Arkansas Meet Alabama Winter Campout

[NatureFish]

It's past time I met some of the geocachers I have heard such great things about, so I want to put together such an opportunity!

I will arrive at an as-yet-to-be-determined camping park on a to-be-determined Friday, along with a few AGA (Alabama Geocaching Association (alacache.com)) geocachers and make camp.

Saturday we'll have a meeting room or pavilion (depending on the weather) available all day. We'll have a poker run, do some local caches and at ~5 p.m. have a get together where we'll have some fun and I will present the results of the Reviewer Appreciation Awards and prizes for the poker run.

Saturday night we can do a bonfire if weather permits or have a group night cache run around the area.

I want to do this on a date when and at a location where most of those being nominated for my Reviewer Appreciation Award can be there, and so seek the input of all of those so far nominated as to a date and place.

As far as place, a state park that has a restaraunt in it or nearby, has cabins and / or a hotel for non-campers would be nice!

Cache density isn't a concern, for me at least, as I plan this to be a social event more than a geocaching one!

Let me know and I will set it up!
Ed

[LadyEngineer]

Ed,

The perfect place (my opinion) for that type of event would be Petit Jean. It is an easy drive from Russellville and Morrilton for those that want to say in a hotel, but there is a lodge and cabins up there too. You can pitch a tent or pull in a camper and there is lots of space. There is a resturant on the top plus some awesome hiking trails. Your also within driving distance of the caching capital of Arkansas, Clarksville, and not too far from Burns Park. Besides the natural beauty of the location. It is a place that my family just loves to go to.

http://www.petitjeanstatepark.com/

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=russellville,+arkansas&ll=35.278137,-92.82074&spn=0.60875,1.249695

LE

[NatureFish]

Provided it's a good location for most attendees, Petit Jean looks marvelous!

They do, however, have a 2-night-stay requirement for the Mather Lodge. I do not as yet have any idea how many plan to rent a room there instead of camp, but when I saw that lodge I immediately thought it would be a great place where we could all stay together!

I may do that anyway instead of camp, if in fact this park is selected; stay Friday and Saturday nights in the lodge and use the lodge meeting room and restaraunt. Anyone else interested in this?

I hosted an event for 60+ in a park just like this this weekend - GCRR1P http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=2de99102-6cc8-4588-a6c6-8846bd442195
and it was by all accounts a huge success!

Certainly a place to consider!

Date? What does the weekend of February 25 or March 3 sound like? Too soon?

[Geezer_Veazey]

Petit Jean State Park is an excellent choice; a very scenic area with caches in park and nearby. Here are some pictures, all made while caching in the park.

http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/log/1967849_300.jpg

http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/log/2850b569-b03a-48a9-9731-a05339d28a75.jpg

http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/log/15c290b6-9de7-45d7-962b-97e3fdbddca3.jpg

http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/log/1caa941d-89ad-4a43-95fc-5cf1640969d3.jpg

http://img.groundspeak.com/track/log/1cc83ae5-79c0-4283-8dd9-c966b1a2f5cb.jpg

It's also close to home so I could take it in. Looking forward to meeting NatureFish and this select group.

Guy

[Phantom_491]

Here's a different view of the point overlooking the valley.

http://img.groundspeak.com/benchmark/lg/e1a04164-d013-43fb-8fff-c0a75f7b7d3d.jpg

And the benchmark nearby.

http://img.groundspeak.com/benchmark/lg/014315bf-b9d6-4640-ad55-0a49fed28639.jpg

[Gaddiel]

Petit Jean is an excellent choice. As a bonus, there are several nice caches nearby, too. Since it's close to us, I'm sure we could attend, as long as we have a couple of weeks notice...

Wayne

[Geezer_Veazey]

The benchmark pictured above is actually nail placed in the approximate location of where the benchmark was. It was placed by the Corps of Engineers I think but I'm not sure. See the NGS recovery note dated 9/26/89: http://img.groundspeak.com/benchmark/lg/af412476-d6bc-49f2-9580-ce89568639e1.jpg

There are two reference marks to the bench mark and one is inside the boardwalk. I didn't take time to find the other.

http://img.groundspeak.com/benchmark/lg/af412476-d6bc-49f2-9580-ce89568639e1.jpg

There are also at least 3 waymarks in the park and perhaps by the meeting date I can have some more.

Lodge, camping, hiking, scenic, historic, geocaches, benchmarks, waypoints!!! Go Petit Jean.

[nonnipoppy]

Pettit Jean Park is a great spot. We will try to attend to meet whomever might be there. But since #1 daughter is with child and the "event" is tentavively scheduled for Feb 12 poppy has little control over his schedule at this time. If we can we will.....poppy

[OldRiverRunner]

I'm not sure I saw a date posted anywhere, but I will definitely be there unless I'm out of state.

