Spring Gathering

Since Bill has stepped down as moderator of this forum and we are currently "leaderless", I am curious if anyone else has thought of a spring get together. I am willing to help but since I live in East Texas, I'm not really in position to coordinate things. What are your thoughts?

Sounds like you might be the new Moderator, Bryan.......

Sounds like a good idea, but you probably need the Arkansas folks to chime in since the group meets usually take place there.

Let's do it!

Bryan I have kind of been wondering about a gathering myself. I would be interested in doing something. Typically we do the third weekend of April which would be the 23th through 25th. Great time to be in the Ozarks. Hopefully we can generate some interest and plan something. We can always toss a tent up somewhere.

I like your Richland idea Mike

The weekend Matt mentioned works for me. The weekend prior (16-18) would not. How does April 23-25 sound for everybody else?

I enjoyed Smith Creek as well, but have never explored Richland, so I'm open to either place (or another). I say let's get a list of participants together and then pin down the location.

So let's get the list started. Post if you are interested in getting together and what dates work for you.

Thought I would make this a sticky thread for those interested in the spring gathering. Looks like I will either be doing a workshop or giving a slide show.

Everyone have fun! While it does sound interesting, the Ozarks are about an 8 hour drive for me. I cannot really do that in a weekend, so I'll have to pass.

Enjoy and hope to see some great images!

The campground is closed Mike. There are a couple small places to camp near by though.

I'm in.
You're all welcome to use my cabin if it fits with the trip. I'm about 2 miles from Jasper, Ark., for those of you who haven't been on one of these spring trips before.
Richland Creek is a 45 minute drive from the cabin so that may be too far.

Looking forward to it.
Rod

Count me in! That weekend (April 23 24 25) works for me as well.

Sorry you can't make it Bill.

Darren, you can always do like I do and drive up a day or two earlier to make the trip a little more cost effective. Maybe we need a Texas gathering as well (even a one day shoot). I'm considering going to the Ennis Bluebonnet trails the weekend following Easter.

Hi Rod, glad to see you'll be able to make it. I look forward to seeing you. I appreciate your generous offer of your cabin. We'll need to poll the group and see where that leads us.

It will be good to see you again Dottie. Glad you are coming.

Happy you are going to join us as well, Glenn. My first gathering was last spring and it really is nice to put faces with names. You'll meet some great people.

Can I assume Matthew, Mike and Karla are in?

Yea I'm in. Mike I can bring the pig product. I like the idea of using Rod's cabin for convenience but I also love Richland and I think it would give us tons and tons of stuff to shoot all day. If it was a bright sunny day I could even squeeze in a little Smallmouth fishing. I would love to camp near the campground but that could turn into an issue depending on how many people we had, plus no bathrooms or tables or anything. There is a small camping spot on the Southeast side of the bridge near the campground that could hold a couple tents. There is a better camping spot on the Northeast side of the bridge that could hold more tents. We probably probably squeeze in some tents down that road a little as well. I want to remind the girls that there are no bathrooms if we camp near the Richland Campground.

These are the people committed so far
1. Bryan Simpson
2. Dottie Lloyd
3&4. Mike and Karla Hall
5. Glenn Fillmore
6. Rod Kissinger
7. Matthew Kennedy
8. Zack Andrews

The lack of bathroom makes me think about camping at Fairview. That would also give options to those not wanting to go into Richland. I would like to spend Saturday in Richland and Sunday elsewhere. I know that Fairview had ice damage but it should have room for all of us.

Haw Creek is an option as well. Fairview will fill up faster than Haw Creek. I can probably get off that Friday. Depending on where we go I could head up Thursday and snag a spot. Just a suggestion

Count me in too.

newest list
1. Bryan Simpson
2. Dottie Lloyd
3&4. Mike and Karla Hall
5. Glenn Fillmore
6. Rod Kissinger
7. Matthew Kennedy
8. Zack Andrews
9. John Moore
10. Jon Wisniewski

Count me in as well guys, been looking forward to this.

I don't know how many of you guys are on Facebook, but the Arkansas waterfalls group is planning a waterfall safari the 23-25th. They are staying and Horseshoe Canyon and have 63 confirmed guests so far, but I really can't imagine that many people attending. It might be something worth avoiding though.

Bathrooms! I thought we were at the Ritz last fall at Petit Jean with one just down the road. Ha! So FYI.....the bathroom issue is not an issue for me. But guys, thanks for thinking of us gals.

Just FYI, there is a very good bakery and deli now open in Pelsor. They also serve pizza made with cheese curds.

I stopped and chatted with the owners back in February. They seem like very nice people and the food looked and sounded delicious. All I had was a hot dog and a cup of coffee but it sure hit the spot. They make everything from scratch too. If you want this store to remain open we all need to make a point to stop and grab a bite when we pass by.

