Boondocking Pumpkin Carving Contest
Most Halloween parties are all about costumes, drinking, and mischief…and while we had our fair share of all three, this Halloween it was more about the location.
We’re wild camping out in the Alabama Hills of California, where there’s hardly a soul to disturb (or is there?). It’s a famous location for Hollywood filming (lots of westerns) and even home to the “scary” move Tremors. (That’s right we are now one degree of separation closer to Kevin Bacon)
This week the hills are home to us, our new friends Nina and Paul of Wheeling It and Amanda and Tim of Watsons Wanders. In advance of our arrival we knew these guys were planning to be in the Alabama Hills so we picked up 6 pumpkins and came up with a plan: Let’s have a Pumpkin Carving Contest…and we should shoot a video on it…and we should let our viewers (ahem, that’s you) choose the winners! Of course this conversation was only between us, so when we arrived on Halloween night with pumpkins in hand, dressed as Zombies, and holding our cameras proudly (with a black box of wine) we suddenly realized “what if they don’t want to do this?” Talk about expectations right!
Thankfully, despite cultural differences our new friends were up for the challenge, and the camera time (yea, notice what a camera hog that Nina is 🙂 we’re thinking we should bring her on as talent full time!). So now the extreme pressure is off us, and it’s moved into your capable hands…that’s right, you! After you watch the video, tell us which team you think has the pumpkin knife wielding skills down!
We’re personally torn. Considering this was only Nina’s second ever carving attempt, her skills were pretty freaking’ sharp. And then there’s that Tim who managed to carve two cool pumpkins in the time it took the rest of us to finish one (he should seriously consider going pro). Oh yea and free high fives for those who can guess what Paul’s pumpkin is.
Michele
Wheeling It
geraldz
Wheeling It!
j,r
I like team 3
David & Kathy
aAbsolutely there is no clear winner here. I know nobody wants to hear it but you’re all winners. Love the Halloween, I have carved hundreds of pumpkins would love to have been there. Each pumpkin is a trophy. That is such a perfect spot you guys have send me the GPS coordinates, please. We were just there in March and didn’t see it, it’s a big world
Angela Gill
I am not a halloween type person, But I have to say, That was an awesome video. And the pumpkins look good too. But sadly I must vote for Team 2. Theirs was pretty good. Happy Halloween to you all.
Sue and Mike
Love your sense of adventure! This is a tough one, all of you did a fantastic job on pumpkin carving. So impressed with Nina using a peeler to carve her pumpkin, who knew that you could use that kitchen tool to do that. We think Paul’s is maybe a lighthouse, really we have no idea and are just guessing. We are calling it a tie! All teams did an amazing job, how can we vote for just one???
Dan Bowman
Wow Folks,
I just ran across your site by accident. A friend told me about the Alabama Hills area so I looked it up and found your site. FIRSTLY: I am quite impressed by your site. I have been RV’ing since 1953 (no I wasn’t the driver, I’m not THAT old) and have built my own rigs, been in the solar business, done some full timing, half timing, and RVd at job sites around the state of WA.
I am just loading up to leave my summer haunt (Edmonds, WA) for Quartzsite, AZ where I have been wintering (off and on) for the past 25 years. Part of that preparation included the a fore mentioned web research. As it turns out I was planning to stop in the Alabama hills for a week or so near the end of this month. After seeing the carving video I am now going to be there for All Hallows Eve. I know that is not an ongoing event but I will be there with a pumpkin or two and maybe rekindle and event.
Well that is all the time I have at the moment. There will be more feedback in the near future.
Keep up the great work, and thanks for the inspiration.
Dan Bowman
AKA Super Dan
Jason Wynn
Thanks Super Dan! We’ll be in Hollywood this year for the big Halloween street party, not too far from the Alabama Hills. If you haven’t found RVillage yet you could join and setup a meetup…just a thought. Hope to see you on the road.
wheelingit
Goodness…I’m so humbled by all the votes {{blushing}}, especially since The Wynns were so fabulously zoomby-ish.
