Mt. Mitchell

C and I traveled to the highest point in the East this weekend on a Scout trip to Mt. Mitchell.  We went to the campsite at the base of the mtn on Sat morning, thereby avoiding 3 inches of rain that fell there on Friday night.  The two families who arrived Friday moved the picnic tables from the pavilion and set up their tents there to stay dry.  It rained Sat too--fortunately just after we hopped in our cars to drive to Mt. Mitchell.  Though we were at the base, and there is a 5.6 mile hiking trail to the peak, it is about a 30 mile car trip:  10 miles away from the mtn to the Blue Ridge Parkway, then a 20 mile arc back to the mtn.  Even when the deluge stopped as we drove, we could see the storm clouds clinging to the top of the mtn.  But by the time we arrived, it had stopped raining there.  We still couldn't see much from the observation deck as the view was mostly obscured by clouds in three directions.  We ate lunch at the top then went on a 1 mile hike to a "waterfall".  The trail was badly eroded and was mostly wet rocks and wet roots, so it was a rather treacherous walk.  The boys did really well and didn't even complain during the steep hike back.  The boys got into a discussion of episodes 7, 8, and 9 of Star Wars which will be filmed by Disney.  (First, it's pretty amazing that the movies that defined the childhoods of the adult leaders are followed as closely a generation later.)  One boy observed that "In all Disney movies, the animals sing.  I don't think I'd like that in Star Wars."  No, as good as Disney musicals are, singing space creatures would certainly doom a Star Wars movie.  We walked to the "falls" and the boys took of their shoes and walked around in the water.  C and three (of the four) others of course fell in the freezing water but didn't seem to mind.  One boy, after climbing out of the water, said "Aww, my peanuts are wet."  He said it quickly so the adults heard another P-word.  Then he reached in his pocket and pulled out a bag of trail mix.  The adults immediately broke out in hysterical laughter and the boys just looked bewildered at us.  Upon reaching the top of the mountain, and the end of the hike, the rain began again.  Our timing was perfect yet again.  Once we were back at camp, by which time the rain had stopped, the boys played with each other and kept occupied nicely.  In the evening, they went to look for a fishing spot in the creek.  The weather had cleared and we could see blue sky above but it was still misty along the creek.  C enjoyed trying to skip stones in the creek--with all the rain this summer, there was plenty of rushing water.  I had the task of finding round, flat rocks for C and a friend.  He had a good sleep last night and was raring to go at 7 am regardless of my warning that it was warmer in the sleeping bag (no sleeping in for dad!).  He slept on the drive home!

E's news is that we reconfigured her bed to a toddler bed.  She started climbing out of her crib this week, so the time had come.  Now we have lost the incentive that we would move her to a toddler bed if she went to sleep, etc.  Oh well.  She's now a big girl.  Up next--a potty trained big girl!  The humorous note for E is that she's picked up an Alison Janney line from "Hairspray" (originally from Mommy Dearest) and calls C, M or a doll "Devil Child, Devil Child" and shakes her finger at them when they violate her preferences.

M has finally agreed to try gymnastics so T will take her to her first class tomorrow.  Given her flexibility and strength, she should be really good at it.  Here's hoping she has the patience and discipline it keep at it.