I'm with Dottie on this one...The lack of a bathroom is a non issue with me. This ain't my first rodeo As long as we bring potable water to cook and clean with, we can commune with nature for our bathroom needs! If you guys would rather camp in or around Richland, I am totally game.

I am thinking of renting a lens for this trip. Let me know if we are pretty set on the weekend of the 23rd and I will place my order. Thanks!

I've taken that weekend off and am planning to shoot the Richland area. The decision needs to be made if we are to use the Fairview campground as base camp. Not everyone will want to shoot Richland and this campground is in a great location.

I vote to set in stone 23,24,25th and Fairview. If there is a better (closer) camping spot to Richland that can handle 15 tents, then please tell me.

Three weeks away folks!

My daughter from Salt Lake City will be in town that weekend, so it looks like I will be kind of iffy. I will try to get out one day and shoot with everyone. Sounds like a good group forminng and that weekend should be a good one.

Fairview has got my vote. So many great destinations in all directions.

I plan to bring a few sticks of firewood. If a few people would do the same, then it will limit picking up whatever scrapwood is available near the campsite. I tested out my coffee pot and the inverter, so we will have coffee to start the day and keep camera batteries charged. Look like we will join Matt Thursday night to hold our spot for the weekend. Three weeks!

Fairview sounds good to me, but if it is cloudy I may disappear into Richland all day.

I swear I can not win for losing. That weekend is the weekend I get BACK from spending 6 days out in Oregon(including 3 with Marc Adamus) and then my daughter has a prom that Saturday night that I know I will have to take some photos of, AND the MPIX forum peeps are having a big meetup in Pittsburg KS with lots of good and FREE classes that weekend. I fly back into St. Louis on Thursday and I will see if honey will let me come for either Friday and part of Saturday or meet with some of you folks on early Sunday morning and meet and shoot a bit.

I know how the work and other obligations always creep in and take away a fun weekend. I had to take three days vacation to make sure that I could be there. I have enjoyed meeting members putting faces with the names. I hope you can squeeze part of the day into that hectic schedule. It looks like Matt and Zack may try to camp Thursday night along with Karla and I. Shoot Friday all the way to Sunday afternoon. Let us know.

The 1K hooks to the battery. Pop the hood kind of coffee. At least that's the way I tested it on my old Jeep. The 350 watt wouldn't touch it, but is good for charging up camera batteries overnight. Can't wait!!! Hope there's water in creeks by then. Sounds like Tim E is finding some dry creek beds.

if we want to do some star trails I have a deep cycle battery. We can drag that inverter and battery through the woods and hook our cameras to it.

The ten day forecast looks good for early next week, but then again the 10 day forecast is usually a joke. Hope we get plenty of rain though!

If the sky is clean(smoke or haze) and the almost full moon stays hidden, then star trails may be on the agenda. Bring the battery just in case. I'm hoping for cloudy skies and for a few inches of rain a few days before the gathering

Mike, you are carrying the battery.

Like I said, I'm hoping for clouds. Hauling a battery two miles back in there to the falls doesn't sound that great to me!

I have a 10X10 popup tent that I can bring along for the camp if it rains. I hope that I need it!

bring on that rain!

Here is the current list. (please say something if I left you off)
1. Bryan Simpson
2. Dottie Lloyd
3&4. Mike and Karla Hall
5. Glenn Fillmore
6. Rod Kissinger
7. Matthew Kennedy
8. Zack Andrews
9. John Moore
10. Jon Wisniewski
Maybe's
11. Tom Kennon
12. Bob Wyatt.

We also might want to start discussing food arrangements a little. I figure everyone is on there own for Friday night like usual. Although we could get some pizzas from the bakery in Pelsor. I can do some pulled pork or a pork loin (like last fall) for dinner Saturday night. I may include some fresh roasted asparagus as well. I'd love to here what everyone else thinks.

I will come up with something to go with the pork on Saturday night. If anyone wants anything particular, pipe in...I will gladly cook what you want

I'm not much of a cook but I want to contribute. I can bring everything to make sandwiches for lunch; I can bring drinks; I can bring paper plates/cups/plastic utensils; I know Mike plans on bringing an electric coffee maker, but I can also bring a couple of big percolators and make coffee on my Coleman stove.

I'll bring some food also. Something for Saturday night as well. Are we going to mess with breakfast? I know some will be out and about before sunrise.

We might be able to do something for breakfast after we are done shooting Saturday. Unless it looks like it will be cloudy all day then we may want to just make a quick sandwich and keep on shooting.

Zack, what kind of grill is it? Big? Small? Gas? Charcoal?

After starting this thread, I've been remarkably silent since. It has been up in the air if I was for sure going to be able to make it after all (work issues).

