So I'm guessing you are saying it doesn't quite cut the mustard? ;)...:D

Alan

I LOVE rock climbing, at least in the one gym I've been to :P Just one more reason for me to hate living below sea level.

Whatever you got lets go do it. I always like pushing all the buttons to see what happens.

Hi Alan ..... you found some awesome links for us ..... the waterfall looks like a must-see! Thanks for all the preliminary research.

Although I am not 100% sure that I will be able to make the camping portion, I did vote for group accommodations (with fingers crossed for the lodge) :) and for hiking.

I must admit I'm not completely familiar with the area...err...being some 5000 miles away :facepalm:...:xD:, but it would be great if the sleeping venue had the range of facilities from a lodge through to a few tres fo hammocks to be strung. Then we could all be together for like a base camp and then pick from a variety of hikes to suit everyone's tastes. Must be possible I would have though. Plenty of time to plan yet, though, I'm sure.

No one has asked for my thoughts on this; but ..... I see two possible negatives for having the camping trip ahead of the meetup.

The first is ..... wasn't this particular time period for the meetup chosen so that students will have the best possible chance of attending .... those few days beforehand might make a difference to some of them who wanted to camp.

The second is ..... it seems as though having the camping beforehand would diminish the actual day of the reunion when EVERYONE comes together for the official start of the meetup. (THAT should be one of the most memorable moments of the meetup ) I say that because the campers would have already bonded and made a lot of memories and inside jokes that will make the rest of the group (the non-campers) feel like outsiders. We have all been in a position like that and it is not the feeling of family and clan that we hope to promote. .:(

Are there any objections to having the camping after the meetup? Thanks for letting me have my say. :)

Kaltxi Ghaziya :)

A lot of us have thought about both options, weighing the pros and the cons of both. It is not officially before the meetup yet, but things are headed that way.

The dates (July 19-23rd) for the actual meetup were chosen to be in the middle, so that it was a few weeks before school started at least and a few weeks after school started at the least. Either choice I don't think there will be any conflicts with school. (hopefully)

Yes, I do agree that this is a major factor in deciding things like this. And although people would be arriving at different times for the actual meetup if the camping was afterwards, it is still a factor in that people will have met for a few days before hand.

I think things are still open and we should confirm one way or the other next Friday.

Kaltxi Aketuan ~

Thanks for "listening" to my concerns and for your response. :)

I, unfortunately, can probably only make a pre-meetup camping trip. As after the meetup I'll be pressed for time to get to Finland to start my summer vacation.

Yup. Too much vacation. What a problem that is to have.

- Mikko

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/the_difference.png

- Mikko

KalTXí Ghaziya :) *wave*
I wasn't with you in Seattle (well, not physically :P) & you folks would know better but I remember that some members arrived earlier & some later - & it Was a family feeling after all. So - 4 fingers x-ed - this ^^^about feeling out won't last long... Hmmm? I wouldn't know but I sure hope for nice & fast all-bonding!

anyway, as Aketuan said, we can still talk about it as much as needed & find the best solution!

Miko

You know me so well!!

In terms of group dynamics, you're absolutely right. When people are added to a group, it has to go back to square one for relationship building. Less so when people are subtracted. So in an extended meet up, you prefer the group to be getting smaller, not larger.