Chattooga Family Camping Trip
March 25th, 2009 Camping,Family Camping Trip,Hill Country MontessoriWe just returned from one of the most difficult, yet one of the most uplifting wilderness trips that I’ve ever led.
Two weekends ago, Dana and I led a “mini-backpacking” trip for families from Hill Country Montessori School. However, the weather did not cooperate. Rain began falling as we entered Clayton, the closest town to our trailhead. Luckily, it was an intermittent rain that did not soak us right away.
As we strapped on our packs, I was filled with optimism–everyone had plenty of rain gear, our tents were as new as could be, and our campsite along Dicks Creek was a beautiful location. The weather report had even been downgraded from 90% chance of rain to 70% on Saturday. Maybe sun might even poke through the clouds on Sunday! We’ll have an oasis of dry ground under our tarp and even fire-starter (for the first time ever). We walked the 1/2 mile to the campsite in good spirits, and proceeded to set up camp without rain on our backs.
Friday night was lovely. Bob G. got a big fire roaring and Isaac helped him poke at it. Luke told me stories about “Man vs. Wild” and Emma and Christie helped cut up veggies for our meal. We sat around the fire eating and telling stories – including “Jack and the Devil” – until it was time for sleep.
Unfortunately, the rain began almost immediately after we crawled into our tents. Hearing the rain pound on the thin nylon kept me up half the night worrying if the campers were getting soaked.
But when we emerged in the morning, we had all stayed dry (except for some drinking water spilled in the boys tent) and somewhat warm. I’d love to say the sun greeted us as it often does after rainy nights in the woods, but that was not to be on this trip. We spent Saturday in drizzle and rain, day hiking, going on “crazy adventures” (as I called some of our woods exploration). Without Bob’s constant and watchful eye on the fire and Curtis, Christie, Emma & Luke’s exuberant hiking up the “crazy steep” trail, the day might have been a drag. Instead, we kept our spirits up, kept our raingear on, and enjoyed ourselves.
I told more stories on this hike than I ever have before. The kids heard about Brer Rabbit, Brer Coon, & the Frogs, Jack & the Devil, Jack & the Doctor, Jack & the Varmits, and even Jack & the Vampire (courtesy of Isaac). Leonard, Elizabeth, and Bob set calm and low-key examples for how to deal with bad weather in the woods, and from what I could tell, the kids had a blast.
Saturday night? You guessed it – more rain. People switched tents, leaving one tent totally vacant, and wouldn’t you know it–that was the one that was in a huge puddle when we awoke. Seeing the dreary gray sky and the drip of the rain on Sunday morning, we decided to pack up camp. Then, we noticed our creek … or had it become a river? The creek alongside which we were camped was swollen and brown with silt. This usually wouldn’t be a problem, but the only way out of our parking area was across a ford of Sandy Creek. Had Sandy Creek risen higher than our minivan and Mazda could ford?
After the hike back to the car, lugging sodden tents, tarp, and other gear on our backs, we drove toward the ford with trepidation. Sandy Creek was twice as wide as it had been on Friday. Dana waded through and found the most shallow route, then Bob easily crossed in his Expedition. With significantly less confidence, I drove our Mazda through, and made it, followed by Leonard’s minivan. We then piggy-backed or helped the kids wade across in bare feet. Escape from Sandy Creek and on to a big country meal at Rabbit Town Cafe in Gainesville, warm showers and soft beds at home.
How did this trip turn out so well? I credit the families of Hill Country Montessori and their good attitudes and spirit of adventure. Next trip, we’ll DEMAND balmy, sunny weather!
Who knew that we’d be roasting marshmellows TWICE on the rainiest weekend so far in 2009? 
Cumberland Backpacking
March 17th, 2009 Backpacking,Cumberland IslandIn late February, we took Nancy Smith 
on her first-ever backpacking trip. Cumberland Island National Seashore was the destination because of the mild winter weather, the flat terrain, and its sheer beauty.
From the moment we stepped onto the island, this trip was heaven (but then again, it always is on Cumberland). We had a bit of a scare when the ranger told us that Stafford Beach campsite, our first night’s destination, was full. Would we have to stay two nights at Sea Camp (the full-service campground)? Would we have to hike 5 miles to Hickory Hill campsite? Would we have to lie and sneak into Stafford after dark? Luckily, the ranger understood our situation and allowed us to camp near the boy scout group that had Stafford.
Nancy was a brilliant hiker–carrying 20-25 pounds, she kept a steady pace, was patient while I climbed trees, and asked for what she needed. Here are a few excerpts from her journal of the trip:
“My tent was pitched between two low hanging live oak branches that were like embracing arms around it and me, between the fire ring and the bathroom facility. Jonah & Dana’s tent was in a semi-secluded spot next to the fire ring, and the bear bag was hung high across from it. …
“We took naps, then Dana & i went to refill the water containers at a tap a short way further down the trail and purify it. We gathered firewood, which the scouts had picked over pretty well including from the area right next to our tents. Jonah woke up after we got the fire going and we cooked red beans and rice with summer sausage on the camp stove (no MREs for us – surefoot adventures does gourmet meals!) …
“When it got dark, we walked over to the beach to stargaze. Even more beauty, as the stars away from the city are always brighter. We could hear the surf from our tents all night (when we were awake) – Cumberland lullaby. When we got back to our campsite, we were too tired even for hot cocoa (i had brought my special Ghiradelli mix). So we tied up the bear bag and went to bed. It was only 8, but it is dark in the woods and what else is there to do? …
“At about 4 AM, I woke and knew my blood sugar was low. I should have had some cocoa. I was hot and felt weak. Glucose meter said blood sugar was 59. Problem: the glucose tabs and all the snacks were up in the bear bag for safekeeping against the raccoons. I managed to get it down on my own even tho the pots crashed noisily to the ground, waking the sleeping campmates. They were good about it, calling out to see if it was me or a raccoon and was I ok, but did not get up til I couldn’t untie the knots and called Jonah over. He came willingly, and when I didn’t need his help anymore, went right back to sleep. The whole trip was like that – concern, but never oversolicitousness, from both of them. Confidence that I could handle whatever came up and that I would ask for help if I needed it. Anyway, I took the tablets and some raisins and other snacks back into the tent with me and kept them there for the rest of that night and the next. Settled back down and slept til 8 or so. …
“The next day, after we broke camp, we hiked up the beach about halfway to Sea Camp. it seemed to go much faster for me – was getting acclimated. Yesterday seemed to take forever. … For dinner, we had the long-awaited four-cheese tortellini, and it was worth the wait. Superlative! After cleanup, we had hot chocolate before retiring, for the sake of my blood sugar levels. The sleeping bag and I were even on better terms. (I could get good at this camping thing in time!) …
“It is good to get away from everydayness to a place where it is easier to notice the holiness of all things, to connect, appreciate, get in touch with the soul, with Spirit, to find an altar in the world.”
I couldn’t say it any better, myself. We got to watch silly armadillos bumble about, I jumped in the ocean comfortably in the middle of February, there was tree-climing galore, and the sky was blue and clear. This trip was a joy – seeing Nancy enjoying the wilderness and getting to explore a place that I love, and I look forward to visiting Cumberland again soon!
Photos
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