2006 PA RUCK RETROSPECTIVE

Now that the 2006 PA Ruck is history, here's a report written by Marsha, the Ruck Kitchen Guru:

The importance of a Ruck is to create, stimulate and educate hiking minds; the reward is fellowship, fun and food. Anything else that occurs at a Ruck is a bonus.

There were a lot of bonuses this weekend.

We did not get a positive head count, but I believe 70 people attended the PA Ruck and each individual person contributed something.

There was no agenda put into the "surprise hiker" idea. It began at the SORuck when I met a few well known hikers and had the idea of pulling a few of them up to the PA Ruck, just a few. You see I'm one of those people that live to read trail journals, and I was getting a little tired of hearing these trail names and not meeting the person. Stumpknocker was at the top of my list of hikers to meet. The weekend was so busy at the SORuck, that I couldn't get the opportunity to talk with most.

Stumpknocker loved the idea of attending the PA Ruck, but had to maneuver a few things. So I decided that I would not put his name on the PA Ruck Attendance list, and instead inserted "surprise hiker". We also decided that he would be the man in the kitchen. When Stumpknocker arrived for the PA Ruck, I was beyond elation. Our discussion about the AT and hiking community evolved into many hours over great food and spirits and compliments. My experience with him this weekend was a lot of fun! He had this to say about the PA Ruck:

"I am so fortunate to have been able to attend the SoRuck AND the PaRuck this year. I spend more than 95% of my on-trail life walking by myself, so having a venue like the Ruck to reconnect with old friends, meet other hikers that I've not had the honor to meet before and to have the opportunity to try and lend a hand or a helpful hint to the new hikers getting ready for their adventure is a very important way for me personally, to become more involved with the Appalachian Trail. Thanks for letting me be part of this huge family of the very best people I've ever had the pleasure to meet. Oh yeah, the food ain't bad either." :-)

Stumpknocker :-)

Friday at 2:00 p.m. Rucksters started rolling in. Tricks, Lone Wolf, Junker, Greenbriar, Cheese Whiz arrived a little early, and then later... in walks Big Foot, Skeemer, Big Red, LongHaul, Woodchuck, Weathercarrot, Mara, Steve Landis, Bob Davies and a few others. Dinner was great. Afterwards Laurie Potteiger from the ATC gave an excellent AT awareness presentation, and then we all went our separate ways. Jim and Ginny arrived.

Saturday morning seemed so peaceful. It was quiet, the sun was completely unobstructed, the temperature started to rise. It was beautiful. The morning hike commenced, and others stayed in and around the hostel talking. Other hikers rolled in: Grey Owl, Joy, Celtic, Wildfire & Wounded Knee, Six2 & Brickhouse, Sasquatch, Travlin Jack, Bubble Toes, Rawhide, Jollies, Mitch (who is Steve Landis' daughter), Larry Luxenberg and so many others. Saturday benefit lunch was highly successful. Many soups and chilis were contributed. Every drop consumed.

David Donaldson arrived, the president of the Earl Shaffer Foundation and presented Earl Shaffer's "Walking With Spring" DVD slideshow. On with the tuckerization by Mara and from what I understand she found certain items in a backpack that wouldn't usually be in one's backpack. So what were the items? Were they placed there to stump her?

Afterwards the thru-hiker bull session, the speakers this year: LongHaul, Bonespur, Jim & Ginny Owen and others participated. Then prospective hikers asked questions.

Afterwards, the RuckFeast! The menu:

4 spiral sliced hams, 10 pounds shrimp over ice, bbq chicken, Pad Thai, lasagnas, pasta dishes, corned beef & vegetables, Philly steak-n-cheese strombolis, mashed potatoes, Haitian salmon, Thai curried rice, potatoes Augratin, and enough desserts to please anyone. There was enough food left over to feed the city of Carlise.

Several slide shows were shown Saturday night, but not all could make it due to the time limit involved with the equipment. We were grateful to Jollies for bringing the equipment!

The campground was packed with hikers, stars in the sky, good conversation, and Tricks building and maintaining a peaceful campfire. It was a perfect night.

Sunday morning, folks ate breakfast, then slowly departed. It was real hard saying goodbye to Stumpknocker. He has big hiking plans this year and the PA Ruck was the last thing he was attending before it all. When I came back into the hostel after saying farewell, there was just Weathercarrot, Mara, Camojack and myself in the hostel. I started packing up when I heard someone playing the piano, quite beautifully. I stepped into the common room, and there was Weathercarrot performing a piece on the piano similar to what you would hear at a symphony. I was breathless.

It was the perfect ending to a perfect event at a perfect location, the Appalachian Trail.

Marsha

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