this one time a year.

I'll try and get a report up while I wait for it to warm up this morning if nobody beats me to it.

Glad to hear it went well. Sorry I didn't make it but my motivation to baby my shattered digit up the mountain deteriorated with the weather forecast. Next year then.

I passed by there a little before 5 so probably before the 5 alarm. The worst part of this is I have 4 pounds of ribs to eat.

If that's the worst part I'd say you're doing all right! You don't live too far from many of us, hmmm, post even rib-fest at Joe's place!!

I had a great time with a bunch of great guys. Now, next year, a couple of you older guys on this forum better go because I was 20 to 30 years older than them. I did a fine job holding up the rear and making sure none of them got left behind.

All the "older" folks are definitely welcome. The more the merrier and then maybe I won't feel as old! I think I'm the second oldest in the group at 37. That makes me almost twice as old as hiker0200.

I'm only 2 years behind you. Do I get 3rd place?

I'll be 34 in 4 days so I'm not far behind. I only feel old when some 60+ year old bombs past me on the trail.

So, wait... I'm an elder at almost 48 (in two weeks)?

Yup, I'm at the younger end of the group at 33. Don't let Mike fool any of you, though, he's no slow poke.

Well they may as well just shoot me!

Absolutely true!

It was a great time for a great cause. A more subdued tailgate this year, but that was due to lower attendance and the cold/rain, but the food was all just as good! Great to see everyone and to get to participate in this event once again. I'm marking off the date for next year!