Homer,NY October,28,2006: A joyous reunion of the Woodstock generation was celebrated this past Saturday at the Center for the Arts in Homer New York. There, to welcome Richie Havens,the opening act for the original Woodstock Festival in 1969, was an assembly of familiar faces who had either attended the '69 festival or have made a pilgrimage to the site in the ensuing years. Pictured, left to right are Jo Jo Gunne(First Light), Richie Hutchins(Jambo) Richie Havens(Richie Havens) and Leon Leecher(Rocketman). Prior to his performance, several minutes were devoted to reminiscing about the past. Richie was generous enough to award his compatriots an official Richie Havens triangular guitar pick(plectrum). After much deliberation, it was determined that Richie Havens is 65, Jo Jo Gunne 59, Richie Hutchins 42 and Leon Leecher 58. All in attendance look forward to a reunion next fall, assuming no one buys the farm.

FULL PACKER DATELINE NEWS RELEASE – 10/15/06 – 10:31am: An anonymous source has told this reporter that upon returning the Mt. Adams rental van, Cosmos – our spiritual and cosmic mystic - incurred an unexpected additional charge of $130. So please make every effort to send Cosmos your share of this additional fee, which would be $26.

I have been told that he plans on bringing up this matter at the 2007 Winter Retreat and Post Mission Meeting in January. This reporter feels that there is no reason why Cosmos should not be reimbursed long before this meeting.

After a painstaking and exhaustive Google research, we here at the FPR have determined that Rocketman did not plagiarize the words “Full Packers don’t ask why, they just keep on hiking high.” However the investigation still continues regarding the “coincidence” regarding the lead in portion of the “Ballad of the Full Packers.”

Rocketman's response:

"I read the blog. This simply is an unbelievable coincidence. I have never in my life heard that version of Ira Hayes. I have only heard Johnny Cash's version and doesn't say those words at the start of his song. And I swear my honor to the FULLPACKERS. Like I say this is just a coincidence."

An email sent to me by Jambo:

My Impressions:

I knew Peter LaFarge.
Peter LaFarge was a friend of mine.
Rocketman is no Peter LaFarge!

I know Kinky Friedman(and the Texas Jewboys)
Kinky Friedman is a friend of mine.
Rocketman is no Kinky Friedman!

I know Rocketman.
Rocketman is a Full Packer
Rocketman is no plagiarist!

A meat stylist? Yes!
A flautist? Yes!
A blossoming homosexual? Yes!

A Dee Jay exposed to a multitiude of obscure songs? Yes!
A man that should shave his head and mustache? Yes!
A man that should quit already with the prepubescent bathroom humor? Yes!

A plagiarist? Absolutely not!
You know it! I know it! The American people know it!

Chalk this up to coincidence.

FULL PACKER DATELINE NEWS RELEASE – 10/13/06 – 8:35am: This morning - which just happens to be Friday the 13th - started out like any other morning for this investigative reporter. My morning commute to the office was uneventful as usual, just another drive down Rte. 481 south to the Jamesville exit at around 8:15am. With a cup of "joe" (black coffee) in one hand and shifting the old five-speed Ford with the other, I concentrated on the day ahead and looked forward to the weekend.

When listening to the radio in the morning, I have a nasty habit of alternating back and forth from NPR (National Public Radio) to “Imus in the morning”. Yes, I understand the contrast of irony that comes with that clash of popular cultural medians, but it keeps me awake when I would rather be back in bed.

While switching back and forth between stations, I suddenly became interested in a story regarding a newly released movie, “Flags of our Fathers” and the story within the story about one of the characters, Ira Hayes, who helped raise the flag on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945. Below is a brief bio on Mr. Hayes.

“…at age 23, an event occurred that would forever place Ira Hayes in this nation's history books and irrevocably change his life. On a hilltop above a Pacific island, a small group of Marines struggled to raise the American flag to claim victory over the Japanese occupancy. As the flag was being raised, Ira rushed to help his comrades just as the photographer snapped what was to become one of the most famous pictures in history. That picture was the "Flag Raising At Iwo Jima" and it is Ira's hands that are outstretched to give the final thrust that planted this symbol of American victory. Six men were caught in that photograph, three of them died shortly afterwards. The battle of Iwo Jima was a costly one for our troops. Only 5 of Ira's platoon of 45 survived and of his company of 250, only 27 escaped death or injury.” Source - http://thegoldweb.com/voices/irahayes.htm

To end the segment, Don Imus, the old curmudgeon radio personality played a tune titled “The Ballad of Ira Hayes”. This particular version of the song was sung by Kinky Friedman, singer, songwriter and of lately, a politician.

