Gatlinburg Games '09

**lickstone** · 8th March 09, 09:29 AM

I am a newbie and would like to attend the games. Could you please give me more info?

Originally Posted by ScottEPooh

Just seeing who among the rabble will be attending the Gatlinburg Games this year? They will be May 15-17th this year, and the music this year looks pretty good. Anyone want to plan a meet-up?

**HeathBar** · 8th March 09, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by lickstone

I am a newbie and would like to attend the games. Could you please give me more info?

http://www.gsfg.org/

Above is the website for the games. I've only been once, but it is a good one. Just a warning to those who have never been. If it rains, bring some shoes you don't mind getting muddy. The events take place on a highschools practice field. And the type of soil lends itself to ankle deep mud.

**TNKiltedWolf** · 8th March 09, 03:38 PM

That's the anniversary weekend for us, and we've already made plans to rent a nice room somewhere, and be there for the games! It would be great to have an official time for us all to meet up.

**Barclay** · 9th March 09, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by HeathBar

http://www.gsfg.org/

Above is the website for the games. I've only been once, but it is a good one. Just a warning to those who have never been. If it rains, bring some shoes you don't mind getting muddy. The events take place on a highschools practice field. And the type of soil lends itself to ankle deep mud.

Aye. Ghillies are a poor choice! LOL Also, get there early - parking at the school is at a premium, otherwise they are great venue, small but lots of fun! It's also the only place that I've seen not one, but two, cabers crack and break because of the poor, muddy footing....that was the year you and KiltedCodeWarrior were there, wasn't it Heath?

For some reason, I am really looking forward to Gatlinburg this year.

**HeathBar** · 10th March 09, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by Barclay

Aye. Ghillies are a poor choice! LOL Also, get there early - parking at the school is at a premium, otherwise they are great venue, small but lots of fun! It's also the only place that I've seen not one, but two, cabers crack and break because of the poor, muddy footing....that was the year you and KiltedCodeWarrior were there, wasn't it Heath?

For some reason, I am really looking forward to Gatlinburg this year.

Yup, that was the one and only year I was there. I think there is more parking at the back entrance, its just not as well known. Or is that where the vendors and clan tent folks park. I'm going to have to plan out a route for the drive from the cabin to the school. Although, early in the morning the traffic may not be so bad between PF and G'burg. I'll be coming from Wears Valley Rd.

I'm looking forward to the mountain stroll (kilted hike) on Friday morning. Plus the parade.

**beowulf67** · 12th March 09, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by Barclay

Aye. Ghillies are a poor choice! LOL Also, get there early - parking at the school is at a premium, otherwise they are great venue, small but lots of fun! It's also the only place that I've seen not one, but two, cabers crack and break because of the poor, muddy footing....that was the year you and KiltedCodeWarrior were there, wasn't it Heath?

For some reason, I am really looking forward to Gatlinburg this year.

Hey I was competing that year and was on the field when both cabers were broken-by the same man!!!

It was so muddy the weights and hammer would just disappear into the ground when they landed.
We had a lot of fun that day!

**budd4766** · 10th March 09, 08:00 AM

I plan to be there...probably Saturday at the earliest, though. I'll be the one with the sad, "kilt-envy" face on...

**ScottEPooh** · 12th March 09, 09:30 AM

One of the first years I attended, it was a nice, sunny day, and someone joked that the sun was the cause for a smaller turnout, as Scots just don't feel at home unless it's cold and rainy!!

**piperdbh** · 12th March 09, 10:28 AM

How do you break a caber? I'd think hard ground would be worse on them than soft ground.

**beowulf67** · 13th March 09, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by piperdbh

How do you break a caber? I'd think hard ground would be worse on them than soft ground.

The first one hit the ground while standing up straight and that cracked it, then it fell over and when it hit lengthwise that finished it off.
When Mike fell with the 2nd one, (yes the same man broke them both) he tried to lay it over but again it hit pretty hard horizontally and bounced, cracking it as well. I think that one split lengthwise from end to end.

We made him wait and go last after that.

It wasn't so much a matter of the ground being hard or soft as much as the forces involved in the sudden stop and the nice whipping action when it bounced. He was really lucky he didn't get hurt either time because live cabers are known for attacking when given the chance.