Mountain Hopping

       This is a tale... a very real tale, of two young men on the brink of death. It all started back in October 2011 beginning with a hike on the Art Loeb Trail in NC. The trail runs through the Shining Rock Wilderness. The trail starts at a Boy Scout Camp that eerily seemed abandoned at first. After aimlessly wandering around the camp an old man came out of nowhere and advised us on the hike. He warned us about the bears and let us know he would be hunting. At this point I told Ricky we should watch our backs this guy is gonna KILL US!! Nevertheless we parked and hit the trail. The hike was strenuous, but after several hours we reached our goal, Cold Mountain ( one of the most appropriately named mountains I have ever been on). It was freezing!            
     As we set up camp I collected water while Ricky collected fire wood. As the sun set it was time to light the fire... easier said than done. Despite rigorous training from Bear Grills (aka man vs wild) we were not able to get it to light. the sticks we had collected were frozen in the insides even though they seemed dry on the outsides!! We became frantic as the temperatures dropped rapidly.. We burned  anything and everything we could for 2 hours and could not get anything to catch. We then decided to save our energy and go to bed but first we had to hang our food so the bears wouldn't get it. So before we left I threw a pile of frozen leaves on the fire to see if the smoldering would create enough heat. While hanging the food our hands were so cold we could barely move them and we were shaking uncontrollably. When we returned to the camp there was literally a glimmer of home. The smoldering had worked and we soon had a raging fire. It was then and there we reminisced on the equation fire=life!!
      In the morning the hiking continued. Through forest and open grass hills we traveled for miles thankful we had survived the night. We saw more hikers that day and found an amazing place to camp. Only one problem lumped. A little ways into the woods was a food pack that had been ripped open by a bear and empty wrappers were everywhere. Sleep did not come easy that night either...

 

     The following morning we doubled back and made it to the car before nightfall. I then continued to be sick the next 4 month with a cold and sinus infections that prescriptions and Zpaks couldn't cure. It was terrible!! Fortunately I have recovered now, just in time for warm weather and more camping!!   

Back to Adventure

This particular adventure took place last summer and I am just now writing about it. Back in May 2011 my buddy Michael Henry Jr. and I went on a kayak journey down the Congaree River in Columbia, SC. We began at the National Forest HQ and got maps and advice from the two rangers there. They advised us that the water was low and it would take 2 to 5 hrs through the swamp before reaching the main river. That was a wide range, but we figured two strapping, young, gentle men like us could make it in 2... well it took 5! We had some serious paddling to do before night fall but luckily we made it to the river and a sand bar. After setting up camp we eat dinner and fished until it got very late. We caught many catfish and saved some in a man made live well for breakfast. In the morning we were greeted by Bambi who seemed lost and scared, but bravely swam to our sand bar a scurried to shore. We then packed up cleaned up and were down the river again. It was peaceful and beautiful. we traveled nearly 20 miles all together. Toward the end of the trip we passed another sandbar named the Redneck Riviera. It was packed with people hanging out on there john boats and having a good time. They all cheered as we paddled by pretty exhausted from our journey. Finally we pulled out at a boat ramp and our travels were through. We were able to finish a day early and really enjoyed our trip!