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jason as a zombie

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.

jason as a zombie

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!

pumpkins

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.

paul of wheeling it and nikki

boondocking halloween

Hope your Halloween was a gas; if you had a killer costume, spent your night alone in the wilderness or had some monstrous tricks and stinky treats, tell us about it in the comments below.

Hello there! I honestly don’t know what to say, so I am going to tell you a bunch of random facts instead. I'm a fish eating vegetarian who hates spiders and loves snakes. I almost never took vacations growing up. I wanted to be Pippi Longstocking (still do). I misspell about every other word I write and still struggle with grammar. I love splurging on a good high tea (which is really hard to find these days). And whatever you do, don’t tell me I can’t do something, because then I'll HAVE to do it!

Comments (68)

  • Michele

    Wheeling It

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  • geraldz

    Wheeling It!

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  • j,r

    I like team 3

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  • 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

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  • 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.

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  • 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???

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  • 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

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    • 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.

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  • Goodness…I’m so humbled by all the votes {{blushing}}, especially since The Wynns were so fabulously zoomby-ish.
    Nina

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  • Heidi

    Wheeling it for sure wins!!!!!!!!!!

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  • Paul Van

    Being a life long Halloween (The Movie) fan I have to go with Jason and the knife thru the pumpkin Jason!!

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  • 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!

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  • Todd B

    I vote for Wheeling It! Nina gets my vote!!!

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  • We vote for Paul and Nina!

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  • Mrsmaitohead

    I like the abstract potatoe peeler couple. Everyone did a great job but I like non traditional choices- like Fulltime rving 🙂

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  • Wheeling for sure

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  • 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!

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  • Melinda Decesare

    What an amazing ambiance! I loved the backdrop. I vote for Nina. Thanks for sharing you travel adventures with us.

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  • Lin

    Wheeling It gets my vote. Looks lie it was a blast!!!

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  • Great video!
    Watson wanders puking pumpkin is my vote

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  • 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.

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  • Neal

    Team #2, Wheeling It because of the masked pumpkin of Nina.

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  • 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!

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  • 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.

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  • Jim and Judy Hardiman

    We place our vote with the Watson Warriors. What a great idea.

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  • 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

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  • 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?

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    • WELL DONE!! Not many would have guessed that one 🙂

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  • Phillip AZ

    Sorry Wynns love you also but Wheelin has it hand down.

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  • 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!

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  • All entries are amazing but my vote goes to wheeling it.
    Keep it real Jason and Nicki

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  • 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!

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  • 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

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  • 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!

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  • 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.

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  • Chris G

    Wheelin It most creative. Sorry guys.

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  • Ron

    I’m going with Nina and Wheeling it!

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  • Did Jason eat Singa?

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  • 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.

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  • Frank Padilla

    I would say that The Wheeling It crew got my vote, great place to spend Halloween…

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  • Ron

    Love u guys…….but Team 2

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  • Karen Hoyt

    I love all of them! You all win!

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  • Wheelin It! (only her second time? Amazing!) Of course, it was a very difficult decison, but I vote for Wheelin It!

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  • 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.

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  • 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

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  • Jill

    Nina 🙂

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  • 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!

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  • 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!

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  • 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!

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  • 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?)

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • 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 …

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  • 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. 😛

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