Capitanious Journal Note: Lilly pad lotus flowers were out in full bloom during this past weekends paddle on Eaton reservoir.

FULL PACKER PRESS RELEASE: After numerous failed attempts to rectify the most recent misunderstanding among the charter members of the Full Packers; Jambo has been voted as "Man of the Year" by Big Baby Magazine. Congratulations Jambo!!!

FULL PACKER PRESS RELEASE: In an early morning July 12th phone conversation, Rocketman responds to Jambo's recent Full Packer Report submission.

“Why am I being personally attack by Jambo? The Thirsty Moose incident happened more than a decade ago and I have repeatedly apologized for this. It’s time to forgive and forget and move on. Let’s not forget Skylight Mountain, where I donned my 50 pound backpack and reached the summit with the Full Packer Flag, for no other reason than to carry on the tradition of “climbing high" fully packed. While Jambo was nursing his sore back and Capitanious his knee, I was fully packed and heading for the summit in the name of the Full Packers. He forgets about this stuff! He has a very selective memory!!"

Another Jambo Submission:

Although I previously committed to no longer post on the FPR, I am compelled by circumstances to send this final submission.

In the wake of the supposedly resolved controversy, there remain unresolved issues.

In response to Cap’s and Roc’s unilateral decision to rescind the winter meeting vote and head for Mt. Washington, Jambo, as the only charter member to have completed all missions since inception of the organization, took it upon himself to enlist 3 new colleagues into a splinter group to join him for the sanctioned Seward Mountain Mission in the absence of the deserters. This is reminiscient of Algonquin ’97, when the FPs were content to remain at the Thirsty Moose, except for Jambo who angrily shouted “ !@#$ %&!, I ‘m climbing Algonquin, dammit!” To their credit, a certain charter member and the brother of another charter member relented and made the climb as well.

These then are the issues:

Issue#1--- How are we going to accommodate 9 people?
Issue#2---What precisely did Roc do to be awarded the coveted Peace Prize?
Issue#3---How many demerits should be levied against the instigator(s) and accomplice(s) of the “controversy”?

FULL PACKER PRESS RELEASE - JULY 10, 2007: Congratulations to Rocketman for being nominated for the first Full Packer Peace Prize. Rocketman’s recent contribution in extinguishing what could have been a dividing civil war among the Full Packers. He negotiated and calmed the storm that was brewing within the organization. Rocketman truly demonstrated “grace under pressure”.

A jounal entry from a fellow Seward Mountain (4,362') climber:

“The twenty-fourth mountain in order of height in the Adirondacks and another of the peaks that begs the question why climb it? It is only really climbed because it is one to the 46 major peaks since there is little of interest along the route and not much to see once one gets there. Seward is the first peak in the Seward Mountains and it is also the highest in that range.

Like the Santanoni Range this range has a micro climate that is even dryer that the High Peaks and people hiking in the area should be aware of the fact that one has to bring one’s own water source to the area. Fortunately unlike most of the High Peaks the water here is fit to drink at least it was last time I was there in 1998. Seward also in my opinion marks the beginning of the grouping of the most remote of the major peaks.

Though the approach trails are now becoming quite popular as an alternative to Adirodack Loj. Its remoteness also means that the majority of the heard paths in the area are in good shape since they are well defined but see much less traffic than the maintained trails do. As well these paths are due to be upgraded by the 46ers in 2002 and then will be formally marked on the next edition of the ADK map.

The normal route to Seward is to approach from the W and hike into any one of the many camping or lean-tos sites that are found along the Ward Brook Truck Trail. One can also come from the SE from Duck Hole.The unmarked trail to Seward begins about 0.2 of a mile SE of the spot where the trail for Coreys joins the fire truck trail. Just past the bridge there should be a cairn on the right hand side marking the start of the heard path. The trail crisscrosses a brook a number of times avoiding sink and mud holes and the occasional blow down. Well after the brook runs out you should reach the summit wall of Seward. Simply follow it to the left until you can climb up and over it to the summit ridge.

It is then about a 10-15 min walk up to the summit. Many people claim that is trail is quite hard with a lot of mud, little space and many short 5-10 foot scrambles, I myself found it rather enjoyable and not as boring as I expected.”

A Message from Capitanious

Hello and good morning. In a recent posting on the Full Packer Report, it was announced that a behind-the-scenes proposal was in the making, one that would attempt to over-ride the Little Tupper winter meeting vote. After a few weekend emails and late night and early morning discussions with Charter Members of the Full Packers, it has been decided that the winter meeting vote will stand as is. We will continue with the planned trip to Little Tupper Lake this September. This attempted reversal of the vote stems from good intentions, to keep intact the original and ON GOING mission of the Full Packers and that is to climb mountains. I apologize to all who misunderstood the intentions of this action. The Full Packers vote as a team and we will continue to honor this tradition.

