Pictures from July 20, 2011  (password required)

Yesterday I was lucky enough to wheedle my way onto our paddling trip headed for the Nantahala River and the annual Camp Cup. Armed with a camera, and accompanied by our real photographer Bryan Ham, our mission was to record the excitement of the day as our guys raced through class three rapids and negotiated a whitewater slalom course. When we arrived, our paddlers had already walked their boats to the top of the downriver race section. For the first race, paddlers attempt to finish nearly a nearly half-mile stretch of whitewater including the biggest rapid on the whole river, Nantahala Falls. What would already be a challenge is made even more difficult with the nervous excitement of being timed as well as the crowd of people gathered to cheer at the Falls. Fritz Orr, Chris Hampson, Zach Nichols, Will Johnson, and Rob Pingry were all busy checking in with each boat to make sure that lines had been picked, questions answered, and tension diffused. Bryan and I had just found our vantage points on boulders along the river when the first of our crew rounded the corner upstream. The next 20 minutes were consumed with trying to capture the High Rocks boats as they flew by. I think the pictures will show the intensity that every camper was feeling as they approached the drop into the Falls, caught a load of freezing whitewater in the face, and then slowly realized that survival was imminent. The joy, relief, excitement, and then refocusing on the remainder of the race was awesome to watch.

After the rush down the top portion of the race, it was time for all of the camps to gather for a big pizza lunch. In between mouthfuls all the campers took time to both socialize with other groups and to scout out the harder parts of the upcoming slalom race. The bank was lined with young paddlers debating the merits of ferries over peel outs or running in faster water through a big hole compared to slower currents over safer shallow rocks. Once everyone was confident in their lines, they again carried their boats to the start line and began the afternoon. This section of the day was a much different focus from the race straight down the river. Boats had to pass through gates going downstream, coming back upstream, and sometimes ferrying directly across the currents. All while handling themselves in the same water that will host the 2013 Freestyle World Championships. Needless to say there were strokes of brilliance and abrupt learning moments that had everyone watching intently. It was great to see campers and counselors from every camp cheering each boater on in succession, offering pointers as they passed or just providing loud encouragement. All of the racers did an excellent job of pushing themselves against the river, but not once creating an atmosphere of competition between camp groups. By the end of the day, our guys were exhausted, happy, wearing new shirts, and psyched for a dinner out before getting back to camp. Another year, another Camp Cup, and another very successful day on the river. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Woody

Pictures from July 30, 2010 (password required)

Paddling on the French Broad River

Last night a cool front passed through, so when we woke up this morning the air was a bit cooler, a bit drier and very blue. The change is welcome and just in time, because, as you will see, today was our busiest yet!

Right after breakfast, the hiking staff took a group of boys to adjoining DuPont State Forest, a wonderful “neighbor” with over 10,000 acres of woods, many different trails and several amazing waterfalls. Our hike went to the top of High Falls, on the Little River, then down on the left side to Triple Falls. Both of these were featured in the movie “The Last of the Mohicans.” After eating their lunch out, the hike returned to camp in time for afternoon activities. The canoeing staff sent a group to a nearby beginner section of the French Broad River, with enough whitewater to test their new skills in keeping boats straight and turning them quickly when necessary. The Rock Climbers took a group to the Cathedral Rocks, a series of large boulders on the side of Rich Mountain above camp, where they had their first experience climbing on rock instead of a wall. The fissures and textures of this granitic Gneiss offer an appropriate challenge for the guys who have mastered the basics of climbing. Of course, the boys still in camp were busy as usual with the full range of daily activities.

Trips Today:

• Two river trips paddled on the French Broad River
• A day hike went to DuPont State Forest. 
• Two climbing trips visited the “High Rocks”
• The campers from Outpost Cabin were on the High Ropes Course this afternoon

Tonight’s after-dinner activities:

• “Insane Cow Posse” (Hillside & Connestee) are on cabin overnights
• “Prevaricating Platypuses” (Lakeside, Foxhollow) Foxhollow is playing a game on the Soccer Field, Lakeside is on a cabin overnight
• “Tasty Taco Squad” (Flattop & Chalet) Flattop is on a cabin overnight, Chalet is joining Foxhollow on the Soccer Field.
• “Rabid Monkeys” (Windswept & Outpost) are going down the waterslide!
• “Kings of Leon – - itis” (Halfway, & Pinnacle) are in the gym.
• “Atomic Hippie Squad of Justice” (Holiday Inn & Lookout)  are playing a game on the Activity Field.

