Thanks for 11 years of great community!

One of my most treasured outdoor memories is climbing Moxie Bald mountain on the AT in 2002.  From the top, the lakes sparkled in the distance, and the morning brought a bit of chill.  After months of walking through the humid south, I was glad to be back in Maine.

Wow, 11 years wish I had found it long before I did. Whats that cupcake made of, sorry looks like something else?

They say enjoy the journey..I found Trail Space along my own journey to an epic trek and it has become part of my journey. I have "met" many great people here. Helpful, funny, informed people. The kind I would choose as friends in person. Happy birthday! And thanks for being here!

Thanks, Seth and Gifttogab!

GaryPalmer said:

Wow, 11 years wish I had found it long before I did. Whats that cupcake made of, sorry looks like something else?

Thanks, Gary. We're glad you found us when you did.

That cake above is a whoopie pie. Basically, it's a chocolate cake top and bottom with a frosting-like filling. The one above has a peanut butter filling. Fluff, shortening, and sugar are also heavily involved.

I wonder how many community members outside of New England and Pennsylvania Deutsch country know what a whoopie pie is.

We have whoopie pies in the west too. Least I have known them as far back as I remember and have only been a west coaster. They are yummmmmy. My faves are at Layer's Bakery here in Vegas...though the owners ARE New England grown.

Congrats Dave and Alicia!

And thanks for all you do for us.

Just a FYI on a common misused term...

I am a German descendent who hails from Pennsylvania.

We are Pennsylvania Deutsch - not Pennsylvania Dutch.

 We have no Dutch heritage at all... and I'm told we don't even like the Dutch :) 

On the western side of Pa, we call those cakes "gobs"

Good to know others enjoy a whoopie pie on occasion outside of New England.

By the way, March 14 just gets better. Over on our Facebook page, member Michael O. let us know it is also Colin Fletcher's birthday today. We're honored to share the day with such an outdoor great.

Happy Birthday, Colin Fletcher.

Ed G said:

Congrats Dave and Alicia!

And thanks for all you do for us.

Just a FYI on a common misused term...

I am a German descendent who hails from Pennsylvania.

We are Pennsylvania Deutsch - not Pennsylvania Dutch.

 We have no Dutch heritage at all... and I'm told we don't even like the Dutch :) 

On the western side of Pa, we call those cakes "gobs"

Thanks, Ed.

I also appreciate the Deutsch explanation and fixed it above. It's always good to know the right term. "Gobs" is a great, descriptive term for these desserts. I am now going to eat a big gob of cake and frosting...

like many of our "American English" words, Deutsch was mispronounced as Dutch and then everybody believed thats the way it is.

Marketing folks sure aren't gonna change the wording from Pa Dutch!

Heck in Pgh, we turned the word "you" (spoken in the plural sense) to "yinz".

A typical phrase heard in pittsburgh would be:

Would yinz like to go dahntahn to watch the Stillers?

Alles Gute Geburtstag! That's Happy Birthday in Dutch... I mean Deutsch ;)

I am honored and humbled to be part of this community, and to be connected to some increditbly wise and passionate outdoor enthusiasts. I have learned so much more than I have given here, but endeavor to change that imbalance over the next 11 years...

Happy Birthday, Trailspace! What a great resource and great community!

Re: PA Dutch, I have a lot of Scots blood in my veins. Yesterday, I heard someone on NPR refer to people from Scotland as "Scotch". I was raised to believe that Scots or Scottish was correct, but "Scotch" refers to whiskey, not people.

I am also half Irish (of the McDonald clan)

those of us who have Mc...as a last name are known as: "Mickeys"

We Mickeys have a genetic tendency to like Scotch

As a full blown Irish woman 100% I say SLAINTE! And raise a pint to Trail Space! I tend to avoid the Scotch and all things orange.....except hoodies that is!

congrats and thank you.

HB Day TS 

I took your advice and headed off this morning for a day hike sporting only the most fashionable.....

Happy Birthday Trailspace and thank you for provideing a great community.

Happy 11th bday Trailspace. Looking forward to the next 11 and many more after that.

Raising a pint of Hop Stoopid to all of us! I think I just might have a Hoppy Birthday. :)

*raises glass of Whisky* 

Here's to another fantastic 11!

