Backcountry sale!

Advocare!

So I am now a Distributor for Advocare! if youa re looking for some great supplements, energy boosters and vitamens, this is your ticket!

https://www.advocare.com/120922839

Just send me an email and we will get you set up!
kevin.m@thelightadventurer.com

Lake Ocoee

While there are many awesome campsites at lake Ocoee, Baker's creek is definitely my favorite.
For this adventure, after a long week at camp in great need of an escape from the hectic summer camp world, Ashley and I paddled via canoe against a non-existent current to Baker's creek. There we set up our hammocks, which if you do not have a lightweight hammock we suggest you get one.

 Hammocks really are the best way to camp! Now for a fire! Though a beautiful spot, it is slightly lacking on available firewood. Though after a bit of good scrounging, I managed to find some lighternaught and some dry pine to build our log cabin fire. The log cabin is especially useful for Hobo stew, which made for a perfect meal on this night.  (check it out at campfirefeast.blogspot.com ). Mix up the meal with a hidden stash on McCormick steak seasoning and you have a feast fit for kings!
It doesn't get much better than to sit in your hammock eating a warm bowl of Hobo Stew watching the last rays of sunshine glistening off the water with the one you love. If only the night ended here.
Instead the police were out cruising the water in search of some unknown nemesis creating havoc on a beautiful starlit night.

Morning dawns, and what better way to welcome a morning than to sit in a hammock overlooking the water watching the new sun peering over the horizon snuggled next to that special someone. Alas, even though it is only 6 AM, that morning meeting beckoned us back to the real world. No dwaddling today! Young eager campers await, ready to start a new adventure! It was fun while it lasted.

New River Gorge, Day 3

Of course we saved the best day for last! Completely unintentionally, but we can still say it! More apple cider to kick off the cold West Virginia morning. Stella starts off by telling us she wants to head down to the river today to climb since it is the time of year the water level is low enough to access those rocks. There's also some great rock face exposed from years of rushing river whittling in funky formations and crazy holds. So we drive. No twisty roads this time, just highway and little two laners thankfully. Parking is a little niche off the two lane covered in leaves and a little muddy. Out of the car and down the access path through spider webs and watch out for the holes along the way! When finally you see the river it is beautiful, the fall colors are spectacular and the layers of rock in the cutout made by the river are just as spectacular. There are a few other climbers out early with us this morning so we wave our hello's and head to a chunky 5.7 to warm up. The bolts are placed and maintained by the Southeastern Climbers Coalition - check them out some time cause they do awesome things for the climbing world. Ashley and I are practicing our Lead climbing, smoothing out the rough patches and practicing our falls. Joe and Mike are just as happy to be there -getting some climbing in, taking more pictures and hanging out with friends.

Luckily for us, we were feeling a little adventurous or maybe just tired after the past couple of days. Mike showed us how to show off on the rocks, and when not climbing... well the picture speaks for it's self.

 So, Mike was the best at showing off for the camera but we all gave it a shot.

Needless to say, there were a lot of rocks around... enough for the whole USA!

Rock climbing at pocket

For Rock climbers, exploring ones own back yard is a great way to gain experience, meet new people, and really get use to their equipment. Pocket is only 7 min from Bryan campus and about 45 min from Chattanooga TN. The possibilities for climbing and bouldering out here are endless. A really fun place for beginners and more experienced climbers alike is a set of three climbs ranging from a 5.6 top rope route, to a 5.11 bolted sports route, and finally and 5.9 top rope climb.

I took some new climbers out here to teach them the ropes and get them warmed up on outdoor rock. what a fun day! no only can they climb a outdoor 5.6 but we also got to do some awesome 80 foot repels off the same face. Annalise got her first taste of outdoor climbing here at pocket on this 5.6 climb. A fantastic first day got her hooked and led to future climbs at our local climbing gym in Chattanooga, Urban Rocks

Gear used:

The Laural Hike

NOT for the weary of heart or faint of mind! no actually this is a great hike for all ages, however, the path you chose can be... well, extreme. 

 Laurel Fall is a beautiful place to visit, and I have found great pleasure in taking students here through the years. at about  4 miles round trip, the laurel hike is one that you should plan on being out for at least 3 hours.

The trail is easy to follow until you get about half way there, when you reach the resivour. here you must watch carefully for the switchback. i have missed it a few times and gone all the way up to the resevour, which did make for a nice picnic area, but was not the impressive waterfall I was wanting. once back on the path, you must navigate a rather rocky part of the path, until you get to the metal 50 foot bridge that marks the split to snow fall and Laurel.

Now is when you must decide, is this a hike, or a high adventure trek?

