The trips are back to home sweet home. After a very rustic couple of days, the camp cots and bathrooms in our bunks are something to appreciate!
The Seniors just returned from Carter Notch in the White Mountain National Forest. It was a very difficult four-mile hike up the mountain, at a very steep incline. A new leader was assigned during every stretch of trail. When it was time for a rest, that camper shared what they believe makes a good leader. Interesting stuff!
Sure, along the way some complained. But in the end, each hiker felt a sense of accomplishment and we bet they’re glad they did it.
It was especially cool when they got to the top and found a beautiful pond. Now that was a real cold plunge... Brrrrrrr! There were rocks to climb, as well as a naturalist, who explained how the rock formations came about.
Also at the top was the AMC Hut where they’d be staying. It’s like a super rustic cabin with wooden bunk beds, a mattress, blanket and kitchen. The “Croo”, a group of 4-5 who runs the hut and does the cooking, carry all of their supplies in every week. Our meal was enchiladas, magic bars for dessert and the best lemonade the kids ever had.
After dinner, it was board-game time. There were other guests there besides Skylemar (sorry, folks), and we were proud when they commented about how respectful our boys were.
No morning reveille at the hut. Instead we woke to a fiddle! Breakfast was served at 6:30 -- bacon, eggs and pumpkin bread. There are no trash cans at the top of Carter Notch. Any bit of paper waste goes in your backpack to throw away at the bottom.
The Sophomores went to Mt. Cranmore, also in the White Mountains. We took the easy way up…chairlift! Coming back down was lots of fun on the Mountain Coaster, which was like a little car on a track. You could control how fast or slow you went.
The boys stayed at Franconia Notch State Park Campground. After setting up the tents in teams, Ethan V and Ari F helped the staff cook what Leo V said was “the greatest burger I ever had”. Afterward, all enjoyed a campfire, smores and a cozy sleeping-bag night.
Breakfast was bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches, which fueled us up for their own four-mile hike to Lonesome Lake... and yet another awesome cold plunge!
The staff of the Cranmore Mountain Resort said we were “the greatest camp group that ever came through”.
Many of the Stars Division have returned to the United States! They were in Quebec City for a few days and had an amazing time. What’s especially unique about Quebec is that because it’s French, you really feel like you’re in a European country. There were numerous sights to see, foods to sample, jerseys to buy. Skylemar’s been taking this trip for 77 years!
It was really a wonderful cookout dinner here at Skylemar, with everyone back where they belong. Evening Activity was the Final Talent Show. We had to have it inside the Rec Hall on the Gerhard Stage, because it was raining hard at this point. It was a solid show, but with far more silliness than talent. For example, Brothers Lincoln M and Morgan chugged water. Hunter S chugged too. They’re ready for college. Jacob W screamed. Imanzi twisted his fingers. Bud did hula hooping. There was quite a variety of skits, jokes, songs, sports, dances (sort of, although not really sure what they were doing) and general silliness. They love to use a microphone. And they love to be on stage, with everyone laughing with them.
Nevertheless, there was some real talent in the show. Feddie and Billy were incredible with diabolo yoyos. Seth F and David G played the piano. Seth R impressed by reciting Pi. No matter what, those on stage had a great time. You could see it in their faces!
