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in reply to: How to add a signature and website? #55359
Yeah this has been an odd issue that cropped up around sign-ups. No one is quite sure what the problem is. I believe it is on Chris’ list of “things to fix” when he gets around to it.
Brian
in reply to: Moosilauke #55354It’s all Mike Saltmarsh’s fault. He bailed on us, which SHOULD have meant we got perfect weather. Alas he cursed us! 😆
Ahh that crazy Moosilauke weather. Up until this weekend I had been on the Moose 6 times, and the views to no views ration was exactly 50/50. This weekend now dropped me below .500 for the average…..Moose is becoming the Red Sox of views peaks for me. 🙄 :flag:
in reply to: 2012 Pre-hike notes. #55312@JustJoe wrote:
No worries Jim. The forecast has been getting better over the coarse of the day. This for the general vicinity of the Moose.
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=44.02816061206&lon=-71.81989239257814
Mike has bailed on the Moose group, so that should guarentee great weather. 😆
in reply to: Moosilauke #55179Looking forward to another great time with Team SilentCal! 😀 As has become my tradition I will be displaying my small flags of all 5 branches of the armed services!
in reply to: FOT48 Calendar Pictures. I need your pictures! #55142We on the Steering Comittee have said time and again that we don’t want or need any money for this. It just does not seem right to take money in any shape or form for this….we don’t want to benifit from the tragedy at all or even appear to be financially benifiting from it. So thank you for the offer, but we would have to decline. Maintinance costs are minor for the site, so the money is not really needed. 8)
Brian
in reply to: Helicopter photos #55101@gidave1978 wrote:
I’ve uploaded the pix from our flight to all their respective folders in the gallery. Thanks again for the amazing experience!
No, thank YOU! Not just for the service you guys give to this country, but for providing what was a great capper to this years event. In years past it was the Air Force jet jocks getting the glory by showing off. 😀 It was quite a surprise to see you out there instead! I bet it made you feel better to be flying around out there for “fun” rather than the usual sad business of SAR. :flag:
Brian
@sdways01 wrote:
Some great accounts and stories, but I have to ask… how the heck did you fold back up a flag that big?
The flag came up on the tram folded in the traditional triangle, but due to room, conditions (it was pretty windy up there) it had to go back down the tram roughly bundled up. Jim is (assuming he hasn’t already) going to fold it back up properly where he is staying for the week.
Jim had toyed with the idea of hiking the monster flag up himself, but I vetoed his plan. I didn’t need him killing himself. ANd I tell ya, that flag had to weigh a good 40 pounds…so add that to the rest of a regular pack load….yikes!!!! 😀
Brian
I guess if we are going to wax philosophical I will add my memories to this as well….
I came into the event in 2006. I had only started hiking in 2005, and due to a number of excuses I could not join Jim that year on Moosilauke after he invited me. It was a bit of an honor considering I had only known him through the forums and a brief visit on a Mt. Martha/Owl’s Head hike. That was the same trip I met Bill (Pucknuts). In 2006 I found my way on to Bill’s team led by his ever inventive friend Brownie. It would come to pass that Bill would not only become a great friend, but that I would spend every event but one (2008) in his company. In 2008 I joined Jim’s team on Ike, and that was also the year I had the absolute humbling honor of joining the steering committee for the Flags on the 48 event. 2009 was the first chance I had to actually feel like I was doing something when Jim went on an ocean cruise that encompassed event weekend (and which he still gets hell for 😆 ), but sadly I would have to again take over Jim’s job after his life altering moment. Since he was to lead our charge up Tom I went into emergency mode trying to cobble a rig together. Always dependable, Bill stepped up to help out. I provided the flag, he threw a pole together, and on 5 days notice we had a serviceable unit ready to fly.
So coming into 2011 it was going to be very special for many reasons. Once again I would be spending an important day doing something wonderful with old and new friends. I would be remembering 10 long years of the ghost of what 9/11/01 left behind it. I would be getting my little buddy back after a 2 year hiatus. My parents, who don’t hike, would be able to see our handy work (part of the reason we chose to do Cannon, with the tram nearby to provide access). And we would be pulling off one hell of a trick by flying what will probably go down in history as the largest flag to ever fly for this event. The salute by the Army National Guard helicopter was a fitting tribute. Jim had heard a rumor it would be the Air Force/Air National Guard. But somehow I think a New Hampshire Guard unit paying tribute to hikers on New Hampshire mountains was much more fitting.
So here I am, 6 events later, reflecting on what this has meant for me. I don’t know if I am going to shock everyone or not, but to me I love this event for all the happiness it brings. Yes, happiness. I know that the reason we do it was brought to us under the most horrifying and saddening of events. But to me, seeing everyone having fun and enjoying the day in a respectful way, it just reinforces to me that the terrorists who perpetrated the attacks of 9/11 may have taken down 4 planes, 2 buildings, the Pentagon and thousands of innocent lives. But they failed to break our spirit. You can kick a man when he is down, but it will take a lot more to break his spirit. I am happy, healthy, living and breathing. Where is Osama Bin Laden? Need I say more?
So to Bill: Thank you for allowing me to be there for the first event I attended. For being a great friend. For being you. Your awesome dude. 8)
And to you Jim…my little friend….my buddy….my brother….thank you for being one hell of a guy. There are a few people behind the scenes of Flags who do their thing, but you really are the rock that anchors it. I am glad I was able to dissuade you from taking the course you were planning on a year ago and that you picked yourself up, soldiered on, and didn’t let tragedy keep you down. There were hundreds of people this weekend who are glad too, whether they knew it…and you…or not.
Brian
in reply to: signup stats #54844Currently holding at 44 of 48. Washington, Owl’s Head, Madison (!) and Galehead are still open for the taking!
Brian
in reply to: 2011 Ten years of Flags #54775And so it begins! :flag: 8) :flag:
Brian
@Sherpa Tom wrote:
It was an incredible day and we flew an Iraqi, Canadian & Brazilian flag along with my wife’s retirement flag from 22 years as an Army reservist.
Rock on man! I love hearing this because we occasionally have detractors who complaine about this event being political and/or being too egocentricly focused on the USA. But we have always said “fly whatever you want” (within taste of course). Some people will never get it through their heads that this is about 2,819 people (not all of which were Americans) and not the politics or policies that that tragedy spawned.
Brian
in reply to: Flying the Flags at Half Staff #54751@McRat wrote:
I do not think I could add another 30 feet to the flagpole rig and restrain myself from using it.
Had anyone else but Russ made this comment I would have taken it as a joke. But knowing Russ then I am sure he is dead serious. 😆 :flag:
Brian
It’s never too soon to start planning for next year folks! And the next one is a big one, so let’s make the next one the best year yet!
Brian
in reply to: Peak Traffic #54736Well, all those people are going to go wether we open it up to more or not. At least the way things are right now we can at least show some semblence of complying with proper LNT principles.
Brian
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