Camping/Hiking Trip Summer '09

There's been some interest in organizing a camping/hiking trip for all graduate students in the CS department. We are open to suggestions but the basics, at this time, seem to be that:

• the trip would leave on a Friday afternoon (3:00PM) or early evening (6:00PM) and return the next evening (Saturday)
• we would travel to a nearby (within a few hours drive) to a national/state park that allows camping
• transportation would be provided by volunteers with cars, and transportation costs would be reimbursed (following University policy)
• all current/future graduate students in the CS department and their significant others/family/friends would be invited to attend
• free for grad students, guests of a grad student may have to pay (depending on costs and department funds)
• we will bring food with us and cook it at a campsite
• although we will be hiking a good deal of the time, we won't be on difficult/dangerous trails. So, you don't have to be "in shape" in order to enjoy yourself.
• the trip will take place sometime between July and August, to be voted on
• due to limited resources (aka tents), it may be necessary for you to sleep in the same tent as a member of the opposite sex. If this is a problem for you, let me know and we'll work around it.

Here's some at-a-glance information:

There's a bigger list of Pennsylvania State Parks in the Pittsburgh area right here. I've basically picked the biggest 3 / most well known. If you know of another place that should be added to the list, let me know.

We'll be leaving Friday afternoon (July 17th) and returning Saturday evening (July 18th).

The following paragraphs are kept here for archival purposes:

If you are interested in attending, go to this page to vote on some things (date, place, etc.) and let me know what supplies (if any) you have.

We especially need volunteers who have sleeping bags and/or tents. If you don't have either one, that's fine. We can share tents and, if no sleeping bags are available, the summer weather should be good enough so that one can be comfortable in just some blankets. If you have any other camping supplies (e.g., items to help cook food with), those would be welcome too. Please use/follow the voting page to let me know what supplies you can bring.

Remember to charge all electronic devices before the trip.

Here's a list off the top of my head of what everyone should bring:

• $3 to give to your driver (to cover gas & tolls)
• some food (< $5) to share with everyone
• change of clothes (shorts + t-shirt + underwear + socks)
• sleeping bag (if you have one)
• tent (as many as you have / can borrow)
• if desired: more comfortable clothes for sleeping in
• bathing suit & towel (there are lakes for swimming, and also apparently a "natural" waterslide)
• a hooded sweatshirt or jacket, in case it gets cool at night
• normal tennis shoes or hiking boots (if you have them)
• camera (for taking picturesque photos!)
• snacks (trail mix, candy, beef jerky, etc) for energy boosts & eating through out the day (make sure it won't go bad in hot weather)
• sunscreen
• IMPORTANT: a bottle with a screw-on cap, for holding water
• women: feminine hygiene products, if necessary
• if desired: a small amount of bug spray (to keep away mosquitoes / ticks)
• if you have one: a pocket knife
• cellphone
• a backpack (small / normal sized one is fine) to put your things in while walking around

Here's what we also need to bring, as a group:

• a lighter or two, to start a fire in case PJ isn't able to start one with only a stick and a shoestring
• sleeping bags
• tents
• maps of the area and directions to Ohiopyle : I've prepared packets with this information.
• cooking utensils : Roxana will bring these
• a first-aid kit : Roxana has this
• firewood (can be collected at the camp site)
• might be nice: citronella candle to help keep bugs away
• a few flashlights : PJ has offered to bring some