I will end on this note: the Full Packers are a mountain climbing organization, the Full Packers will always be a mountain climbing organization. Full Packers will climb mountains until they can climb no more. That philosophy will NEVER go away. We climb mountains, because that’s what Full Packers do!!

Another Jambo Submission:

To all contrarians that would besmirch the integrity of the Full Packer Organization:

Under sanctioned parliamentary proceedings, a vote was taken at the winter meeting. A decision was reached. Accept the decision and deal with it. This is not the Bush administration where the rule of law is discarded to accommodate personal desires.
Since when did FP stand for “ Fickle Packers”. I suppose nobody wants to go to the Roger McGuinn concert. Please remit your $30.00 fee before you change your mind. The tickets have been purchased.

Perhaps the organization has outlived it’s purpose. It used to be “the journey’s the thing”, not the final destination. Well, exxxxxxxxccccuse meeeeeeee! I was mistaken.

This is the final FPR submission by Jambo

A Jambo Submission:

As a daily reader of Syracuse's only daily newspaper, the (Sub) Post Standard, I have come to expect inaccuracies, misspellings and misinterpretations of the facts in every issue. However, I am greatly dismayed by the misrepresentation of the 18th Winter Meeting of the Fullpackers in the most recent FPR press release. Please publish these corrections/clarifications:
·Item#1-- Seward is a 4300+ mountain which will require a 2.5 mile hike to base camp, ascent the next day
·Item#2-- Embracement(sic) should read "embarassment"
·Item#3-- Kayaking expedition will be in addition to Seward ascent
·Item#4-- This will be the most comprehensive expedition ever attempted by the FP's, utilizing all of our backwoods skills
·Item#5-- The FP organization is built on diversity, inclusion and accomodation. No one is left out, even kayakers
·Item#6-- The purpose of the Winter Meeting is to propose and/or counter possible missions. The FPR is only for objective reporting, not criticism after the fact
·Item#7-- After Cap's ambitious, albeit unsanctioned ascent of Mt. Ranier, it was considered prudent to avoid a more strenuous mission in the fall
·Item#8-- Fully half of the 60 minute FP slide show was devoted to kayaking pictures
Although I, as well as the other attendees drank of the traditional brew which is a sacred part of each meeting, I am left to wonder whether I drank too much or attended a different meeting than the reporter. Perhaps said reporter didn't drink enough! -- Jambo

FULL PACKER PRESS RELEASE – July 6, 2007: Smoke signal transmission just received from Jambo

FULL PACKER PRESS RELEASE – July 6, 2007: While this reporter was rummaging through the garbage of Charter Member and Founder of the Full Packers Capitanious. I came across the following completed and transmitted Western Union Telegram. If this telegram is legitimate, we are witnessing history. This action will be the first Charter Member override of a Full Packer vote since its founding in 1989.

FULL PACKER PRESS RELEASE: July 5th, 2007:

Something is not sitting right with me and I will use this well trafficked BLOG to document my concerns and disappointment. I will start with a question or two:

Are you at all excited about this years Full Packer Expedition? I am NOT!

As it stands now, this year will be the first year that the Full Packers have not targeted a mountain to climb. Instead, we are scheduled to kayak the calm flat waters of Little Tupper and then “climb” a “mountain” (<3,000’).

When did we become soft?
When did we decide not to push the envelope?

Full Packers climb mountains first and kayak as a subset of “climbing high”.

I propose that we set our sights on Mt. Washington in New Hampshire this year.

“Mount Washington is the highest peak in the American Northeast at 6,288 ft (1,917 m). It is famous for its dangerously erratic weather, holding the record for the highest wind gust directly measured at the Earth's surface, at 231 mi/h (372 km/h) on the afternoon of April 12, 1934. It was known as Agiocochook, or "home of the Great Spirit", before European settlers arrived.”

The Full Packers HAVE TO climb this mountain.

I say we scrap the Little Tupper plans and set our sights on the highest peak in the northeast.

I call for an emergency meeting of the Full Packers. I hope to have the support of all who claim to be “climbing high” Full Packers.

FULL PACKER PRESS RELEASE: July 5th, 2007: Charter Member of the Full Packers Rocketman confirmed this morning that he recently returned from a solo expedition of Limekiln Lake State Campground, just outside of Inlet, NY. - Wednesday, June 27th.

A reporters note - This was an unsanctioned Full Packer adventure, meaning, he does get bragging rights (for what that's worth), but it does not have the blessing of the Full Packers and cannot be claimed as a Full Packer Expedition. This reporter can only assume this trip was no doubt planned and completed to help set aside the humiliation of the “Phelps Folly” more than a decade ago.

Rocketman reported that during the dark terror of the night, he was continually startled from his sleep by cold blooded predators that lurked just outside his tent. In a moment of unbridled courage, Rocketman left the security of his temporary home and ventured outside into the blind flames of uncertainty. With one quick motion, with cat-like reflexes and heart pounding fear, he tapped the toad away from the side of his tent.