As it stands, I will be coming up Thursday night along with my 16 yo daughter Haley. Not sure where we will be shooting Friday morning, but will hook up with everybody Friday evening. Did y'all get any rain at all over the weekend? Are there any waterfalls flowing right now? I'm looking for places to take her Friday morning, and was thinking about Pam's Grotto or Longpool, but if you haven't had any rain, I wonder if they have any water in them. I am open to suggestions (she's been to Falling Water and Six Fingers). If there are no falls, I thought about exploring Hurricane Creek, having never been there myself either. Thanks for any advice you can offer.

As for food, I can certainly bring anything non-perishable. I'll have a cooler with soft drinks and water as well.

Look forward to seeing everybody.

Roll call for Thursday night camping at Fairview is Matt, Zack, Karla and I. Bryan, are you joining us or camping somewhere else? We have not discussed location for Friday morning yet. Weather is looking good for Friday early and going downhill later in the day. Saturday should have some good water running, hopefully not too muddy. Not much of a rain event last night. Look forward to seeing you again.

Hey guys I want to go at least one night not sure which one. I will decide later this week. Put my name on the list as going though.

Mike, I'll be getting in too late Thursday to try and set up a camp, so I plan on staying in a hotel Thursday night probably in Russellville. Since I figure communication is going to be sketchy, rather than try and hook up with you guys on Friday morning, we'll just explore on our own and meet you at Fairview Friday evening.

It will be a late arrival for us. 8ish. Decision for Friday morning adventures will be made at camp. I'm planning on putting a small sign tied to a tree that says "CSNP" near our campsite. I'm pretty sure that I tested my cell phone in the camp area when I was scouting the area and I had was able to get out. My cell is 501-580-0270 for any questions now or during the weekend. I'm sure we will be out for sunrise and early morning shoots. May be back at camp around lunch time each day.

Current list, and I'm adding some food stuff.

1. Bryan Simpson
2. Haley Simpson
3. Dottie Lloyd
4&5. Mike and Karla Hall
6. Glenn Fillmore
7. Rod Kissinger
8. Matthew Kennedy (pork loin and a veggie (probably asparagus, unless anyone opposes) for Sat night
9. Zack Andrews
10. John Moore (sandwich stuff? Maybe for lunch Saturday?)
11. Jon Wisniewski
12. Brian Cormack
13. Gale Rainwater

Anyone else coming? Anyone not coming? Any food I need to add to the list?

Yes I'll be bringing everything to make sandwiches for Saturday and Sunday lunch. Right now my plan is to show up Friday evening, but that may change depending on the weather. I'm looking forward to this.

I do not know if my surgeon will give me a release this Thursday. If he does can someone send me a map of where you will be located on Saturday if I am able to attend at least a short time?

Any suggestions on anything i could bring? I will probably show up sometime early Friday. The rain chances look pretty decent up there for the remainder of the week and on into next week.

Larry, Here is a link to a map. Fiarview is located on Hwy. 7 (Look south from Richland Creek Wilderness label on map)

http://www.fs.fed.us/oonf/ozark/maps/ozarkmap2.htm

Thanks Bryan.

It would be nice to get to meet some of the members.

I will be up there sometime Friday during the day. About a 4 1/2 hour drive and I should be able to leave here in the am. I am bringing some homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast Sat morning, potato salad for either lunch or supper and of course some brownies!

Yummm Dottie!! I'm doing baked beans and rolls for Saturday night...Bringing some fresh pinapple to nibble on. Looks like we may have some storms roll thru...Be rain ready!! Can't wait to see everyone!

Thanks for getting the wood. looks like I will be wrapped up and leaving Jackson Miss around 7am headed home to finish packing and then head for the woods. see ya there! It will be a long day for me with rewards of beauty in the woods! Must go to sleep now! Next three nights will be in a tent!

Mike we left a little wood for you to bring up.

The gnats and skeeters are in full bloom. Take plenty of OFF. I will miss the campout, but may be around Pam's Grotto Sunday morning. Good luck, have fun, and above all else, be careful!

Just back and had tons of fun! We all need some rest so it may be a while before any post come out. Or as member return this afternoon and still full of excitement, you may get a glimpse of what we experienced.

I had a great time; met a lot of great people, went to a lot of great places and took a ton of photos. I can barely keep my eyes open, and it will be tomorrow before I even download my images off the memory card.

Oh yeah, the food Saturday night was awesome. I went back for thirds on all of it!

Hey all,

I had a great time. I think the most fun I had was on the hike to the mysterious Keefe Falls. Not! Ha! So good to meet all of you and see those again that I have met before. Thanks to all who provided the great food!

I had to get the boy scouts to help me get the canopy down and folded. They did their good deed for the day!

I had a great time as well. Thanks to all of you who put that meal together on Sat. night, everything was excellent. If we did more than two gatherings, it would give more people the opportunity to get to one since everyone cant always make it.