gotta cater to the masses...

majority rules...

now i gotta make plans for WEST X '02... and figure out how to swing GOX...

See you all in Ouray

Okay I am confused... this is what I have calculated from reading all of this post... Ian's word is the final word but it is not the "majority" as you say... at least as far as I can see in this post. I guess I must have missed something.

Neutral (8 people)

Jackel
ashleynatlanta
redeyeX
mindie
ECUDave
Todrick
Couch-4-Sale
Xcited

Labor Day Week/No (11 people)
bn300
xoc (09/24/2001)
Kerensky97/NOXCAPE
ChiaSWXC/TNAC
Xrugger
off2cjb
TatsuoX
Snoopy
Exnatalia
debgary
LAXterra

Labor Day Week/Yes (2 people)
Matt Peckham
xoc (12/08/2001)

Labor Day - Yes! I hope I can work out my schedule at work to escape the office.
Even for non-College people time off is still a challenge. There will never be a good time for all.
The great thing is that people can arrive early if they choose, spend some time in Colorado, enjoy 4-wheeling, then participate in activities.

well if it really matters...

let me rephrase... and holiday week is best for me... be it Labor day, or July 4th(as GOX1 was)...

in all honesty more people will be able to make it on labor day week then wont be able to make it... that was the point of my post...

i dont think ian ever voted NO on Labor day... in fact the impression i got was more of a

"i would like it to be labor day, the only problem is that college students..."

no matter what date he sets some people will not be able to attend... at least with 9 months of notice there wont be the problem i had with WEST X(not enough notice) and hopefully people can plan ahead and attend

Well not to be argumentative but Ian had taken things other then just college students and people with kids into consideration earlier...i.e. weather. That is what is going to dictate when I organize the 140 mile Mojave Road trip in 2002.



An another consideration of weather



The above can be referenced HERE . Nothing was left out... I included the entire qoute.

But I guess something has changed... that is why I was earlier.

But like I said earlier...

Except for July 4th, Labor Day is the only Summer holiday.

Having GOX during the Labor Day week allows people 9 days off, by only taking 4 off work. Those 9 days allow 2 full days on each end of the week for travel to and from Ouray.

Trailing August, the weather should always be superb, unless a freak storm dumps a ton of snow. It's a chance I'll take, since fresh snow doesn't close a trail as much as snow that has been sitting frozen on a trail for 6 months (what happens in July).

College students may miss out, but GOX should be there when they graduate.

Hey GOX happens very early in the school year when it is still feasible to miss some days. I took the full week off and attended gox. I had no problems making up the work. It is all about how determined you are to attend.
We go to college to get degrees, we get degrees to make more money, we make more money so we can afford nice trucks, we want nice trucks so we can go play. I figure screw it I will skip a bunch of steps and play now.

As far as people with kids I understand their concern. On the other hand how much more will your children learn about the world by traveling and enjoying nature, rather than sitting in a room passing notes and ignoring their teachers.

I still don't care I'll be there.

thanks ian for explaining...

im with Jackel...

i dont care when i plan to be there... i just cant miss three in a row

Just to point something out. Some schools do have a policy where if you don't show to the first week of class they drop you. Mine is one such school.

But your right, you have to prioritize. As far as school goes, I can probably get permission from my one Prof to miss that week. But for someone taking multiple classes it may be alot harder to get that permission.

The hard part for me is getting that time off from work. I work in Public Safety at a university, and getting time off during that week is very hard. I might just have to call in sick every day from Colorado.

Personally I'd rather take 5 days off, insted of 4 days with the holiday. I get paid alot to work the holiday.

No matter when it is schedule, hopefully I will be out ther with eveyone this year.

What are the exact dates of that week. I need to start petitioning for the time off from school and work now!

Labor day is on Monday Sept 2nd

Your computer should have some sort of calendar on it somewhere

I skipped he first week of school the last time and I'll do it again, it's worth it.

When you talk to your professors just tell them that you won't be there, and you'll be having a great time in Colorado. They'll understand.

I deserve that. I couldn't remeber if Labor Day was the first or second Monday.

Cool, I'm there (now, I'm just waiting on specific details..but I know it's really early for that at this point)

I'm going to make plans to be there. Just waiting for the details

Hopefully this year Ian will do something to avoid all the "I'll be there's" that don't show. If you're serious about going, send Ian $25 and when you get to Ouray he'll give you back a 20 spot, don't show and you get zip, nada, zero, nothing (nada, as in nada damn thing).

Just trying to help you out Ian

I'll be there, when do you want my deposit?

I would support either a deposit or registration fee. The work that went into the event is enourmous.

Looking forward towards GOX. Hopefully other events will be scheduled for this spring in warmer/lower climates.

Were do I send my Money

Registration fee is a good idea, maybe include something if you actually show up to receive it. Like a mug or something. Natta return on money or gift if no show.

Shoot I have my GOX fund going already. I probably need to send that to someone each week to keep it from my wife. Let's see which one of you guys is trustworthy........

I would be down for a deposit or whatever.

Marshall

Sorry for the stupid newbie input, but I'm assuming you guys are going to Ouray for GOX3. I've been going to that area every summer for 14 years. Ian is right. In July, very few of the passes will be open. You won't be able to run Imogene, Black Bear, Poughkeepsie or probably even most of the Alpine Loop. I realize that for a lot of people with children in school (or those that are attending themselves) Labor Day isn't the optimal time for you, but any other time of the year in that part of the country, the trails are pretty much closed if you want to do the entire trail.

Two cents,
Sean

Usually it's just Black Bear and Poughkeepsie that are still snow covered.

The Alpine Loop trails and Imogene are plowed every year, and open by Memorial Day.

The original GOX was held over 4th of July 2000, and everything was open, but it was a low snow year for Colorado.