Welcoming August and A New Round of Adventures
White Rabbit! Welcoming August is always a bittersweet time of the year. The bitter part means that soon camp will come to a close, I will ditch my kayak for a computer and notepad, and there will be a lot less friendship string on the path to the dining hall. But it is also sweet because it is when I get to begin to reflect on the summer, the memories that were made in this space, and the new friendships that will extend past the summer. There’s plenty of time for that once camp is over, so for now I will push aside the bittersweet feelings of August and focus on some memories that were made this week.
I had the pleasure of spending my time this week on Western North Carolina rivers with an incredible group of Riverside campers. I have watched these kids grow up here over the years, many having paddled with me on Mountainside, and spending time with them over the last few days was a joy that is hard to put into words, but I will give it a shot. We started our trip Sunday with a training day on the Tuckaseegee. We used this day to get acquainted with our new paddling partners, learn the hydrology of rivers, and develop our paddling skills for the coming adventure. After a riveting Vespers performance on Sunday night of “All Your’n” by Tyler Childers, we embarked Monday for the four-day paddling adventure.
After a long drive to the Nantahala River, we had a short paddling day on the first 3 miles of the river, finishing with a lunch at Ferebee’s Park. The second and third day we continued to surf, ferry, and catch eddies in order to build up our skills for the culminating challenge, the class three rapid at the end of the river, Nantahala Falls. Today we got an early start, paddled a short warm-up section and approached the long concrete beach of Nantahala Falls. After scouting the rapid and picking out the line, the Riversides blew up their float bags, tightened their PFDs, and peeled out to take on the large waves and hydraulics of the rapid. Their hard work over the course of the last four days paid off, and I couldn’t have been prouder. After each person came down the rapid (some upside down, most with a bit of water in the boat), we checked out the pictures of their accomplishment and topped it off with a lunch of pita pizzas (an offsite trip delicacy) at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. While I’m sad that my time with this group of Riversiders has come to an end, I can’t wait to hear about all of their experiences on the backpacking trip coming up soon.
That was my last day with our Riverside Campers, tomorrow I will welcome my next group of Gwynn Valley paddlers, the MS3 whitewater group. We will head to the Green River tomorrow for our first training day to prepare for the coming four-day adventure on Monday. Whitewater will not be the only group heading out for a training day, as our climbers will develop their belay skills at Looking Glass Rock, bikers will be ripping the trails in Dupont, and Expedition Canoers will be learning the j-stroke at Lake Keowee. I look forward to dinner tomorrow when I get to hear all that our Mountainsiders learned while exploring the natural world, and will be excited to send them off on the last adventure of the summer very soon.
As we enter the final stretch of our summer at Gwynn Valley, the energy and excitement are palpable. Each day brings new challenges, triumphs, and unforgettable moments that shape not only our campers’ experiences but also the very essence of what makes our camp special. From conquering rapids to scaling rock faces, from pedaling through forests to mastering canoe strokes, our campers are pushing their limits and discovering their potential. As we look ahead to these last precious days of summer, we’re reminded of the incredible journey we’ve shared and the lifelong memories we’ve created together. Here’s to making the most of every moment and ending our summer adventure on the highest of notes!