The Ropes Course finishes with a 450' ride down the zip line!!

After lunch, another group of paddlers went to the French Broad, another group of rock climbers went to the Cathedral Rocks, and Outpost Cabin had its turn on the Ropes Course. The hikers went to what we call Polar Bear Falls, a smallish but very refreshing waterfall on High Rocks property. During the afternoon choice period before supper, we opened our rope swing for the first time this session, to the two oldest age groups. It’s both entertaining and gratifying to watch as they first build their courage and then try to get in as many swings as they can. At the same time, the youngest boys were finding their gear, packing their packs, struggling into them and then heading out for their cabin overnights. As they hike away to the shelters, all that’s visible of some of them are their feet below overstuffed backpacks.

Lakeside I & II getting ready to head out on their cabin overnight

Four days into this session, we have settled into a familiar, comfortable and busy rhythm. It won’t be long after our nacho snack tonight that all will be in bed, tired from the day, falling asleep to the katydid chorus then dreaming of the pancake breakfast to come tomorrow.

Good night.

Dan Noland

Pictures from July 26, 2010 (password required)

Each age group picked a group name tonight that they will use all session. This group is the "Insane Cow Posse"!!

August 26, 2010

Pictures from July 15, 2010 (password required)

Tonight I asked one of our newest counselors, Alex Gregor, to write the blog.  Alex is a graduate of Davidson University where he earned his degree in Anthropology.  Since his graduation he has worked at Davidson in their Outdoor Program and as an employee of their IT Department. In the upcoming days we will have more of our outstanding counselors contribute to the blog as well. –Hank Birdsong

Fun on the waterslide!!

You might have marked yesterday as Bastille Day. At High Rocks, we didn’t follow up on our July 4th fireworks display with another, but there was plenty of other excitement at camp.

Extended trips are in full-swing at this point. As soon as one group of campers returns to camp, another one is headed out the door. While climbers returned from three days at the Obed, a popular climbing area in Tennessee, a group of advanced paddlers prepared to depart for West Virginia’s New River Gorge. At the same time, another group got ready to head out for an overnight trip Worley’s Cave. The trip leaders, Ben Little and Elizabeth Thompson, had their participants take a look at a pair of coat hangers before they set out. The US Geological Survey says that if an underground passageway is as big as the space within a coat hanger, then it’s big enough to squeeze through. I was ready to take their word for it but several of the campers, who returned to camp today after spending the night underground, confirmed that a coat-hanger-sized tunnel is plenty big to crawl inside.

One of the things I appreciate the most at High Rocks as a counselor is the variety that each day offers. In my role as one of camp’s photographers, I spent most of my morning chasing the campers with the craziest hairdos, trying to get some photos worthy of sending home. I spent some time on the tennis courts, the archery and riflery range, and one of our pastures while horseback riders trotted past. Just a few days before, I was taking photos from an eddy on the Green River. Not long after that, I was hanging off our climbing tower from a rope, taking photos as guys screamed down the zipline. For a photographer who loves the outdoors, working at High Rocks is a dream job. I take photos all morning and then teach mountain biking all afternoon. It’s a great community of people to spend time with and I think one of the camp t-shirts pretty much sums it up: “If it’s awesome, we do it at High Rocks.”

When I got to camp for staff training earlier this summer, I was really impressed to learn that fellow counselor David Kirby loves to compete in ultra marathons, ridiculously long races that have him running up and down mountain trails for 50, 75, or 100km at a time. David organized High Rocks’ first triathlon, which took place yesterday afternoon. We decided to drop the “ultra” part and keep things short. A group of campers and counselors jumped into the lake for an aptly named “tri swim” (The name’s older than our triathlon but we’ll take it. And if campers do 10 of these in a summer, they get a free trip to Dolly’s…). After swimming out to a couple of buoys and back, we took off on mountain bikes for Chainbreaker Hill, a formidable climb that leads up to a grassy pasture and the top of Jaybreaker Hill, a rolling, grassy descent to camp below. Still dripping from our swim, we blasted down Jaybreaker but slammed on the brakes before we got to the bottom. A herd of horses was having dinner right in the middle of our trail. With a quick detour by foot, we were back on track, riding into camp to start our run around the Lake Loop Trail. About a mile and a half later, we were greeted with cheers and high-fives back at the dock.

