Fridays at Camp

It seemed like the end of the second week came fast. All of a sudden the week was closing out with a beautiful morning, bits of fog rolling across the lake. Sunny skies were already awakening camp by the time the morning bell rang out. There were several people helping with the subsequent shout of “Good Morning Camp High Rocks!!”. The additional support was good as there were no shouts back today!

The dining room was pretty relaxed this morning as the schedule demands a lot of our campers. It was easy to see that they were a bit tired heading into the weekend. A breakfast of delicious banana bread, scrambled eggs, yogurts, fruit, cereals, and oatmeal was consumed with typical enthusiasm and the noise began to gradually increase.

Trips were going out even as campers were fully waking up. Our mountain bikers shot over to Dupont for a Wintergreen Falls ride with a lean and mean crew of younger guys. Climbers had a full load of guys interested in trying their hand on Looking Glass Rock in Pisgah, one of the classic climbing spots in the area. The canoers took two trips to the French Broad, where the headwaters are just minutes away and we can run a trip between two meal times. Perfect, as the cold water and exercise always succeeds in getting those young stomachs hungry!

Sprucepine had their turn on the ropes course today, and our hikers returned from their 3 day trip to the Pink Beds area in Pisgah. The weather sounds like it treated them well, while the higher elevation and thick canopy kept things delightfully cool for most of the trip. Mix that with tasty foods packed out and a number of streams to splash in, life was pretty good. They returned to camp clearly happy with what they had accomplished, and clearly needing a good shower to be fit dinner companions.

The day continued to have a Friday feel with guys enjoying their snack times, loving floating in the lake during free times, and moving in groups of friends enjoying their time together. Our first group of Mini campers wrapped up their last day of the session with an evening spent with their cabin and then a campfire with the whole Mini crew and Don. The last day of a session is a funny one, with all kinds of feelings mixed together. Sadness at leaving camp, unsettled at coming transition, and excitement about seeing family again. We look forward to welcoming our Mini camper families to camp tomorrow morning and the stories should start flowing nearly immediately!

Please enjoy the pictures from the day and we will be back here on Saturday evening!

 

Woody Noland