Sleeping Under the Stars

Glenn Breazeale | Jul. 18, 2016

The excitement in the air this morning was palpable.  For one, it was a new week with fresh activities and some great things in store (Trip day, hint, hint).  Plus I looked down the road to see a lot of excited Chief 2’s (rising 10th graders) and their counselor, Matt McCall, walking down the road, backpacks on their backs.  These backpacks held sleeping bags, tents, cooking utensils, stoves, flashlights, chacos, and all the ingredients for three days of backcountry food prep. These boys left on a chartered bus after a warm breakfast of grits, scrambled eggs, sausage and biscuits plus the granola/yogurt bar.

It is a pinnacle experience for them.  Something that many of them have looked forward to for a number of years.  They’ll hike on a section of the famed Appalachian Trail in North Carolina.  Leading these boys will be a professional guide service out of Rome, GA, Higher Ground.  We’ve worked with Higher Ground for almost 10 years now and our ministries and philosophies really line up very well together.  We are grateful for their leadership.

I have been fortunate to make this trip three times, once as a camper in 1993 and then as a counselor in 1998 twice.  It is quite a unique experience to hike with a pack on your back containing everything you need to live for that time period.  I remain great friends today with many of the guys I hiked with on those trips.  I credit a large part of that to this trip. In fact, one is our Waterfront director this term, Bailey Adams. He’s a teacher and coach at the McCallie School in Chattanooga. We camped together for quite a few summers back in the day.

With excitement to match, though not quite as much on their backs, several cabins of Scouts (rising 6th graders) hiked out of main camp this afternoon before dinner. They carried sleeping bags, water bottles, and flashlights for a night under the stars.  They cooked hot dogs and roasted marshmallows for S’mores and most likely enjoyed some songs around the camp fire.

Otherwise, it’s been a beautiful and normal day on the Mountain.  We are in a rhythm that happens naturally when boys are here for 25 days. Lunch brought meatloaf, green peas, mashed potatoes, and rolls, plus the usual salad bar.  I’m not sure that I’ve mentioned the salad bar, open to campers and counselors. Every day it is filled with a lettuce mix, spinach, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, sliced bell peppers, croutons, pine nuts, craisins, shaved carrots and quite a few other toppings. It’s a big hit with campers and counselors alike. This evening we ate lasagna, buttered toast, and a green salad.

Thanks for reading and good night,

Glenn

Glenn Breazeale
Glenn Breazeale

Like his own father, Glenn grew up as a camper at Alpine for six summers, coming from Jackson, MS each summer. He has served on staff at Alpine since 1997, working full time as Assistant Director from 2003 to 2005 and Director since 2006. Prior to that he gained experience serving in various capacities including cabin counselor, Head Counselor, Head of Project Adventure (Ropes course), Horseback instructor, and Program Director. Glenn’s love of camping and his desire to preserve the traditions of Alpine drew him back to camp to offer young boys the same opportunities he experienced. He met and fell in love with Carter during a Square Dance with Camp DeSoto.