Well, since I'm on a bit of a roll --- --- --- so, last weekend I packed a pipe with kind of an "odds & ends" mixture. The jar was about 12 years old, several Virginias, some Burley, some Perique. I purposely packed it really full, hence a pretty tight pack. So tonight, trying to get this lit, I just could NOT keep it going. Kept using a pick to try to loosen stuff up, stabbing down the center, carefully stabbing down the sides. But NOPE .... finally admitted defeat & completely dumped the bowl into a dish using the pick to get it all out. Then, I carefully packed the pipe again & all was well. However, I haven't had to do this for quite a few years.
I felt like .... well .... that awesome pic posted some time back by either Cosmic or Sable.
If an explanation is needed, perhaps this comment might result in a reposting of that pic.
NOTE: The pic was totally awesome (!!!). : ) : ) : )