Not out of the woods, yet…

July 6, 2007

I caught up with the cast and crew of Boots & Boats at Marcy Dam as they continued their travels through the High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. Their first full day of hiking was a long one at 8 miles and included a couple of minor peaks. This set them up for their 4th of July hike through Avalanche Pass (pictures to come) and down to Marcy Dam. The weather was rainy and a little on the chilly side, but the views were breathtaking. They were all happy to see a dry lean-to and a familiar face. Of course, it could have been the freeze-dried bacon, but I like …

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Chicken Fajitas and Chocolate

July 4, 2007

Adventure Village has been running, jumping, climbing and mountain boarding and they just can’t get enough.  I just got back in from hiking into their campsite on the top of Wildcat Mountain at a site called Ladleton.   100 years ago it was a thriving mountain top community whose specialty was making ladles, now it is a few square miles of rock walls and abandoned foundations along with great views of the stars and fields of blueberries.  It’s about a 3 mile hike to the site and at the top the boys all had grins on their faces and if it weren’t for their love of chicken fajitas, they just might …

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High spirits

June 29, 2007

Yesterday brought the group to the Delaware Water Gap where they practiced some canoe strokes and learned about mid-water rescues. Unfortunately, Mother Nature decided that we had had enough canoeing before we even set out down the river. Thunderstorms kept us under shelter until late in the afternoon. We decided to call it quits and head back to the Valley. Despite the weather, all of the kids were in great spirits and looked at the bright side of the situation. With the threat of more storms looming today, the group stayed at camp and took advantage of the new climbing tower. After lunch in the dining hall, they headed down …

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“If this trip is a green circle…

June 27, 2007

…what’s a blue square like?” That was a question I overheard as the Wilderness Skill Builder cooked their dinner (macaroni and cheese with the option of tuna). This crew got up and out of their Ladleton campsite as they had a long day of hiking over Wildcat Mountain on their way back to the West Valley. Today’s skills included water purification using a filter, land navigation, cooking, and fire-starting. There was also some discussion (and demonstration) of alternative tooth-brushing methods. It seems that coals from your fire are a great substitute if you can stand the grit. This is something cowboys used to do before heading into town. It is …

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What a day!

June 26, 2007

Sometimes I wonder how anyone can come to Frost Valley and ever want to leave! It was one of those days as we enjoyed a brisk morning followed by a hot and humid afternoon. The Boarding Basics crew was all over camp today. They spent time skating, visited the waterfront to cool off, tried to scale the new climbing tower, had devotion at the Castle, and enjoyed a game of French Revolution with the other campers. When I checked in with them at dinner, they were talking about how refreshing their swim was as they chowed down on some baked chicken and au gratin potatoes. Tomorrow afternoon, they will be …

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