We weren’t keeping time at all during the triathlon. All of us who participated stuck together for the entire event, starting and finishing as a group. Another group did the same today, mostly following the same route but doing an abbreviated mountain bike ride. It was a blast for all the guys who participated. One camper who cheered us on said tonight, “I want all of you who did the triathlon to talk to me after dinner. I want to make you shirts, which I’ll give you next summer.”

The whole event showcased the camaraderie, goofiness, and fun that I love about High Rocks. It was a great way to celebrate my 24th birthday, which was yesterday. I’m hard pressed to think of one I enjoyed more.

–Alex Gregor

(ps from Hank- Before the caving trip left yesterday, several of us tested out the “coathanger test” by going through a coathanger from head to toe.  Smaller campers had no trouble at all.  I was able to do it, but there was some grunting involved!!)

Pictures from July 1, 2010 (password required)

Each cabin gets one opportunity during the busy session to spend half the day on the high ropes course.  What a way to bring the cabin together and have some fun!  The boys learn the basics in the “ground school” training before ever going up to the course.  During this training they also learn to count on one another to be sure each person is making the right moves.  They even have to ask their partner permission to make movement through the course.  Our high ropes course has 16 different elements at levels of 25 and 45 feet in the air!  The half-day event ends with an exciting time down the zip line!

The last of the cabin overnights headed out tonight with the exception of our oldest boys in Holiday I.  We have a special mission for them that will happen Saturday night.  We’ll keep you posted.  SSSHHHH!

The climbers were also out today as well as our first group heading to Worley’s Cave for at day of what I call “indoor hiking.”   There is nothing like crawling around all day in the mud and not knowing whether it is rainy or sunny outside.  What a blast!

The legendary “Camper-Counselor Tennis Tournament” started today.  Each year the boys ask a counselor (or nearly any staff member for that matter) to be their partner in the tournament.  Camper players with more skill are asked to pursue staff with less skill and so on.   The guys over at tennis have a great time matching the pairs to create a fun tournament. The event will take the entire session to finish…  Along with trips, staff days off, and just a plain busy schedule, we have had some final games in years past played on parent’s day.  It should be a lot of fun; we will keep you posted on the details.

Our second group of paddlers headed out for some review and hard work on the Green River.  The boys spent the day not just heading downstream, but also stopping at many rapids and working on skills that will help them on future river trips.  Many times the boys even have to change positions in the canoe and re-run the rapid in their new setup, allowing the boys to become fully capable of working the canoe from the bow or stern.  You will hear about these guys on more rivers in the future.  The river trip pictures came in late, so check out tomorrow’s blog for some great canoeing shots from this group.

We often get asked why the boys have to spend time in a canoe first before moving on to a solo boat.   One of the best reasons is that the boys spend a little more time in a larger craft understanding how the river works and what it does to your boat.  The canoe offers an amazing vantage point to see all the river features downstream. It also give the boys an opportunity to work as a team and communicate with each other as they challenge themselves.   We want the boys to experience the river in what some might call a more noble craft.  Most all of the skills learned in a canoe are immediately transferable to a kayak.  Personally, I always felt that learning to paddle a canoe was like learning to drive a manual transmission (stick).  If you can drive “with a stick” you can drive any car my parents would say.  If the boys learn to paddle a canoe, they can paddle anything! The canoeing base to our paddling program is probably one of the longest traditions we have here at High Rocks.  It was actually brought over from Camp Mondamin when Townsend’s parent’s first started High Rocks.  The tradition continues to this day.

Have a great night and enjoy the pictures!

Don

 Pictures from June 18, 2010 (password required)

Today was a beautiful day to be in Western North Carolina.  The weather was wonderful and the temperature was warm but a little cooler than recent days.   It was a great end to the tripping week and the boys are a little bit worn out after numerous trips and adventures in camp.

Today we had our first Kayaking trip to the Green River.  The boys have been working really hard and got to set out on the Green River for a new adventure.  It is always different the first time in a kayak.  The guys did great and I believe are chomping at the bit for more rivers next week!  Thee two-day hike from Sam’s Knob returned and there are some great pictures from that trip.  The Rock Climbing trip to the Obed also returned this evening after two great days of climbing. 

The climbers were the last trip to make it back, which makes for a great sigh of relief as a camp director.  We work hard at everything we do and our staff are amazing at what they do, but it sure makes me happy when that last van rolls into the lot for the weekend and everyone is home!

Tonight was skit night and were there ever some laughs!  The sillier the better on this night and the campers and counselors certainly did not disappoint.  There were scenes from America’s Next Top Model all the way to rapping fast-food cashiers.  What fun!

