Sipsey Wilderness Overnight

[VOC]

I would like to invite all outdoor enthusiasts to join the Venture Outdoors Club. This is a FREE club that will be the hosting several events throughout year. There is currently a backpacking trip planned for the Sipsey Wilderness the First weekend in Nov. keep an eye out on the site for updates and check the calendar to sign up for the trip if you have any questions please email: info (at) ventureoutdoorsc lub.com

http://www.ventureoutdoorsclub.com

[ednotmilkman]

another attempt to organize a fun outdoor club, anonymously !

Good luck,  but I'll stick with groups that have real people to contact.

[greened]

Hey man, you and I have talked about this offline but I figured I'd post this int he forum to show my public support for you and what the group is trying to do. I'll be there if at all possible man, otherwise I'll make a later trip. I know you've gotten some pretty nasty PM's from some on this site and I'd ask that if you don't want to be part of it, fine. If you do, great. If you have criticism, at least make an attempt at making it constructive.  In the end, we're all pretty much like minded people who share the love of the outdoors and I just can't understand trying to tear someone down for trying to promote the outdoors in Alabama.

[wirerat123]

another attempt to organize a fun outdoor club, anonymously !

Good luck,  but I'll stick with groups that have real people to contact.

A comment with quite an arrogant spin on it.  I'd betcha 100 dollars to a doughnut that the person who created and uses the VOC account is a real person!  IMAGINE THAT!

Please let me know what groups you are associated with.

What's the problem with trying to create another outdoors group?  If you have a problem with that, then too bad.  Some of the groups already out there may just be somewhat exclusive, cliquish, and arrogant, as well as have people with attitudes much like the one you are portraying here.  Therefore they are unattractive to those of us who don't care to associate with such.

Seriously, I'd like to know the groups you are associated with.  I'm sure they love your kind of attitude.  VOC, ensure you report the PMs that are inflamatory and offensive to the moderators of this site.  It's not anyone elses business who is trying to start an outdoors group in Alabama, and if they are attacking you for it, then they need to be dealt with.  I for one would like to know who they are so I don't accidentally associate myself with a bunch of jerks.
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(Important)
Now I don't know you, therefore a snap judgement is unfair, and it's certainly not fair to the groups you are associated with.  But I will say this.  You comment is not needed, is counter productive to the purpose of this thread.  This person is trying to start up a club for like minded people to get together and enjoy themselves.  The details may not be fully ironed out, and they are just getting word out for the time being.  If you choose not to recognize the efforts of this individual, then that is fine, move along smartly to your own groups and keep your mouth shut about theirs.  If you choose not to be a part of it, then it's no longer any of your business.


I'm just making a point.  I snap judged you, just like you snap judged VOC.  Kind of a crappy way to go about things huh?  In all honesty, I'll hold personal judgement until I know you better.  And I'm certainly not going to hold any groups you are associated with accountable to your actions as an individual.

[VOC]

Thanks to all for your support.  I assure you, I am a real person.  WireRat, you are right...things are not quite ironed out.  The fact is, it is hiking season and I did not want to miss an opportunity to have fellow outdoorsmen join me for some of the trips I go on.  Therefore the site went online a bit earlier than initially anticipated.  These minor issues will be rectified in time.  

To give you a bit more info about me, my name is Rich.  I am a believer in God, I am the husband to the best wife one could have (if she would only take up backpacking!), I am a patriot and defender to this country and have spent close to 600 days out of a 4 1/2 year span in Afghanistan and Iraq during my time in the military.  I have been shot once, stabbed once, and have had cancer twice.  I fly my flag during the day, have a light on it at night, and take it down in bad weather.  I went to college at Maryland, but was raised right here in Alabama.  My father is a great outdoors man, who taught me most of what I know about the outdoors.  I have seen my grandfather give the shirt off his back to someone he didn't know, and now I only hope I can be half the man he was.

Though a club for grown men and women is a bit silly sounding, if I am going to go out for a hike, or go to north georgia for a weekend of white water, or kayak down the coosa river, why not invite more people, some of which may not have the kind of friends who are that much into the stuff.  I also hope to draw some people in it that may not normally do these kind of things.  Alabama has so many great things to offer outdoor enthusiast.  There is no gimmick to VOC being free.  I pay for the site, etc out of my pocket.  Though you can donate, I do not make it obvious or solicit for it.  I do not sell email addresses to third party for any money; it is just an outdoor social club that is no holds bar, free.

I hope this gives people better insight as to who I am.  As far as the nasty PMs I received, well, maybe those people were having a bad day or maybe they need to get out and enjoy the outdoors more often!  I feel it is no need to draw it out, no one threatened my life so we will just let it be.  I would, however, like to invite them to still join VOC and have some fun.  Feel free to email me anytime about anything at rich (at) ventureoutdoorsc lub.com.  If you want my personal email, just PM me, however I check them both the same.  If you know of a great trip to go on, by all means let me know.  I would love to come out and join you.

As for the Sipsey trip, if you can make it, that is great.  It ought to be a great weekend and the weather should be just right.  

God Bless,
Rich

[weathermansam]

Give me some more info on the event.  I'm free that weekend as it stands now.  Where are you hiking in Sipsey?  I wouldn't mind another camping outing there this year. 

[jaybird]

Rich,  thank you for your services to this country.  I am thankful that your health now is better than it has been in the past.  One thing in your post sticks out, and I'm wondering if you can clarify it for me before I choose to participate in your group.  You state that you are a "believer in God."  This single statement leads me to believe that your group is going to be one of like-minded individuals who have no room or tolerance for those who may not share the same views, or will spend an inordinate amount of time trying to convert those without similar beliefs.  That is your right, but I'm just wondering.  Thanks for your time.

[VOC]

Weathermansam:
The itenary for this hike is posted on the voc website.

If you know of a better route by all means let me know.

Jaybird:  VOC is an outdoor club for like-minded people in the sense of being outdoors (hiking, biking, kayaking, etc).  I do not push my religious beliefs upon anyone and VOC is no type of cult.  I was simply stating who I was in response to an earlier reply that someone left.

I am just trying to organize a group to start regularly getting events together of all kind, pertaining to the outdoors.  I hope all you can come out that weekend.  Please feel free to contact me with any other questions.  

[weathermansam]

For what you're wanting to see, I know of no other route.  There is arguably a higher variety of things to see hiking a loop from the Thompson trailhead, but you lose the views of Buck Rough.  If you had an option of leaving a vehicle at one trailhead and carpooling to the other it'd open up some different routes.  Thompson Creek to Sipsey River, up bee branch, down buck rough and onward to borden creek and the borden trailhead would be a spectacular trip and in the same ballpark distance-wise, and you'd lose the boring 224 hike out.