This Week in Adventure

Two-Week Camp does not leave much time to ease into anything. The boys arrived on Sunday, and by the end of their first week, 14 out-of-camp trips had already carried campers to rivers, lakes, trails, and climbing areas across Western North Carolina.

Just as much was happening inside camp. Every adventure activity offered multiple preps during the week, sometimes twice in one day, giving boys plenty of chances to build their skills and become ready for a trip.

Outdoor Adventure Director Will Wilson said the shorter session gives instructors a chance to see that growth happen quickly.

Two-Week Camp is fulfilling as an instructor because the growth is immediate. We lead more beginner-oriented trips, and you can see those lightbulbs turn on every day.

Some campers completed a prep and headed beyond the camp gates soon after. Others packed for an overnight or a three-day trip. In one week, boys hiked through Shining Rock, paddled the Lower Green River, climbed at Looking Glass Rock, rode at Tsali, and camped beside Fontana Lake.

Across Western North Carolina

• Backpacking: Two-day groups traveled through Shining Rock and across Devil’s Courthouse, Black Balsam, Sam Knob, and Flat Laurel Creek. Another group hiked and swam near Hooker Falls, Triple Falls, and High Falls at DuPont State Recreational Forest.
• Paddling: Two groups headed to the Lower Green River, while another spent three days paddling, camping, swimming, and exploring Fontana Lake.
• Rock Climbing: Campers climbed and rappelled during three trips to Gilbert’s Rock. Another group camped in Pisgah National Forest and climbed at the Nose and South Side of Looking Glass Rock.
• Mountain Biking: Riders made two trips to DuPont, explored the Gateway trail system near Old Fort, and spent two days riding at Tsali.

Into the Mountains

Backpackers covered plenty of ground with two-day groups traveled through Shining Rock and the high country around Devil’s Courthouse, Black Balsam, Sam Knob, and Flat Laurel Creek. Another group spent the day hiking and swimming near the waterfalls at DuPont State Recreational Forest.

Ready for the River

Ainsley H. from Durham, North Carolina, paddled the Tuckasegee River in a canoe with his friend Archie last summer. This year, he returned ready to learn how to handle a kayak and complete the prep for the Lower Green River.

Ainsley knew the prep included flipping his boat and exiting into the water, but he was not worried.

I wasn’t scared. I knew I might have to dump out, and that’s okay. I’ll just be in the water. Going under or flipping isn’t scary. It’s part of it.

Paddling guide Henry Donohue watched Ainsley complete the prep this week.

I was impressed. He wasn’t stressed at all and confidently knew he would nail it. I’m excited to have him on the Lower Green.

The challenge is not always the rapid.

James L. from Dallas, Texas, and Finn S. partnered in a canoe on the Lower Green. First they had to pass the prep in camp on the buoy course. This included a few missed directions and some frustration.

We kind of yelled at each other when we started out in the canoe prep. It’s hard to get through the course in time.

Eventually, they slowed down and started communicating and passed the prep to advance to the Lower Green River.

We chilled out and got it together. We started talking in the canoe to give directions.

By the time they reached Carolina 2-Step on the Lower Green on day 2, a steep rapid with a hard left turn, they were working together and finished the trip strong.

Trying the Rock

Ben S. from Boone, North Carolina, tried rock climbing for the first time this week. He learned the figure-eight knot, practiced the climbing commands, and completed the prep that opened the door to an out-of-camp trip.

I had never done anything like that before. I really enjoyed it.

Hayes B. from Houston, Texas, completed his prep on Monday and climbed at Gilbert’s Rock the next day. He liked climbing, but with only two weeks at camp, he also wanted to leave room for something else.

I did rock climbing two days in a row, so I thought I’d try a new thing.

That is part of the fun of Two-Week Camp. A boy can find something he loves and keep going, or enjoy it before seeing what else catches his attention.

Taking It to the Trail

Hayward B. from Asheville and Charles B. from Raleigh worked through Mountain Biking 1, 2, and 3 before joining an all-day trips ride at DuPont and Gateway. They liked the switchbacks, downhill sections, and places where the trail gave them a little air.

I love the steep hill because there’s a rock right below it, so you can jump off it as you’re going down.

Both boys came to camp wanting to try something new. After three activity periods building their skills and full day trips, they were already talking about working toward an overnight trip.

By the end of the first week, camp no longer feels quite so new. Boys know their way around, have found people they enjoy, and are beginning to understand how much can happen when they are willing to jump in. The enthusiasm we heard about at the beginning of the week has shown up in ordinary ways: trying something unfamiliar, sticking with something difficult, cheering for someone else, and coming back the next day ready for more.

Some boys have found something they want to keep pursuing. Others are glad they tried something new and are already looking toward the next opportunity. That is a lot to fit into one week, and there is still another week to go.