I could go into dramatic detail as to what I did and thought in the next few seconds while driving and after hearing the opening line of the song, but I won’t. However it's a moment I will never forget. I would like to, but I will never forget where I was and what I was doing. Everything that I had ever believed in, anything that I concidered "good" came crashing down around me in those few seconds, nothing seemed true and honest anymore, the days of Full Packer Camelot seemed to be over.

Let me just say that this investigative reporter knew that he had lucked onto a BIG scoop, a BIG story, something that will rock the foundations of the Full Packers for years to come. And so with my cup of joe and a tapping of the foot, I turned up the radio and heard the following words of “The Ballad Of Ira Hayes”:

“Gather around me, people
There's a story I would tell
About a brave young Indian
You should remember well”
(1964), written by Peter LaFarge)

I slammed on the brakes and pulled off the side of the road and tried to catch my breath. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, it sounded so familar, it sounded so incredibly like “The Ballad of the Full Packers” written by our own Rocketman. But how could it be? The Friedman song was written in 1964 by Peter LaFarge, while Rocketman's song was written shortly after the birth of the Full Packers in 1989. Something did not make sense, something smelt bad, real bad!! And while sitting idle at the side of Rte. 481 south, I tired to remember how our beloved song went, I could hear Rocketman singing it, starting out with those familar lead in lines...

“Gather around me, people
There's a story I must tell
About three gallant Full Packers
Who climb the mountains well”

Even the title of the song seems to have been - to use a lessor word - "borrowed". I've got a word for you, how about “Plagiarism”. One online definition of plagiarism reads as follows, “The willful act of presenting another person's work as one's own.”

Is Rocketman willfully presenting another person's work as his own?

This reporter upon arriving at his office threw his fedora and briefcase to the floor, got a new cup of coffee because the old coffee stunk and tasted like the rot of this story.

I would like to go on the record and say that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, however Rocketman has a lot of explaining to do.

This reporter has some more investigation to do regarding this allegation of plagiarism. I do not take these charges lightly, it sickens me to even talk about it. However, I will do my job and try and contact Rocketman for his side of the story.

I have always said, “if something stinks it's because something is rotten”. There is something rotten going on here! One question - what would “Hopscotch” think? He loved that song so much.

Stay tuned for more details regarding this developing story….

Another posting submitted by Jambo. Although the nature of this posting has nothing to do with "climbing high" it does have a beer connection, which apparently has a high importance factor among the Full Packers, so the editorial staff of the FPR will allow its submission.

POMPEY, NY 10/6/06: Earth Mother and Jambo decided to conduct a blinded taste test of select autumnal beverages at the Road Kill Café this past Friday. The RKC is a popular hang out for the Full Packers and the Ladies Auxiliary.

In keeping with the season, Jambo was able to secure 5 different Pumpkin Ales from his travels--Saranac, Post Road, Smuttynose, Shipyard and Blue Moon. A blinded taste test was conducted with two endpoints in mind:

1) Identify each selection by brewer
2) Select the best overall ale

Each candidate was fitted with a blindfold and given a pencil and vote pad to record each determination.

Herewith are the results:

Best overall: Saranac/Smuttynose(tie)

Earth Mother: 3 correct determinations

Jambo: 3 correct determinations

Interestingly, both candidates confused Blue Moon with Shipyard. The taste of each was indistinguishable from the other. We realize that others may disagree with the findings, but based on our experienced and refined palates, we are confident that our determinations will be substantiated by subsequent evaluations.

The following was submitted by Jambo:

BENNINGTON, VT 10/1/06 Upon completion of a successful ascent of the imposing Mt. Adams in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Full Packers, under the recommendation of Capitainious visited the grave of the late Robert Frost, Poet Laureate during the Kennedy administration. After much contemplation and reflection, Jambo suggested that the crew had better get going because we had "miles to go before we sleep", not conciously making the connection with the famous Frost poem. All in attendance got scaret at the coincidence and quickly headed for the vehicle. Cosmos could not offer an explanation despite his familiarity with the realm of the supernatural.