Thanks, everyone. I'll toast to Trailspace and all of you later tonight.

By the way, this MacLeay strongly concurs that you drink Scotch and you are a Scot. Hearing it the wrong way makes me want to apologize to Ed and everyone for using "Dutch" instead of "Deutsch" earlier.

Love the hat, Jake! Thanks for sharing that. I'm glad you got out today. I went on a short hike this morning:

By the way, in addition to the esteemed Colin Fletcher, it's also Einstein's birthday today. Not bad company.

No Kidding, I share a birthday with Trailspace!!! Now I feel extra special. I always thought it was a big deal sharing a birthday with Einstein... this is even better. :)

Happy Birthday Trailspace. And Congratulations Alicia on a Very successful journey into the backcountry of the World Wide Web as well as the imaginations & dreams of thousands. Thank you for bringing us all along with you and providing this wonderful place for us to get together.

I found this site on my own, and now if I buy anything for hiking I read the reviews at Trailspace first, because I can count on this site to be fair, and if the item is junk someone will tell you.  Congratulations and I also wish many more years, and everyone to have great hikes because of this site.

Congrats and Happy Birthday TS!!  Thank You Alicia for all you do. And Thank You to all the members here that make this more than just another blog.

Cant take your advice and hike today (knee probs) But this makes for a good excuse to go get some cake and ice cream to  enjoy while sitting around :)

OK now its a birthday party......

I just sat here with a tub of ice cream and a spoon celebrating Trailspace's bday.

...and I ate the whole thing. :)

YEAH BUDDY!!  Dats what Im talkn bout

Went and picked up that ice cream and cake and somewhat ashamed to say............. I ate all of whats in that picture in one sitting, one spoon, no bowls or plates!

At least now I know I'm not the only one that does this.

Happy Birthday, Trailspace - one of the friendliest places on the net. Only ten more years and we can all get online drunk, in every state.

I feel like a failure for never having had a whoopie pie. Are they better than funnel cakes?

Belated wishes!

Jon,

I've also never had a whoopie pie, but I'm a failure for other reasons. Do you have funnel cakes in the UK?

Do you have funnel cakes in the UK?

No, but we have fried Mars Bars. I tried a funnel cake at some state fair in VA once. I also watched a demolition derby. Good times, except for the funnel cake, which I couldn't finish; in fact, it nearly finished me. Ben and Jerry's should do a whoopie pie flavour, so we can all try it.

 hah!, Your funnel cake experience was just like mine. I can’t eat “fair food” at all. Here in Tennessee we have the Tennessee Valley State Fair which has had the same rides for most of my life (and I’ve aged better than them).

It was fun as a young teenager but as you get older you start looking around at the rusty bolts on the rides, the questionable sobriety of the operators, huge clouds of cigarette smoke hanging in the air and think “what am I doing here?”.

Demolition Derby’s are still pretty fun though.

Two years ago I started backpacking as a way to prove to myself that my back had recovered from a car accident. I haven't looked back since.

The hike that started it all...

Observation Point at Zion National Park: 8miles - 2,148ft

Glad to have found the Trailspace community. Happy Birthday!

Nice!  Happy 11!

HJ
Adventures In Stoving

Thanks, everyone. We appreciate all the good wishes and hope whatever food you celebrated with was tasty.

I've actually never had a funnel cake. I have had a fried Mars Bar fritter while spending a semester in Edinburgh though.

A belated Happy Birthday to TS. After a personal 20 years in media and 10+ in tech, I've learned enough to know that what you have built in this short time doesn't come easily.  

I love your site and have greatly benefited from the advice of your followers.

 Cheers!

Wow, 11 years and still going strong(er than ever)! Congrats!

I remember stumbling across Trailspace just 3.5 years ago and have really enjoyed the site since then. It has been imformative and entertaining. There's something unique here. Sure, it's a 'gear site', but it's more than that. There is a real sense of Community.

I really appreciate Trailspace.com and hope it continues for many more years.

Happy birthday, Trailspace! You guys have always been there for me when I needed you most, and I continue to recommend you to my customers when they need a helping hand in the outdoors. Thank you and enjoy your special day!

Thanks again, everybody! We appreciate the appreciation.