Mountains and Men: Annual TOG Trip for the FLINT Program
Why do we climb mountains?
Australian author and rock climber, Greg Child, says “somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb.”
On Monday the young men in the F.L.I.N.T. program (Forging Leaders INTentionally) embarked on their own mountain climbing endeavor, completing the annual TOG trip to Looking Glass Rock.
TOG stands for “Top of Glassy,” a nickname for the nearly 4000 foot tall granite rock face, standing proudly above the rolling hills of Pisgah National Forest here in Western North Carolina. When rain or ice covers the slick granite, the sun is reflected like a mirror, giving it the name “Looking Glass.”
Looking Glass is a well-known location for both rock climbers and birders, especially since peregrine falcons use this area as one of their prime nesting locations. For hikers, the views from the top are stunning, but come at the price of a strenuous trek.
Forging Intentional Leaders
Each summer, FLINT hikes to the top of Looking Glass as a group, kicking off their summer leadership program. The boys in FLINT are rising 11th graders, returning for one of their final summers as campers at Falling Creek.
“They’re at that age where they’re figuring out who they want to be. The FLINT Program is helping these guys get to know their values and the kind of person they want to become,” said Zach Rivera, Asst. Program & Staff Director.
A long walk in the woods gives you plenty of time to think about the kind of man you want to be, and push the boundaries of what you think you’re capable of. Zach joined the boys on the TOG Trip, and said it was great to see them encourage each other during the hike.
They helped each other out physically, lending a hand on the harder sections of the climb, and mentally by offering encouragement. Most of these guys have never done a hike like this, and when they reach the top they learn that they have the fortitude to overcome challenges. It sets a base for the things we talk about in our FLINT Campfires and Evening Embers about self-leadership and leading others.
-Zach Rivera
The Foundation for a Great Summer
This summer, Webby and Erik are the two counselors leading the FLINT Program. Erik is from San Diego, and enjoyed the chance to hike somewhere with such different scenery from back home. “It was really fun. I loved the view especially,” he said. Webby is from the east coast of South Africa, and said that the trip has already set a great tone for the summer. “I could already see the bonds being made. It was nice seeing the boys step up and take initiative at the campsite. They were doing tasks before even being asked.”
Taking initiative and working together are just some of the skills that are practiced and emphasized with boys during their FLINT summer. This program is not just so that campers can grow into future staff members, but is focused on growing into future leaders in any career path the boys may choose.
The steep route that the boys take up Looking Glass isn’t well known to many, so Yates Pharr joined the TOG trip to lead the group up the mountain. “This trip is a good bonding opportunity, and a chance for them to do something difficult together,” he said.
“It’s also an adventure - many people haven’t bushwhacked before. It’s a challenging trip, and we do this trip with FLINT specifically as part of their leadership training, to build on their camper journey. They get to the top and realize that the hard work was worth it, and that they’re capable of more than they may have initially thought.”
From the Boys’ Perspective
Over breakfast the next morning, the FLINT group was quietly eating their french toast, sausage, and fresh cut strawberries. Their table was relatively reserved, compared to the excited energy of the surrounding cabins.
After their strenuous adventure the day before, they had camped in Pisgah at Davidson River and woken up very early to make it back to camp in time for breakfast. Other campers were eagerly chatting about whatever adventures lay ahead for the day, while the FLINT boys were quietly reflecting on the adventure they had just completed.
When asked what the hardest part of the day was, they exclaimed almost in unison, “the climb!” Some of them showed off scratches on their arms, proof of their battle with the brambles on the way up Pisgah’s rugged mountainsides. “We had to go Yates’ pace up the mountain!,” they said, “I don’t know how he goes that fast.”
However, they were all in agreement that the trip was well worth the effort. The best parts were the view at the top, and the sense of relief and accomplishment they were met with at the bottom of the mountain. At one point, some boys didn’t think they could make it to the top, but they did. It was a rewarding feeling to have completed the hike together.
Letters for the Future
While at the summit, they wrote letters to their future selves. Being 16 is a time full of change and growth, so self-reflection and goal-setting is important for this age.
It can be encouraging to receive a letter from your past self to realize how far you’ve come, and remind you of the goals and values you have at your core. Zach started this tradition 3 years ago, and will soon be planning to send the first batch of letters to the boys who were FLINT back in 2023.
For some, the letters were a time capsule of current interests or hopes of college acceptances. For others, they wrote a letter of encouragement for their future selves. Ben said, “I told myself that if you’re reading this, well done for making it this far.”
As Dr. Seuss says, “You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so… get on your way!”