When Jambo related the incident to Earth Mother at the Road Kill Café, she decided to research the poem in an inherited collection of Frost poetry. This book had not been opened since Jambo's late mother had read it some years before. Noticing a bookmark, Earth Mother opened the page only to find the above mentioned poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." This is not the first time the Full Packers have experienced such a strange event. Nor the last!

Three nights after their successful summit climb of Mt. Adams, the Full Packers spend their last night in the Crawford Notch area of New Hampshire tenting out. Rocketman entertains the Full Packers and Mark “Hopscotch” (not shown in photo) in a rendition of “White Christmas” Ian Anderson style.

Capitanious, Jambo, Rocketman and Cosmos on the summit of Mt. Adams in New Hampshire. They mark up another successful summit climb for the Full Packers.

Jambo and Rocketman repack their summit supplies, preparing to descend the mountain. High winds and storms clouds are quickly changing the visibility. Getting down off the mountain safely is now a concern.

Cosmos enjoys his summit snack shortly before the Full Packers hasty decent from Mt. Adams.

Jambo braces himself against the summit sign in the high winds.

Rocketman and Cosmos enjoy thier time on the summit of Adams.

Jambo takes in the view from the summit. On coming storm clouds are moving in fast.

Rocketman celebrates another mountain victory!!

Capitanious at the summit of Mt. Adams.

Working his way to the summit, Cosmos relaxes in the foreground. Looking back down Lowe’s Path.

Capitanious takes in the view, high above the clouds.

Cosmos evaluates the situation.

Jambo takes break among the rock heading up Mt. Adams.

Warning signs did not turn the Full Packers around!

The Full Packers pause for a presummit photo the morning of the climb.

Rocketman finally gets out of bed the morning of summit day.

Firstlight starts the summit day with a bowl of oatmeal.

Cosmos prepares his breakfast the morning of the summit climb. Jambo got all the Full Packers up early (5:30am).

Rocketman takes one more walk before calling it a night at the Log Cabin.

The Full Packers have found their sleeping spots for the night.

Evening settles in on the Log Cabin. Time to start thinking about summit day!!

Capitanious takes a break on the porch of the Log Cabin.

Jambo’s backpack contents are well divided into organized compartments for ease of locating food, warm weather gear and personal need items.

Firstlight unpacks and settles in.

The Log Cabin becomes Full Packer territory with the donning of the Full Packer Flag.

The Log Cabin is nestled in the forest, hidden within the western shadow of Mt. Adams. Finding the Log Cabin empty was a wonderful surprise for the Full Packers. Firstlight takes advantage of a homemade log bench sitting on the porch of the Log Cabin.

Firstlight makes his way up a steep portion of the trail; approaching the “Log Cabin”.

Firstlight and Rocketman looking good on the trail!

Jambo rests along the Lowes Path Trail leading up to the “Log Cabin” and the summit of Mt. Adams.

Cosmos shows his patriotism to all who may be hiking behind him. His hat has summitted most if not all of his climbs.

Rocketman displays his strategic backpack system; a dual bag approach to the climb. His is prepared and ready to go.

First Light helps Cosmos with his backpack at Lowes General Store in Gorham, NH.

Rocketman heats up his controversial turkey stew, using his back packing Coleman propane stove in the motel room in Gorham, NH. The Full Packers eat a hearty meal the evening before heading off on the trail.

The Full Packers stopped of at a local McDonald’s in New Hampshire to find our exact location on the State map.

After departing once we returned a second time to Rocketman’s house. Here we are loading the controversial turkey stew.

FULL PACKER DATELINE NEWS RELEASE – 9/6/06 – 2:35am: FULL PACKERS CLIMB MT. ADAMS!!!! The Full Packers successfully climb to the summit of Mt. Adams this past Thursday, September 28, 2006. With this climb they broke their previous assent and summit height records and they added New Hampshire as another climbing state. (Right – The Official 2006 Summit Photo) The staff of the FP report will be adding more photos throughout the coming weeks. CONGRADULATIONS FULLPACKERS!!