http://www.bvdm.de/index.php?id=47

prelude:

Wir laden ein zum 55. BVDM Elefantentreffen 2011 vom 28.01. - 30.01.2011.

Das weltweit älteste und größte Wintertreffen für Motorradfahrer findet wieder statt in Loh bei Solla, Gemeinde Thurmansbang im Bayerischen Wald, etwa 40 Kilometer nördlich von Passau.

entry coordinates | weather and snow levels | wikipedia

post scriptum:

Das Elefantentreffen 2011 ist vorbei und es war super: tolle Stimmung, tolle Leute, Versteigerung und Preisrätsel.

Der BVDM bedankt sich bei 4230 Motorradfahrern aus ganz Europa sowie 2100 Tagesbesuchern, die das 55. Elefantentreffen zu einem unvergesslichen Erlebnis gemacht haben. Das Treffen hat mit seinen gelungenen Überraschungen viele Besucher und auch viel Resonanz in den Medien gefunden.

packing:

• no tankrucksack (threw the crap at BMW Berlin and got no money back)
• left case: snow chains, spate, compressed MA-1 flight jacket and M65 thermal jacket, Ortlieb topload zoom back for Canon SX1IS with chest harness
• on top of left case: Maxpedition Sitka Gearslinger DFC [link] [video]
  outside: pouches for wallet, smartphone, phone, GPS
  inside: gloves, head band, head lamp, Fenix 20LD, spare batteries
  rear: Platypus water bladder
• right case: BMW fastex bag (top mountable) with food (cheese, ham, eggs, bread), thermal insulation bottle (tea), stainless steel bottle (straight heatable if frozen), SnowPeak GigaPower fuel stove, MSR 0.3 l fuel bottle (ideal combination), espresso machine, tea bags, coffee, a few titanium mugs and cutlery (including a CRKT M16-01T [link] [video] and a Victorinox Huntsman), toiletry bag, clothing (not required)
• on top of right case: inflatable insulation mat (ALDI), closed-cell foam mat (ALDI)
• Ortlieb bag: Salewa Sierra Micra, SnowPeak GigaPower stove, MSR 0.3 l fuel bottle, bag "human body remains", sleeping bag (ALDI), inner fleece sleeping bag (Ajungilak), fleece top and pants

• Thermal protection was big time FAIL. Need to dig out the NorthFace sleeping bag, and need to bring pocket warmers and tons of cleaned fuel.
• SnowPeak rules. Need to bring boiler plate and meat.
• Bring grill, or find a solid metal barbeque grill rack on a pole. (Scales better with big wooden wedges.)
• The spate is good for cracking the ice, but I need an axe as well for chopping these wedges.
• Beer is good, might want to bring cans, but Vodka or Whisky would be better (a bottle per day, and they probably do not freeze so easily).
• Ice is ice. Spikes and a battery-driven cordless screwdriver are a must.
  Should run on AA batteries.
  Never trust people trying to tell you how to park or turn when potentially they
  1. do not have a license for that kind of vehicle and
  2. would not own such a vehicle, ever
  for example, parking a car in downtown Havanna or turning a motorcycle on a solid and steep piece of ice
• GP RecyCo rechargeables performed well at an estimated -5 oC.
• No point in pre-boiling eggs when they are then frozen.
• Stainless bottles (with water) fit on the stove.
• Neoprene: gloves, top, pants
• last year's explosives

• fingers frozen (trouble opening helmet, operating ATM and camera)
• heavy smoke from the fireplaces (especially at night)