On with the weekend!  As we ready ourselves for a little mixed up fun again in tomorrow’s activities, kicked off with pancakes made by the directors and other none-kitchen staff.  It’s a tradition that has continued for decades here at High Rocks.  Some of you alumni will remember Mr. Will (Sumner Williams; Townsend’s dad) making pancakes for camp every Saturday, as time passed Hank and Dan Noland stepped in to help and later took over the event.  Today you can still see Hank and Dan with other “apprentices” learning the ways of the griddle every Saturday morning.

Tonight’s pictures highlight a group on the ropes course, some great waterslide shots from a swimming class, and finally all of cabin photos.

Have a great night!  Sorry we were late…

Zoob Gentle
Associate Director

The Chattooga River!

Today was one of those days in camp when you look around and say something like – “Where is everyone?”  The boys have been putting their skills into full swing this week.  Today and tomorrow might be the busiest yet.   Over 60 people were out of camp today for lunch.  All of them on some exciting trip in the woods!  Canoeing, Caving, Mountain Biking, Backpacking, and Climbing all had trips out of camp today. 

I have been impressed with the self-reliance these boys have gained in just over a week of camp.  They have chosen their own schedule, they get up and sorted for the days challenges, make their bed, clean (yes, clean!) their cabin, and even decide on which trips they want to attend.  Independence and self-reliance are one of those subtle traits that kids learn at camp, most of the time they don’t even realize it.  From the very first day these boys are presented with the guidelines, parameters, opportunities and a means to create their own camp session.  Camp is filled with choices, and much like life will hand them, they can’t have everything they want all the time.  For example, just this week a camper was faced with making a choice between two different trips in as many activities.  I was in awe to see this same boy work with both activity heads to make the trips work out so he could attend each of them.  Again, this boy was presented with a situation where he worked within the system to create a desirable result.  Now, it does not always work out that perfectly but sometimes, if you work at it, you can reach your goal even when presented with a challenge.  What a life skill!

I wanted to go off on a tangent a little tonight to make you aware of some important things that are affecting our camp and many others in the State of North Carolina.  Some of you may remember when we contacted you about the nearsighted legislators that thought it might be a good idea to impose a sales tax on summer camps.  You might not know it, but summer camps are getting hit on all sides by regulation and permitting.   Things like building codes, school calendars, forest service permits, and even a health department required “NO Smoking” sign in the dining hall…as if!   In a few weeks we will ask you to take part in a really important study that can help give camps in our region a little credit.  The North Carolina Youth Camp Association (NCYCA) is sponsoring an Economic Impact of Summer Camps.  The goal is to quantify the direct and indirect impact summer camps have on the local and regional economy.  This study is an important tool to help legislators see how much camps do for the economy and the region.   Your input will be a very important step in the study.  Again, we will be getting information out in the coming weeks.  Please take a moment to fill out the online survey and help High Rocks and the surrounding camps have a voice and a tool to show how much we matter.  Thank you!

We have some great pictures of yesterday’s Chattooga River trip, some great horseback riding, and many additional shots in camp.  Have a wonderful night.

 Don Gentle
Associate Director
don@highrocks.com

 Pictures from June 10, 2010 (password required)

Our first trips on the French Broad River for the beginner and intermediate paddlers headed out today.  After three one-hour sessions on the lake the first groups headed out to begin their paddling progression on the moving water.  The French Broad begins its journey just south of Brevard and continues all the way up through Asheville and into the Tennessee River system, before it finally dumps into the Gulf of Mexico.  Our beginner and intermediate paddlers put-in just below the steep headwaters to practice their new skills on gentle moving water. Today they practiced essential skills like eddy turns, peel-outs, and ferries. These maneuvers will help them work with the water to put the boat where they want it to go on the river. Our goal is to have these boys continue to master and enjoy the sport one step at a time, until after several summers the boys are paddling some of the best whitewater in the Southeast. 

We had two groups head out on the river today; one in the morning and then another group in the afternoon. The morning group is featured in today’s photos, be on the lookout tomorrow for the afternoon group.  Many of these guys will progress on to the lower Green River next week for their first all-day trip.  Keep an eye out next week for more river pictures.

Our climbers headed over to Cedar Rock in Pisgah National Forest for some great climbs.  The Mountain Bikers took their first out of camp trip to Dupont State Forest.  Again, most of these guys will head on to bigger and better trips in their respective activities as the session progresses.

