The First Annual Big Bend Chat Awards....

[Casa Grande]

My Big Bend Friends, the time is near.  We are coming up on our 2 year anniversary of Big Bend Chat.  Hard to believe.  I like to announce the first Big Bend Chat Awards, The Javies [have-ez].   

The categories will be the following:

Best Thread
Best Post
Best Photo

I think that's enough categories for the first year.  All Big Bend Chat Members are eligible to nominate and to be nominated.  All Threads and Posts and Photos posted to Big Bend Chat between Dec 13, 2005 to Nov 12, 2007 are eligible.  The top 5 nominated Threads, Posts and Photos in each category will be announced Nov 27, 2007.  The voting will commence via a special "Javie" thread with a poll for each category.  Again, all Big Bend Chat members are eligible to vote.  The "winners" will be announced on the official 2nd anniversary, Dec 13, 2007.

Let's start nominating now!!!

[bdann]

can we nominate more than one per category?

[Vince T]

Fun idea, but it's like picking the best noodle out of a good bowl of spaghetti.

Threads that stand out to me are:

Homero's Sky Islands thread from about a year and a half ago..
Casa Grande's wedding and pics
MountainDocDanny's snow pics in the Chisos with his boys
The Route with maps and notes up to Casa Grande
The post from the hiker that got caught up on Mule Ears last January
Viper and Picachio's posting with video about their Picachio Peak climb (I know I am not spelling that right)
Homero's post on his trip to La Linda and the Mines
Shane's Christmas Mountain Discussion Thread
Jeff Blaylock had a great post with pics on his trip to the NW...but that is likely not "Award Eligible".


I could sit here and triple the size of this list...these are just the ones that came to mind.
   Thanks to CG and all that make this board what it is.

Vince

[Casa Grande]

can we nominate more than one per category?

yes

Thanks to CG and all that make this board what it is.

oh, contrar mofrare .....I merely provide the space, you all provide the content

[bdann]

1. CG's "Hike Casa Grande" thread
2. Okiehiker's account of his tragic trip into Cattail Canyon
3. Homero's trip into the mines

It'll take some time to pic some photos, so many to choose from...

[colorado]

as far as threads go i would have to vote for okiehiker's cattail canyon trip. i really enjoyed all of okiehikers trip reports but that one kept me on the edge of my seat for days. i just want to say thanks to CG for making it possible for us to get our daily big bend fix, no matter where we are in this ole world. thanks so much to all the members who have provided countless bits of valuable information over the last 2 years. viva bigbendchat.

[fartymarty]

Fun idea, but it's like picking the best noodle out of a good bowl of spaghetti.

Not the words I would have used, but I can't think of any that say it better.

OK, here goes:

BEST THREAD: Chisos_muse for "For Fun where am I?"   there is also the other thread but it was split off from this one.
                    This thread is so enjoyable because I get out maps and fire up Google earth, check my old photos and in general
                     I'll fill an evening at home enjoying the park from my living room. (Thanks muse!)
               
                     Others that are great reads are Randell's "Gumo or Bust" (even though it's in that "other" park); Homero's trip "Sky Islands" up to the top of the Sierra del Carmens;
                      Jeff Blaylock's too rapid descent of Casa Grande in "First Weekend in March".

Best Post: Randell for Reply#87 Day 2 from GUMO or BUST thread (I wonder if Randell will ever know how many people were thinking of his well being while
                               he played travel Sorry in a tent.)
                       
Best Photo: Oh no, I'm not touching this slippery slope! If the others are a bowl of spaghetti, then this one is a truck load of noodles! You've got the great landscapes of TjAvery among others,
                        the photos from mountaindocdanny with his boys and  Badknees w/little goodknees that hit all the right paternal/maternal/grandparental cords. The in the right place at right time pics:
                        01ACRVIPER and his mountain lion; and SAbill and his Monarchs. I've also got a soft spot for all the pics with snow in them. Then there are so many pics that are just above average
                        quality point'n'shoots but are of places in the park that I didn't know existed or didn't know you could get there. Thus transforming them from point'n'shoots to fantastic photos.
                         Then there are the wedding photos which are great for those of us that couldn't attend, didn't know to attend, and maybe mean even more so for those that did attend.

                         This will be an interesting catagory, and CG you are so wise to make it a vote and not a judging. No fools were raised by your Mom.
                     




                 

[Al]

Sounds like work to figure this one out but I too vote for Randall's GUMO post(s) from the great ice storm.


Al

[okiehiker]

36905 Posts... (Oops... at least 36,906 by the time you are reading this...)

   The best one???   

As many, if not more, photographs...
   Pick just one?   

3834 Threads?? ....

Okay...  I will

1. shamelessly third the nomination of the Cattail Canyon thread...  it truly is an amazing story...
2. proudly second the nomination of the "Where Am I" thread...  interesting and informative...
3. throw into the ring the "The next photo will have..." thread...   challenging, funny, creative... and always fun...

Finding photos and individual posts to nominate will require a whole lot more research...  what a good excuse to go back through the archives....

[badknees]

I have to go this way on threads.....

Best Post - By far, with no offense to so many fine others

Cattail Canyon post...  mesmerizing, disturbing, humbling...

Best thread  -  "Where Am I" thread...  fun, got everybody involved.


The best photo will be tough. Maybe we need some categories, 'cause there are just too many out there to have an ultimate best.

[chisos_muse]

Yeah there's ALOT to choose from over 2 years. My eyes are already hurting!

Next time there should be more categories perhaps?

[jeffblaylock]

Echoing some other folks' statements, I suggest we split the photo awards along the lines of

Best landscape
Best wildlife
Best wildflower
Best sunrise/sunset
Best portrait/human subject

[Casa Grande]

Echoing some other folks' statements, I suggest we split the photo awards along the lines of

Best landscape
Best wildlife
Best wildflower
Best sunrise/sunset
Best portrait/human subject

ahhhhhhh!!!!!

this was supposed to be a simple task

[mule ears]

This is really hard but I too have to nominate for best post- Okie Hikers Cattail Canyon tale.

For best thread- Chisos Muse's "Where Am I" with

Trtlrocks's circumnavigation of the Chisos itinerary and Drifters "Dominquez Mtn. Pass" as excellent discussions with much detailed information.

For best picture I will suggest TJ Avery's "The most amazing sunset" from SW3 campsite.

[homerboy2u]

OK....what to wear to the wedding?...hmmm, got it my boots and blue jeans. Yeah, if life was that easy to choose.

  I can't even cast an honest vote, there is just so many to choose, but i will give it a try:
Best thread: Gumo or Bust by Randell
Best Post: this is a no brainer....Viper's ellusive mountain lion...rrrooooaaaaa rrr !!!!
Best Post also: Fartymarty's...Finally a thread where i am expert...hats off there, my friend
Best picture: TJAvery (anyone one) and SA Bill's Monarch's, just amazing.
Best Movie: Hands down,people: Father Orozco's Saga...just like a bowl of Spaghetti....spaghe tti western , that is

  But , there is much more to honor so i can add some more in the future.