This is an account of the funniest, most disastrous, and crazy learning experience that I have ever had on a wilderness trip. Unlike the previous trips that my close friends and I had taken as a group, we decided to plan and organize this one all by ourselves. That was a big mistake in thinking. Not only did we not fully understand how to organize a wilderness trip, we hadn't even been backpacking in nearly 7 years. In fact, myself and a couple of others had never been backpacking, only canoeing. And worst of all, I proclaimed myself the leader since I was the focal point and main contact for everyone else who was to go on the ill-fated expedition. The following events are told to the best of my recollection, so if anyone that went on this trip has anything to add or subtract from my writings, please let me know. Here goes...

The participants:

• Jeremy Adams - Me! Self proclaimed leader, organizer, and provider of transportation (my father's '89 Suburban -it's a BIG truck/van). I was also the brunt of most of the vicious verbal attacks from close friends/hiking companions due to my self proclaimed leadership role. :)
• Aaron Pifer - Main contributor to initial planning as well as last minute shopping, planning, and organization. Also accompanied me on all previous canoeing trips, and had even been on one backpacking trip, nearly 8 years ago.
• Brad Fisher - Would have helped me plan more of the trip, but too many make out sessions with his then girlfriend, now wife, Nikki, kept him too preoccupied to help. (Ok, his five jobs also didn't help, but women always take away more time than anything else. Don't be offended Nikki.) Same wilderness experiences as the above named Aaron Pifer.
• Brandon Wood - Unable to assist as he too was working and going to school in Michigan with Brad. Same wilderness experiences as Aaron and Brad, minus one canoe trip, possibly the funniest, that he was unable to go on for extenuating circumstances.
• Matt Campbell - Supplied Pur (now sold under the Katadyn label) water filter (our savior each and every day and THE best water filter on the market for the price), and other nifty gadgets that aided in our travels. We would have died without Matt's trinkets and whatnots; figuratively speaking any ways.
• Aaron Alexander - Supplied big feet and a 10 quart camel bag that usually ran out of water halfway through the day due to my unending thirst. (That's right, I was the water hog and was also constantly getting harped on about how much water I drank.)
• Nathan Pifer - One of the 'youngsters' of the trip and Aaron Pifer's little brother. Ok, he is actually bigger than Aaron (sorry Aaron, but it's true), but by age and sibling rivalry bragging rights, he's still Aaron's little brother.
• Justin Wood - Brandon's little brother and the other 'youngster'. Supplied one of the most awkward, heavy army backpacks I have ever seen, proponent of drab green, and general carrier of food stuffs.