Nina
Heidi
Wheeling it for sure wins!!!!!!!!!!
Paul Van
Being a life long Halloween (The Movie) fan I have to go with Jason and the knife thru the pumpkin Jason!!
Jason Wynn
OK Guys….we were supposed to Win!!! What happened to our loyal following 🙂 Ha. I know the truth: you didn’t want to seem biased so you voted for others….right?!?
Glad you were able to digitally join us for the contest!
Todd B
I vote for Wheeling It! Nina gets my vote!!!
Connie Perry
We vote for Paul and Nina!
Mrsmaitohead
I like the abstract potatoe peeler couple. Everyone did a great job but I like non traditional choices- like Fulltime rving 🙂
Dakers
Wheeling for sure
Mary. Van
Pretty good first time carving! Potato peeler pumpkin was pretty creative given the tools. The pumpkins with the guts and gore were good. You are all WYNNers! Looks like a un night out under the stars!
Nikki Wynn
Thanks Mary, it was a great group of peeps and we all had a lot of fun!
Melinda Decesare
What an amazing ambiance! I loved the backdrop. I vote for Nina. Thanks for sharing you travel adventures with us.
Nikki Wynn
Thanks for following along Melinda!!!
Lin
Wheeling It gets my vote. Looks lie it was a blast!!!
Debbie Buskirk
Great video!
Watson wanders puking pumpkin is my vote
Nikki Wynn
Tim’s pumpkin was pretty great!
Steve
Like DWTS the best doesn’t always win. Paul and Nina’s showed their semiconductor engineering skills. Jason and Nikki excelled in the artist skills. Tim and Amanda’s were classic. Which team wins, all should be proud with there great squash carving talents, but I must go with Wheeling It team of Paul and Nina as the winners.
Nikki Wynn
Thanks for making us all feel like winners steve!
Neal
Team #2, Wheeling It because of the masked pumpkin of Nina.
Greg
I like the carvings for Team 02, Wheeling It, the best. I like the non-humanoid forms. But in my mind, everyone was a winner!
Gary
Great job by all!! Especially it was so impromptu. The decision was tough, but, gotta go with . . . . . Wheeling it.
Have a great time. Looking forward to your next adventure.
Jim and Judy Hardiman
We place our vote with the Watson Warriors. What a great idea.
Cassie Blake
All were great…considering the “tools” and experience, or not…..so, since I have to vote:
The pumpkin with the big round eyes, and the ‘potato pealer’ masterpiece
Sheptv
It’s such a “treat” for two of my favorite bloogers to meet up. I have to vote for Wheeling It and its Paul’s design a lighthouse?
Nikki Wynn
Ding ding ding, you got it!!! Paul’s pumpkin is a lighthouse! Yeah!
wheelingit
WELL DONE!! Not many would have guessed that one 🙂
Phillip AZ
Sorry Wynns love you also but Wheelin has it hand down.
Nikki Wynn
we’re not mad at you…they brought their A game for their first and second time for sure!
Steve
I have to go for the Wheelin It team as well. Very well done for a “new” carver.
Looks like all of you had a great time!
Tim Wisenberg
All entries are amazing but my vote goes to wheeling it.
Keep it real Jason and Nicki
Deborah
So the socially acceptable response is that all of the pumpkins turned out great, which they really did. However, Wheelin[‘ It was the clear winner! Nina’s just blew the others away!
If it is any consolation, your video was the best!
Nikki Wynn
Ha ha, thanks for the honest response Deborah! That Nina is pretty awesome!
wheelingit
Excellent post…and simply love that last pic of our rig under the stars (can I say photo envy)!! No vote from me, obviously 🙂
Nina
Nikki Wynn
Thanks Nina! I think it’s clear your in the lead for now…I’ll have to see who I can bribe to vote for us 🙂
Brett McFarlane
What an awesome contest! Wish Paul and I could have been there. The Wynn pumpkins were tops, but my vote must go to Nina due to potato peeler creativity! Happy Belated Halloween!
