Sat, May 19 2007, Sat, May 19 2007, Sun, May 20 2007 - Backpacking (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Bruce Participants: Jon Miner, Michael Chandler, Kristi, Lee Harris, Kelly Harris, Sara Boyle, rob williams, Dusty C., Hamilton Bicksler, Connie Weber, Bruce, Matt rogers, Sue Jones, Jimmy Camp, Ameen (Buck) Dahdah

Write Up:
The weather was great all weekend for this event where all who signed up, showed up including late addition Michael Johnson. There were many friends and veterans of other hikes and several new people who would be 'broken in' to Panthertowns abiding party spirit (s) that always happen there-and a few of newbies would break us in with assorted antics. The first days hike down into the valley was easy 2 mile backpack to our nice flat camping area. We set up, and it became obvious several couldnt keep a fast pace as we strecthed out many times; so I decided on a more casual exploratory hike of several waterfalls Upper, Middle and Lower Wardens Falls. The weather was warm enough there was swimming wading and foot dipping enjoyed by many, besides adventuring and exploring all 3. The small paths to all were bumping, grinding and bushwacking and re-exploration at the middle and lower falls I hadnt been to in ten years. After lounging, sunning and exploring the 3rd waterfall, we cut back and did an unadvertised water crossing over top of Upper Wardens Falls; shortcutting uphill to the trail to Blackrock Mountain, hiked up and enjoyed views from the top of the mountain to other side of the valley; we would explore the next day. It was relatively early-after 5 when we returned from the 6 mile max hike of the day; so early wine tasting and crackers and cheese, eating dinner and a lot of comaraderie were ahead; which got more interesting as wine and other beverages were consumed by all. We built a small fire, played cards; did some bad singing-worse hamonizing (I helped) and found out many uses an MRE could be put to by Matt. Later in evening one newbie who had consumed some drugs not to be listed here, in addition to drinking had to be urged many times to find his tent (some ten feet from fire circle- and all people). After stargazing, some gratuitous disrobing and cold swimming, and other shenanigans at the sandbar pool; most stumbled back to all get to sleep for the next days adventure.

Sunday, after all got a well needed rest, we got up casually to a cold morning; after hiding and re-hiding in sleeping bags; waiting for 5 more degrees of warmth (got down into high 30's-low 40's overnight). All enjoyed breakfasts at their leisure and half of everybody in camp asked me about 'todays plan'; while I was still trying to get used to life after overimbibing the night previous. I had no plan until consulting the map, after which it became obvious there was no convenient dayhike loop from this camping spot; decided to backpack out the 4 1/2 to 5 miles over Little Green Mountain, after visiting and several swam at the nice pool at Schoolhouse Falls -visited for second time. After a wrong turn we ended up on a trail I'd never been on before, instead of the northern fork-ended up hiking maybe 150 yards from the sandbar pool on the middle fork of Panthertown (1/4 mile from original campsite). We ended up hiking out same fork we hiked in on Saturday; and I was fourth from last to get out of the valley and its steep long hike out. Sara and her two bags was resued by Rob (yeah)- a nice gesture for our personal car entertainment queen.

Thanks to all for being part of a fun and interesting group-putting it mildly.

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