Week 2 Off to Fast Start
Monday morning at 9AM our 22 2nd Year Chiefs (completed 9th grade) departed for a 3 night, 4 day backpacking trip along the famed Appalachian Trail in North Carolina. The AT stretches some 2200 miles from Springer Mountain, GA to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Completed in 1937 it’s the longest hiking only trail in the world. Our boys will be hiking a section in Western North Carolina near Standing Indian Campground and Winding Stair Gap.
The mood was mixed with excitement, anticipation, and some nerves. Several boys told me something to the effect of, “I know it’s going to be hard but I can’t wait!”. How about that for a metaphor on life!! This trip will not only give these guys a lifetime of memories, it will give them confidence and courage they might not have known they had. Our trusted guides and friends from Higher Ground USA out of Rome, GA are leading the three groups on the trail.
Boys and their counselors will laugh and tell stories and see gorgeous sights thousands of feet above sea level. They’ll also eat good food, not just cold granola bars or pop tarts. They’ll learn how to cook hot meals with their guides using hiking stoves. They’ll climb to the top of Standing Indian Mountain, an impressive 5499 feet above sea level. And then they’ll ride down the cool, clean waters of the Nantahala River in inflatable, open top kayaks on Thursday.
Not to be outdone, the Hunters (completed 2nd and 3rd grades) and Trappers (completed 4th) and Chief 1’s (8th) are having adventures of their own. Last night our youngest friends in camp hiked out to a very special spot in camp called Hunter Overnight. They gathered fire wood and counselors built a useful fire for roasting hot dogs and S’mores. They listened to a special devotional under the stars and slept peacefully all night. Josh, the head counselor, reported full success at our morning meeting. Spirits were high as I greeted some of the freshly showered hunters on their way to breakfast this morning. A fine breakfast of French toast and bacon, I might add.
Tonight the Trappers have trekked “into the wild”, specifically several campsites on our property. They’ll be split into smaller groups, 2 or 3 cabins at a campsite to enjoy fellowship and food around the fires ablaze. It looks to be another crystal clear night, not too warm or cold.
This afternoon the Chief 1’s divided into two groups for their adventure. We bussed one group, with counselors and lifeguards, to the Canyon Mouth Park along Little River, specifically Little River Canyon. If you are unfamiliar, the Canyon is one of the Southeast’s hidden treasures. The largest canyon east of the Mississippi, it is the culmination of Little River, the joining of east and west forks, before dumping into Weiss Lake near Gadsden, AL. The Canyon is just that - a deep crevasse, tree lined, and picturesque. Most folks first response upon glimpsing the Canyon from an overlook is that they can’t believe something this beautiful and vast exists in Alabama. The Little River Canyon Preserve is run by the National Park Service. Recently, in conjunction with Jacksonville State University, they have built a Little River Canyon Center near the rim of the Canyon.
Canyon Mouth Park is several miles below Little River Falls, off the southeast side of Lookout Mountain. Here the water is gentle with easy rapids every now and then. Each person carried a life jacket and an inner tube, plus a water bottle. Sunscreen applied, they hiked upriver from the parking lot. After a 20-25 minute hike, they put in along the bank of the river for an afternoon float back to the start.
The next stop was Mentone Brow Park, a picnic area up above “downtown Mentone” that overlooks the western brow for BBQ sandwiches, with slaw and baked beans. This crew enjoyed a beautiful sunset over the valley below on this two days before summer solstice evening.
The other half of the Chief 1’s did battle with clay pigeons, an afternoon of skeet shooting on their agenda. Mike Fielder, our former target sports director (and retired federal law enforcement), safely and ably led the guys through shotgun instruction. Each camper received two rounds, 4 shots each to knock out some clay pigeons shot out into the horizon. Our golf driving stations double as a perfect skeet throwing area, lending 40 acres of land with no other campers near.
All in all, not a bad day for a group of 14 year old boys - water and shooting adventures! Next week they’ll swap and tackle the opposite trip.
Having some of these different trips out of camp meant more play space for the Scouts, Warriors, and Braves (5th,6th,7th)! They spent the afternoon playing games with buddies around the fields and gym and game surfaces of camp. And even now as I type this I can hear them playing once again on the field just across from my house. Capture the Flag I believe. And one group I know was playing Spotlight on the Mountain - a game of cat and mouse in the dark where you avoid getting spotted (flashlit!) by the bad guys as you seek the treasure or home base. For a boy it’s like playing in a real live video game!
Lunch today was “Thanksgiving”! Turkey and dressing with gravy, green beans, mashed potatoes and even cranberry sauce. Tonight those of us in camp enjoyed a taco buffet picnic.
Thanks for reading and good night for now, Glenn