Dan
They are all great but I gotta vote for Wheelin It. I found their blog first and Nina did her’s with potato peeler. Looks like a fun time.
By the way, thanks to Wheelin It’s post for pointing me to Gone with the Wynns. Love the blog.
Nikki Wynn
Thanks Dan!
Chris G
Wheelin It most creative. Sorry guys.
Ron
I’m going with Nina and Wheeling it!
Michael K
Did Jason eat Singa?
Nikki Wynn
almost…just almost!
dawn
Very creative! All of you did a great job and the video was humorous. I am going to go with Nina, she must be very creative as that’s a pretty interesting pumpkin for just her second try. My family and I did without the trick or treating and went camping. We are enjoying a windy night in Sebastian inlet, Florida. You two should find your way down here sometime. Florida has some great adventures.
Nikki Wynn
We are hoping to hit a lot more of Florida in 2014! Which campground are you at?
Frank Padilla
I would say that The Wheeling It crew got my vote, great place to spend Halloween…
Ron
Love u guys…….but Team 2
Karen Hoyt
I love all of them! You all win!
Debbie McCormack
Wheelin It! (only her second time? Amazing!) Of course, it was a very difficult decison, but I vote for Wheelin It!
Peg Crowell
Loved them all. But a potato peeler, really??? That takes super skill so I vote for Nina and Wheeling It. So were the pumpkins still there in the morning or did the desert zombies eat them during the night? Looks like you all had fun.
Bob
Love you guys but got o give Wheeling it my vote.Thanks so much for your great bog niki and jason look so forward to your adventures.Bob in Md
Jill
Nina 🙂
renee
Tough call! They were all spooktacular!
(Ok, if you’re forcing me to choose one, I have to say I thought Jason’s was kind of clever)
Looks like you all had a ton of fun. Maybe I will join your contest next year…have rig, need to get it out of storage and into the great outdoors!
Nikki Wynn
We would love to have you join in on the fun!
Irene Petree
I vote for the Wynn’sl They were humorous, and more traditional – more my style 🙂
But they were all great! Good job everyone!
Janet
I vote for Watson wanders puking pumpkin, because he somehow made the pumpkin look happy about it. “Yeah, I puked, what of it? Now go make me a pumpkin pie!” LOL. Looks like you guys had fun…. Happy trails!
Karen
Wow, so tough! I definitely go for ghoulish. If that was the prize, you’d win, Wynns.
But I’m afraid I have to vote for Wheeling It. While I have no freakin’ idea what either of those pumpkins are supposed to be, Nina’s clearly shows a level of artistry that’s not quite there with the others. (The devil, I guess, by the horns?)
Katie
I think all the pumpkins were great. I can’t choose whose team is the best. I spent my Halloween with friends handing out candy at a store in a local mall. I was dressed as Glinda from Wizard of Oz. It was a lot of fun and we got to see a lot of different costumes.
Jenn
How fun! You all win! (Everyone gets a trophy..,that’s how it’s done these days right?) We spent Halloween with friends. It was our last night in Ventura.
David Gardner
What a fun post! But sorry guys, Wheeling it takes the cake – er pumpkin prize on the carving contest.
BTW, you happen to have camped at the exact location Mary and I camped just the week before with our full-timer friends.
Jenna
You were all very talented…so hats off to all 6,
The potatoe peeler, creative…
Just your location says it all…were you all on solar energy…
Thanks to you guys I just ordered a solar charger …
RVgeeks
Sorry Wynns. You know we love you… but…. Nina’s carving is so wicked that we have to vote for Wheeling It (the extra credit earned for 2nd-pumpkin-ever wasn’t even needed)! On a side note, you look a little pale. Get some rest. 😛