{"article":{"id":95701,"heading":"New Year Hitchhiker Gathering","author":"Morgan 'Sal'man","created":"2003-11-28 11:39:16","modified":"2003-12-17 09:49:02","last_modified":"Wed, 17 Dec 2003 16:49:02","article":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p>New Year Hitchhiker Gathering\r\n<b>Southern California, desert vagabond site<\/b><br>\r\n(exact location TBA on digihitch.com)<br><br>Hitch on out to the deserts of southern California after Christmas...<br><br>\r\nThe New Year Hitchhiker Gathering in southern California will bring together the past, present and future of hitchhiking- all in the open desert. Read the latest announcement by clicking here, and learn about past events on the Hitchhiker Gathering homepage.<br><br>\r\nAsk questions and get answers about the Hitchhiker Gathering in the Great Campfire forums (click here).<br><br>\r\nThere will be a Hitchhiker Scavenger Hunt following the Gathering beginning January 3rd from Los Angeles. Get details on digihitch.com, or in a separate listing here on Craigslist.<br><br>\r\nTo get involved, volunteer or help promote, you can send a feedback form by clicking here.<br><br>\r\nRoad-keen writers, speakers and performers are encouraged to contact us in advance. Also, a documentary filmmaker will be chronicling the event. Let us know how you'd like to participate. To perform, join the film crew or donate equipment\/supplies, please use the above form.<br><br><br>\r\nHitchhiking <b>is alive<\/b> in North America. Come to the desert to get connected and go further...<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","contact":"","link":"http:\/\/gathering.digihitch.com\/","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/html","summary":"The New Year Hitchhiker Gathering in the low desert of southern California will bring together road travelers to share resources, connect and celebrate a movable culture.","numcomment":1,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2003\/11\/95701.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":97619,"heading":"Slab City","article":"The location of the gathering has been announced. Below are more details:<br>\r\n<p><b>WHAT TO EXPECT:<\/b><ul>\r\n<li>New Year's Eve Party with live band<\/li>\r\n<li>Awards ceremony (best travel chronicle, best road story, farthest from home, longest time on the road, etc)<\/li>\r\n<li>Fireside talks by road scholars; How-to seminars, conversation with Leonard Knight (creator of Salvation Mountain)<\/li>\r\n<li>Free camping & showers; Communal BBQs and hot meals (shared cost)<\/li>\r\n<li>Stories & lies from the road; New friends<\/li>\r\n<li>A non-conformist but all inclusive vibe; unique low desert scenery including the Salton Sea, Salvation Mountain, and Anza Borrego (Bring lots of film)<\/li>\r\n<li>Honor Library; Nearby major rail line; Nearby markets, restaurants, internet access & motel ($35); great weather.<\/li><\/ul><\/p>\r\n<a href=&quot;http:\/\/gathering.digihitch.com\/slabs.php&quot;><img src=&quot;http:\/\/gathering.digihitch.com\/images\/111-small.gif&quot; width=&quot;200&quot; height=&quot;291&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;right&quot; hspace=&quot;8&quot;><\/a><p><b>WHERE:<\/b> 190 miles south east of Los Angeles and 129 feet below sea level in the off-the-grid community of Slab City, California. Located four miles east of Niland on an abandoned Navy base, Slab City isn't actually a city at all. It's more a loose community of squatters, snowbirds and nomads who've pitched camps across 640 acres of open desert.<\/p>\r\n<p>The Range, a no-permit, open air theater sits at the epicenter of &quot;town&quot; and will host several of our events. Reminiscent of a 1960s commune, The Range sports a large stage sandwiched between two dilapidated hippy busses parked on one of the city's namesake cement slabs. The facility boasts a small bar, several rows of salvaged airliner seats and a trash-barrel fire to keep you warm at night. This is truly a classic venue.<\/p>\r\n<p>Our primary campsite will be setup within a half mile of The Range and be easy to find.<\/p>\r\n<p>A New Year Hitchhiker Gathering is hosted by the people from <a href=&quot;http:\/\/www.digihitch.com\/&quot;>www.digihitch.com<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>NO FEE to attend. This is a NON PROFIT event.<\/p><br>\r\nFor more information please checkout <a href=&quot;http:\/\/www.digihitch.com\/&quot;>www.digihitch.com<\/a>. To volunteer for the event or donate to the hitchhiker fund, <a href=&quot;http:\/\/www.digihitch.com\/modules.php?name=Volunteer&quot;>visit the Volunteer form here<\/a>.<br><br>\r\n(Estimated time to hitchhike from Austin to Slab City, California: 2 days)","author":"digihitch.com","parent_id":95701,"mime_type":"text\/html","created":"2003-12-17 09:49:03","modified":"2003-12-17 09:49:03","fileurl":""}]}