Regarding places to stay, there's a motel on the mountain, just a little east of the park. I don't recall the name, but I'll see if I can find out (Cedar Falls Lodge, maybe?). Also, the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas has a lodge on the east end of the mountain, just 2 or 3 miles from the park, that can be rented. I think the charge is $200 a night, with several bedrooms (4 or 5). I believe up to 15 can sleep there easily. If I remember correctly, there's a lawn area and a camp fire pit back of the lodge, with a great view off the cliffs into the valley. My son's fraternity has a retreat up there twice a year, and have been amazed how nice the place is. I'll see if I can get more specific details on it, if anyone is interested in going in together on it.

ORR

[cfd29]

Team CFD29 will try to make it, as that is not far from home (Clarksville), depending on my work schedule will put it as a prioity to attend as soon as a firm date is set, sounds like fun!!

[GEO]

When is this going to be?

I have been to Petit Jean also.
I got most of the High Benchmarks.
Got the few caches that were there at the time.
Love Turtle Rocks.
The Caves.
I would like to meet a greet there.
Depending on date.

[Woodwalker9]

This is a wonderful idea and I believe Petit Jean would make the perfect spot. I've marked my calendar and will certainly be there.

[nonnipoppy]

Date? What does the weekend of February 25 or March 3 sound like?


The March date works well for us if the wee one has decided to arrive......poppy

[NatureFish]

So it looks like March 3 at Petit Jean suits most? Consider it a plan!

[Gaddiel]

Don't know yet if we can make it for the campout on Friday nite, but we'll be there on Saturday. Sounds like a blast!!!

Wayne

[nonnipoppy]

In a flip flop worthy of a politician due to outside influences I find that the March weekend will not work for us.......poppy

[arkansas_stickerdude]

count me in. I can not wait.

[cachemates]

If nothing happens we will be there. Sounds like fun. Petit Jean is one of our favorite parks.

[cachecrazies]

We're hoping to make it too! If we do, we'll be staying in the lodge so probably need to make reservations soon. Looking forward to it.

[NatureFish]

Nonnipoppy can't make the March 3rd date suggested, but other nominees can.

I don't think everyone will make it on any particular date, but I want the most there that can be, so anyone so far nominated for recognition please vote here and we'll pick a date where the most of those nominated can come!

Feb. 25th

March 3rd

Another date (be specific!)

Ed

[Gaddiel]

I'm free any weekend except Mar 18th and 25th.

[OldRiverRunner]

I'll be in OK City the weekend of Feb. 25 and I'll be on call-out duty for work the weekend of March 3, so I won't be able to make it either of those weekends. Any other weekend in Feb. or Mar. works for me, though. -- ORR

[BACKPACKNJACK]

I vote for any of the above, or if it will get me out of dusting around here or burning brush, all of the above. :D

[NatureFish]

You're not helping, folks - I need dates when you CAN make it, not when you can't! 8O :D

[OldRiverRunner]

Sorry! I CAN make it the weekends of Feb. 4, 11, and 18, and March 11, 18, and 25. -- ORR

[cachecrazies]

We can make it ANY Saturday in February or early March until the 18th.

Bob is starting a new job tomorrow (at the soon to be famous) Visitors Center at Bull Shoals State Park and may not be able to take off on Fridays now but we can still be there on Saturdays or Sundays.

Off the wall suggestion - If nothing else works out for everyone - what about waiting until the Meet & Greet in Clarksville in April? I think most everyone has cleared their calendar for that one already. You could choose whether to announce the "winners" now or then.

edited to include P.S.

P.S. March 25th is MOGA!

I'm not a nominee, I'm a newbie still, but the 25th works better for me. I might be able to make it on the 3rd, but it's more iffy.

[Gaddiel]

You're not helping, folks - I need dates when you CAN make it, not when you can't! 8O :D

:oops: We CAN be there:
Feb 4, 11, 18, 25
Mar 4, 11

[LadyEngineer]

We can be there:

Feb 18

Mar. 4, 18, 25

Apr 15

LE

[Woodwalker9]

I will be able to attend any weekend in February(4, 11, 18, 25) and March 4, 11, or 18.

[LadyRedbug]

Has an event been listed for this? If not, will there be?

[OldRiverRunner]

What's the story with this? Has a date been set yet? You can't please everyone, so you might as well go ahead and set a date and not worry about who can or cannot attend. -- ORR

[NatureFish]

OK, looks like March 18th at Petit Jean State Park!

I will put up an event page tonight.

Thanks for all the input - it helped!

I will start a new thread to avoid confusion - will a moderator please lock this one?

Ed