A Sustained Experience

June 29, 2023

“Don’t be alarmed by that strange yellow orb; it means no harm,” I said to the boys at breakfast just now.  “Some people call it the sun,” I added to complete the tease.

Look, as the title of this blog contests, camp is all about the fullness of the experience. For example, you gotta be here a while to embrace all six wind levels we have for Lake Tarleton. Inner tubing on a zero lake (flat) is quite different from doing same on a six level, which is heavy white caps. Sara’s pix of the day show boys sailing in the rain and I assure you they will not forget the exhilaration associated with that challenge.

I have eaten nearly every meal at a different table so to get to know the boys better and to assimilate their takes on camp matters large and small. Their moods are upbeat and appetites off the charts. Waxed beans are nobody’s favorite vegetable but I sat there and watched Ryan devour an entire bowl of them. It interests me, too, that so many of them take a proprietary interest in camp, as in “We have some great new boats this summer.”  Amen to that!

The rains have been warm ones, which make them far more tolerable than cold ones, which drive nearly everyone indoors and under the covers. Again, please partake the photos to get that point.

I also think that at some level, the Covid times have hardened many kids.  A few showers during activity time is no big deal compared to the closed school and mandatory quarantine orders of the past few years. Homesickness is way down, and, if you have not heard from us by now it probably means that your son is doing just swell. It is only human to have a few pangs of separation anxiety now and again, but that also is part of the sustained experience. “Ain’t no big thing,” as my camping father used to insist.

The sun is still fighting the clouds as I write these words but we are forging ahead with three hikes today as the forecast calls for eventual clearing. I’ll believe it when I see it, but I am driving some grizzled veteran hikers up to the north side of Mt. Moosilauke so that they can summit via the Beaver Brook Trail, a very steep ascent which features several cascades reminiscent of Niagara Falls.  We’ll tackle Moosilauke from the more benevolent south side as well as the sporty Mt. Cube.  I hope they take some photos so I can tell you more about their experiences in tomorrow’s post.  See you then.