Tonight is the last night of cabin overnights.  Blaire and Townsend were out with their camera again tonight.  However, they got back late so you will have to wait until tomorrow until you can see those.

Tonight’s age group activities:

“Juniors”- (Hillside & Connestee) are participating in canoe fill-ups.
“Middler 1”- (Lakeside & Foxhollow) are playing capture the flag.
“Middler 2” – (Flattop, Holiday & Chalet) Holiday & Chalet are headed out on a cabin overnight. Flattop is playing capture the flag.
“Upper Middlers” – (Windswept & Outpost)  are headed out on a cabin overnight
“Seniors” – (Halfway) & “Upper Seniors” – (Lookout) are going off the water slide.

Have a wonderful night and enjoy the pictures.  There are some great paddling shots as well as some High Ropes Course pictures.  Tomorrow is another day in paradise!!!

Don Gentle
Associate Director
don@highrocks.com

This summer, we have something new for our June Session paddlers.  High Rocks will be one of many camps participating in the 1^st Annual “Green River Games,” June 23^rd, hosted by Green River Adventures in Saluda, NC.  The best part is that the event is almost at the end of the session, which allows our campers who sign up for whitewater paddling to get fully in shape for the fun day on the river. 

As many of you know, our paddling program has its roots in tandem whitewater canoe.  As boys progress, they can then take a choice of kayak, C-1 (decked canoeing:  basically paddling a kayak on your knees with a canoe paddle), or OC-1 (Solo open boat canoe).  The program is designed to challenge you every summer you come back.   Each year the boys learn more and more skills on the lake as well as on many of the rivers in our area.  The guys start out on easy moving flatwater and then progress on to more difficult rivers as their skills allows.  Many of our most advanced paddlers (sometimes after several summers) paddle class III+ rivers during the summer.  Last summer we even introduced C-2 into the program.  Our C-2’s (tandem decked canoeing) are world class slalom boats and are the same boats paddled by Olympians in the whitewater slalom competition.  The boys will have plenty of time to get up to speed before the big event, including several trips down the Green River before the event even happens this summer.

The Green River Games will be an all day event on the Lower Green River near Saluda, North Carolina.  Sponsors, including Green River Adventures, will be providing mini clinics, professional athletes, extra boats to try out, and live web coverage.  We will wrap up the day with some fine Hubba Hubba BBQ, and a little entertainment.  Parents, we will send you information about the web coverage when we get closer to the event.  What fun to see your son on the river!  It’s going to be a great day on the water!

Don Gentle, Liz Walker, Will Leverette, and Sam Sommers at Adventure Education Conference

I just got back form Brevard College’s Adventure Education Conference.  Each year BC along with Western, Montreat, and Warren Wilson rotate to host a small conference in the fall focusing on adventure programming and outdoor experiences.  They target a number of small area colleges and universities.  Students from Warren Wilson, Western Carolina, Mars Hill, Montreat, Southwestern Community College were in attendance.

Camp High Rocks’ own Will Leverette was the opening keynote speaker.  Will did a presentation on his new book, The History of Whitewater Paddling in Western North Carolina.  For those of you who do not know it, Will is a family member of High Rocks.  His Aunt and Uncle started Camp High Rocks and his grandfather started Camp Mondamin.  He spent many years growing up and working at camp, mostly the paddling program. 

Of course, Camp High Rocks, along with Mondamin, Green Cove, and Camp Merrie-Woode were the pioneers of organized paddling on many of our area rivers, including The Nantahala and the Chatooga River.  It was great to here Camp High Rocks come up so often during this presentation.  I felt part of something larger than myself and proud to be part of the paddling history here at camp.

Liz Walker, who was our Assistant Head of Mountain Biking for the summer of 2009, was also a presenter at the conference.  Liz is a senior at Brevard College and presented a session on “Sustainability in Outdoor Programs.”

Finally, Sam Sommers just happened to be in town for a couple days and decided to come over and see Will’s presentation.  Sam is currently living in Rochester, NY and was looking into the possibility of an outdoor job down here in Western North Carolina.  Sam has over 10 years at High Rocks, both as a camper and staff. His tenure spanned the late seventies, through the nineties.  He was an avid paddler when he was here, so he was very excited to see Will’s presentation.

It was great to have such a wonderful High Rocks representation at this small conference.  I enjoyed meeting several students who may be interested in working at camp for the 2010 summer season.  What a great way to spend my Friday!

take care,

Don