Often I chose the high adventure trek which turns out to more scrambling over boulders than actual hiking.
a good pair of hiking shoes, or even better, a pair of five fingers is perfect for gripping the slick rocks and steep angles you can encounter here. For the high adventure route, hike just to the left of the large upright rock, and hop over the narrow ledge there and simply follow the creek up as best you can, navigating over the large boulders you come to. Did I say this path was easy? Right, not so much, but it is fun for sure!
As you make your way up, you will find areas that the path is actually easier to follow than the rocks, and yet the rocks are far faster after you account for all the switchbacks the path takes. Be sure to bring your camera along as well! The view from the base of the fall is breathtaking.

New North face gear at rock creek!

check out all the new north face gear at Rock creek!

Campout in pocket

Many Bryan College students of years past have enjoyed a night under the stars out at Pocket wilderness, officially known as Snow Laural Pocket wilderness, in Dayton TN. If you have never have the pleasure of spending a night out at pocket, I strongly suggest it. Camping can be one the the simplest and cheapest weekend adventures, and essentially builds the base for a awesome time. Not only do you get to sleep out in the cool fresh air of fall, but you can then begin a climbing, bouldering, hiking, or just a fun day out in the creek.

Dear Current Bryan students, please make sure you check with your RA to sign out before heading out over night. trust me it is for your own safety. always make sure people know you are going to pocket because I have had to rescue several people myself from the depths of pocket, mine shafts, and high cliffs.

Some really awesome places to camp are about a mile hike in along the main path. when you head up towards Laural falls, you cross a 50 foot metal bridge. the path here splits, one path to snow and one to Laural. if you head towards snow, you will come upon a very nice camp site. but be warned, there is very little in the way of good firewood here. 

Keep exploring every chance you get! the adventures at pocket are endless! I look forward to sharing more!

 here are some links for the gear we used on our adventures

New River Gorge, WV - Part 1

It started with a phone call, "Hey Kevin, do you want to go climbing in West Virginia?"
I told her I had other plans, but that was just me being lazy, not wanting to put forth physical effort and do something productive.
"Well I am going, so you can come if you want."
The more I thought about it, the more I realized I needed to get out of Dayton.
So I quickly called back, "On second thought let's do it!"
There was no way the beat up '93 Camry was going to make it, so we packed the Escape, and prepared for our adventure.
"I don't really know where we are going, Joe sent me directions via email."
"Who's Joe?" "You'll meet him when we get there."
If this guy is like any of Ashley's other camp friends, I am wondering what I might be getting myself into.
So we drove. And drove. Toward the mountains, through the valleys, through two giant mountain tunnels. Then uphill. New River Gorge here we come. If we don't get lost.

Unknown to us, the day of our arrival was also the day to jump of the New River Gorge bridge. Adventure #1, detour!

Adventure #2 realizing that we had no idea where the campsite was. Enter Joe's email.
Joe's email had directions from Stella, a current campsite resident. So needless to say we were a little confused.
Did we find it one the first try? Absolutely not.
Fortunately, we made it before dark and pitched our tent. Unfortunately, the campsite was sloped. You would think being from TN, we would be used to this. Not yet.
For some inspirational food ideas, some of which we used on this adventure check out:
www.campfirefeast.blogspot.com
Enter Joe and his brother Michael. They camped in their mini-van. Ultimate bachelor pad. Enough said.
Enter Stella. Same story. Ultimate bachelorette pad, climbing themed.

Climbing day 1
Stella take us all to a sweet spot for learning to lead climb, and to let Joe & Mike get their feet wet since it's been a while.
Could we get back to spot if we wanted? Probably not.
Lead climb successful? Oh Yeah.

Climbing Day 2
see next post...

Have you ever seen so much of the milky way? If not, you are missing out! These were taken from our campsite in Fayetteville WV.





P.S. Bring a warm sleeping bag or a cuddle buddy for this adventure in the fall!

MooseJaw

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Trek light

Check out this great gear from trek light!

Rock Climbing Trainer

So today is a little wet in Tennessee. Perfect day for some indoor Rock Climb Training. If you are in the Chattanooga area, I strongly suggest http://urbanrocksgym.com. Urban rocks is a great indoor climbing gym with tons of good routes to practice on a a great bouldering section. When it gets too wet, or to cold to climb outside, find yourself a nice indoor gym, and keep the skill going! The more you practice the better you get. For strictly bouldering http://tbagym.com/

WWhen my wife and I worked at YMCA camp Ocoee, we would climb almost every day. this moved us to a whole new level with our climbing to the point that we could learn to lead climb. Now that lead climbing is an option, rather than top roping where ever we could find some strong trees, so many more options have opened up to us. Places like New River Gorge West Virginia and Red River in Virginia became possible climbing spots, and also Horse Pens 40 (bouldering) in Alabama.

 Above is me on a beginner 5.8 in New River Gorge
Left is Urban Rocks Gym












So even on a wet and rainy labor day, you can still get your adventure on, and go climbing, just indoors... got to practice somehow!