I’ve been aware of FF for the last 2 or 3 winters. It never did sound like something I really wanted to do because it seemed like there was a lot of suffering–mixed in with a little bit of fun. With that in mind, I probably wouldn’t have ever given FF a chance except that a nagging injury kept me out of canyons for most of 2011. When I was medically cleared in late November, I was looking for the first opportunity to get back in a canyon. It turned out that FF was the first and probably only chance I will have until spring 2012.
I couldn’t convince anyone to go with me, but I decided that I would show up to FF on my own and see what happened. Since I didn’t know anyone, I was hoping that some group would let me tag along through a canyon or two–but if not, I would just do a few hikes and then head back home.
In the end, it worked out far better than I had expected—in fact it was AWESOME! I had an excellent 3 days: met some really great people, went through 5 cool canyons, saw a ton of different things blow-up or catch fire in the nightly bonfire, got to rappel off a “bag of sand,” saw a spam sandwich for the first time in about 2 decades, and realized why it might be important to have sacrificial clothing for canyons in NW. I also learned a lot by watching how the experts do things in the canyons.
Thanks to everyone who made my time at FF so enjoyable. I’ll definitely be back for more.
Dave Allison
Ram, one thing you might want to add to your “list” for first time Freeze Festers: If you intend to go to sleep before 1 AM, make sure your tent is a LONG WAY from the campfire or be prepared to improvise some sort of ear plugs—like I said, there are a lot of things blowing up—every night!
RAM
Make that X3. Great meeting you and lets canyon again soon. Perhaps the best part of Freezefest, is the folks brave enough to come, alone or in a group of 2, who know no one. In looking over my pictures I am struck by how many close friendships I can trace back to someone just “showing up” at FreezeFest. Ram
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, Randi wrote:
X2 what Malia said! >  > And you were very fun and nice to be around Dave ~ > Thank you SO much for the loaner helmet for Finch. > Hope you make a habit of FF for sure! >  > ~Randi
— On Wed, 1/18/12, Malia wrote:
> From: Malia To: Yahoo Canyons Group
Date: Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 4:18 PM
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First spam sandwich seen in two decades…LOL! Your summary of the FF experience was a joy to read. Thanks. > It was great to meet you…already looking forward to FFXI! > -Malia > — In Yahoo Canyons Group, “daveinalpine” wrote:
I’ve been aware of FF for the last 2 or 3 winters. It never did sound like something I really wanted to do because it seemed like there was a lot of suffering–mixed in with a little bit of fun. With that in mind, I probably wouldn’t have ever given FF a chance except that a nagging injury kept me out of canyons for most of 2011. When I was medically cleared in late November, I was looking for the first opportunity to get back in a canyon. It turned out that FF was the first and probably only chance I will have until spring 2012.
I couldn’t convince anyone to go with me, but I decided that I would show up to FF on my own and see what happened. Since I didn’t know anyone, I was hoping that some group would let me tag along through a canyon or two–but if not, I would just do a few hikes and then head back home.
In the end, it worked out far better than I had expected—in fact it was AWESOME! I had an excellent 3 days: met some really great people, went through 5 cool canyons, saw a ton of different things blow-up or catch fire in the nightly bonfire, got to rappel off a “bag of sand,” saw a spam sandwich for the first time in about 2 decades, and realized why it might be important to have sacrificial clothing for canyons in NW. I also learned a lot by watching how the experts do things in the canyons.
Thanks to everyone who made my time at FF so enjoyable. I’ll definitely be back for more.
Dave Allison
Ram, one thing you might want to add to your “list” for first time Freeze Festers: If you intend to go to sleep before 1 AM, make sure your tent is a LONG WAY from the campfire or be prepared to improvise some sort of ear plugs—like I said, there are a lot of things blowing up—every night!
> >
Randi
X2 what Malia said!  And you were very fun and nice to be around Dave ~ Thank you SO much for the loaner helmet for Finch. Hope you make a habit of FF for sure!  ~Randi
— On Wed, 1/18/12, Malia msmnificent@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Malia msmnificent@gmail.com> Subject: [from Canyons Group] Re: FF testimonial from a first timer To: Yahoo Canyons Group Date: Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 4:18 PM
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First spam sandwich seen in two decades…LOL! Your summary of the FF experience was a joy to read. Thanks. It was great to meet you…already looking forward to FFXI! -Malia — In Yahoo Canyons Group, “daveinalpine” wrote:
I’ve been aware of FF for the last 2 or 3 winters. It never did sound like something I really wanted to do because it seemed like there was a lot of suffering–mixed in with a little bit of fun. With that in mind, I probably wouldn’t have ever given FF a chance except that a nagging injury kept me out of canyons for most of 2011. When I was medically cleared in late November, I was looking for the first opportunity to get back in a canyon. It turned out that FF was the first and probably only chance I will have until spring 2012.
I couldn’t convince anyone to go with me, but I decided that I would show up to FF on my own and see what happened. Since I didn’t know anyone, I was hoping that some group would let me tag along through a canyon or two–but if not, I would just do a few hikes and then head back home.
In the end, it worked out far better than I had expectedâ€â€in fact it was AWESOME! I had an excellent 3 days: met some really great people, went through 5 cool canyons, saw a ton of different things blow-up or catch fire in the nightly bonfire, got to rappel off a “bag of sand,” saw a spam sandwich for the first time in about 2 decades, and realized why it might be important to have sacrificial clothing for canyons in NW. I also learned a lot by watching how the experts do things in the canyons.
Thanks to everyone who made my time at FF so enjoyable. I’ll definitely be back for more.
Dave Allison
Ram, one thing you might want to add to your “list” for first time Freeze Festers: If you intend to go to sleep before 1 AM, make sure your tent is a LONG WAY from the campfire or be prepared to improvise some sort of ear plugsâ€â€like I said, there are a lot of things blowing upâ€â€every night! >
Malia
First spam sandwich seen in two decades…LOL! Your summary of the FF experience was a joy to read. Thanks. It was great to meet you…already looking forward to FFXI! -Malia — In Yahoo Canyons Group, “daveinalpine” wrote:
I’ve been aware of FF for the last 2 or 3 winters. It never did sound like something I really wanted to do because it seemed like there was a lot of suffering–mixed in with a little bit of fun. With that in mind, I probably wouldn’t have ever given FF a chance except that a nagging injury kept me out of canyons for most of 2011. When I was medically cleared in late November, I was looking for the first opportunity to get back in a canyon. It turned out that FF was the first and probably only chance I will have until spring 2012.
I couldn’t convince anyone to go with me, but I decided that I would show up to FF on my own and see what happened. Since I didn’t know anyone, I was hoping that some group would let me tag along through a canyon or two–but if not, I would just do a few hikes and then head back home.
In the end, it worked out far better than I had expected—in fact it was AWESOME! I had an excellent 3 days: met some really great people, went through 5 cool canyons, saw a ton of different things blow-up or catch fire in the nightly bonfire, got to rappel off a “bag of sand,” saw a spam sandwich for the first time in about 2 decades, and realized why it might be important to have sacrificial clothing for canyons in NW. I also learned a lot by watching how the experts do things in the canyons.
Thanks to everyone who made my time at FF so enjoyable. I’ll definitely be back for more.
Dave Allison
Ram, one thing you might want to add to your “list” for first time Freeze Festers: If you intend to go to sleep before 1 AM, make sure your tent is a LONG WAY from the campfire or be prepared to improvise some sort of ear plugs—like I said, there are a lot of things blowing up—every night! >