Week 1 Trip Highlights!
2-Week Camp Trips So Far
Every day might feel like a Saturday when you’re at camp, but the weekends here are something special! For starters, everyone is back from trips to enjoy time all together on the mountain as a camp community. We’re looking forward to kicking off our first Saturday of the session today, but where did the boys’ adventures take them this past week?
Today on the blog: trip highlights! Every weekday, boys can choose to leave their 6 regularly scheduled activities behind and join in on a prep, day trip, or multi-day trip. This past week, trips returned from:
- Panthertown Valley 3-day backpacking trip
- Pisgah National Forest “Sneak Peak” 3-day backpacking trip
- Lake Jocassee 3-day paddling trip
- Lower Green River paddling day trip
- Dupont State Forest mountain biking day trip (multiple!)
- Gilbert’s Rock climbing day trip (multiple!)
We also had more cabins head out on their Cabin Overnights last night!
Panthertown Party
Panthertown Valley is part of the Nantahala National Forest, in Jackson County, North Carolina. The backpackers headed to the Salt Rock Gap parking area and spent 3 days hiking the trails, exploring, and playing in the creeks and swimming holes here! There are a plethora of waterfalls to admire too, like Wilderness Falls, Granny Burrell Falls, and Frolictown Falls - aptly named as there was surely plenty of frolicing happening on such a nice summer day.
Pisgah Sneak Peak
Pisgah National Forest is a 500,000 acre forest in western North Carolina, and we’re lucky enough to be close by. On this 3 day backpacking trip around a section of Pisgah, the boys visited Devil’s Courthouse, a famous rock formation near mile marker 422 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The rocky outcropping is home to rare high-altitude plants and gnome lichen, as well as a nesting spot for peregrine falcons. Cherokee legend says that a powerful mountain giant named Tsul’kălû’ (or Judaculla) would dance and hold court here under the rock. The summit is 5,720 feet high, offering great views across the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.
Lake Jocassee 3-Day
Another group of paddlers enjoyed a relaxed 3 days canoeing around scenic Lake Jocassee. This 7,500-acre lake is in northwest South Carolina, accessed through the Devil’s Fork State Park. Jocassee is known for its clear teal water, and beautiful wooded shoreline. Canoe camping trips are like backpacking for water-lovers, and the best part is that the canoes carry all the weight of the gear and food!
Lower Green River
The Green River Gorge is located in nearby Saluda, NC, part of the Green River Gamelands. While the upper part of the river is well-known among experienced paddlers looking for a challenge, many come to the lower section to paddle and go tubing. There’s a 6 mile stretch with up to class II rapids, perfect for beginning paddlers looking for their first whitewater experience.
Dupont State Forest
Dupont State Forest is a recreational forest in Cedar Mountain, NC. It’s known for its plentiful waterfalls and fun day hike options, as well as having fast and flowy trails, perfect for mountain biking! This past week we had multiple Dupont trips heading out to shred some trails, in all different sections of the forest.
Gilbert’s Rock
This is the bread and butter of our climbing program! Gilbert’s Rock is Falling Creek’s natural rock face located a short drive from camp, perfect for mastering the basics of rock climbing before moving on to steeper or more technical climbs. At 200 feet high, the views into the surrounding Henderson County valley are a great reward!
We’re looking forward to a weekend here on the mountain at camp together, but by Monday we’ll be eager to get back out on some trips again!