Fathers Day Camping Trip.

[Fiddleback]

A belated happy Fathers Day to you all. For my Fathers day, I finally got a chance to go camping again (it had been over two years). Leah and Lily went with me, and we were joined by family friends and their children (2 boys). Hannah didn't come as her social calendar didn't permit it. (*^%*()((). We like to go to the Chattahoochee River Campground. This is not primitive camping. There aren't any showers though, so as far as my girls are concerned its primitive enough. LOL. Our campsite was 20 feet from the bubbling brook that becomes the Chattahoochee River. Its filled with trout, cold and clear, and beautiful. Nothing like sleeping right next to a stream like that. There is also a pretty big waterfall only a few hundred yards from where our tent was set up. Its high enough up in the GA mountains, that it gets down to 70 ish each night. I love that part. We set up hammocks and lounged and played and carved walking sticks. Leah cooked a stew. She does a great camp stew. Saturday we climbed to the top of the mountain and wound down behind the waterfall. There is a pool there way deeper than normal in this little river and a good 10' around. Above this pool is a rock slide that is a LOT of fun! Leah, Lily, Chris and his son Caden and myself dared the climb and the slide. I had done this a bunch of times there. But its not something that looks smart and safe. Everyone did the slide, though it took a bit of convincing to get the kids to go. Anyway all in all a great weekend. I got a bunch of pics for y'all.

Campsite

Lily Playing in the water.

Leah and I taking a stroll.

Lily and Leah relaxing by the stream.

Lily letting me get a rare pic after I hoisted her up onto this log which was head high for me. Truth is she didn't have much of a choice this time.

Lily and I taking a selfie at dusk right at the bottom of the waterfall.

Lily smirking at me when she caught me taking her pictures...

Happy dad.

Gear Dump

Carving a heart in Leah's stick. She took over after I had the heart in there.

She's using an Arete.

Starting to work mine. Going for an Easter Island, tiki dude kinda thing.

First time trying the new tent. Thing is excellent. Rained and stayed dry. Cool. TONS of room (10x14).

I feel blessed to have been able to do this. It had been too long and I absolutely soaked it up like a sponge. All planned by my wife. Thanks Leah.

 

[Warrior108]

Looks like an awesome time. Great memories for sure. The walking sticks look pretty cool. Kudos to Leah. Thanks for sharing.

Ember, my 6 yr old, loves having pictures taken. Lily sounds like Brinley, my 5yr old, who scowls every time a picture might occur. The look in her school pic this year says "Mr Cameraman, you will rue the day."

 

[_Westy_]

Thanks for sharing Andy - love family camping trips.

 

[Bmurray]

very cool outing brother. I would rather spend my time outdoors with my family anytime. thanks for sharing.

 

[MajorD]

Great memories Andy. Thanks for the thread. Like everyone said already, there is nothing better than family camping and family time. As you know this year especially the kids grow up fast!

 

[hasco]

It doesn't get much better than a family camping trip. I am glad you all got the chance to get out there and have some quality family time in the woods. Looks like a great place to camp. Thanks for posting!

 

[Fiddleback]

BTW, my drop point Maverick was excellent in the woods, and I can't imagine an easier knife to carve a stick with.

 

[prom52]

BTW, my drop point Maverick was excellent in the woods, and I can't imagine an easier knife to carve a stick with.

Shameless plug on the DPM ?....lol

I happen to agree. I really like the DPM that I picked up from you at Blade. It's my favorite of your new designs !

Looks like you & the family had a great time. Nice choice in coffee by the way......another shameless plug ?

Thanks for sharing !

 

[Odaon]

Awesome! Looks like a great time.

I've been slacking on the camping lately, but I've been spending at least a day in the mountains every weekend since April so that's nice.

More camping this summer hopefully!

 

[Comprehensivist]

That is a great looking camping location in the woods next to the stream. A nice setting and a comfortable tent goes a long way toward making the ladies happy on a camping trip. I am glad that y'all enjoyed a fun family getaway. I hope you get to do more trips like that over the summer.

BTW, my drop point Maverick was excellent in the woods, and I can't imagine an easier knife to carve a stick with.

Getting to handle your personal Drop Point Maverick at the Blade Show confirmed to me that that is my favorite configuration of your recent designs. I have a very short wish list this year. A bolstered synthetic DPM similar to yours is definitely on that list.

Phil

 

[thurin]

That's awesome Andy! What a great way to spend Father's Day.

 

[Onedog]

Looks like a great time Andy. Thanks for sharing. I had no idea that they still made Necco wafers.

 

[Mistwalker]

Awesome post brother! Good to see you guys out and about in the woods. Yeah, when their social calendar starts the interfering with hikes and camping trips is one of the most annoying moments of parenthood. My oldest is 23, married, and works a full time job... so it's hard enough just just to schedule a coffee date these days. So I'm getting as much time in with Alayna as I can. She will be 11 in less than a month, and damn the time is flying by too quick. Nice walking sticks. The first ting I noticed about the Maverick handle was the hand comfort and then how much control it offers. I bet the DPM was really fun to carve with.

 

[ndmiller]

Looks like a great time Andy. Thanks for sharing. I had no idea that they still made Necco wafers.

All I saw was roughing it camping with Pete's French Roast, 1 Pilsner Urquell, pound of bacon, bunch of Tomatoes and summer sausage, handful of edged tools (few FF), 2 gallons of ice tea, a man bag and Necco Wafers. What an eclectic party you had, how did you ration that 1 beer?

Looks like a great time in a great area. This is what I love about Atlanta, within 2 hours you can get to the beautiful outdoors across 100 square miles of forest/towns/lakes/rivers.

Thanks for the pics!

 

[VANCE]

. What an eclectic party you had, how did you ration that 1 beer

Thanks for the pics!

i can assure you there was no rationing. Andy had it all!

 

[Tim the Wizard]

Thanks for posting this up. I had a chance to do some Father's day woods walking as well and hope to put up some pics later.

I have a question for you or other visitors here, however. Up in NC where I have been wandering, we were advised to hang food from trees a couple of hundred feet from campgrounds to avoid curious bear interactions. Have any of you had an opportunity to practice this style of camping, or is food and trash being cooked, stored, washed, and disposed of directly at the campsite? Curious and trying to learn from folks in bear country whether it is east, west, or somewhere in between.

I know a lot of folks here eat well on the trails but we seldom discuss food and animal interactions.

 

[swonut]

Thanks for posting this up. I had a chance to do some Father's day woods walking as well and hope to put up some pics later.

I have a question for you or other visitors here, however. Up in NC where I have been wandering, we were advised to hang food from trees a couple of hundred feet from campgrounds to avoid curious bear interactions. Have any of you had an opportunity to practice this style of camping, or is food and trash being cooked, stored, washed, and disposed of directly at the campsite? Curious and trying to learn from folks in bear country whether it is east, west, or somewhere in between.

I know a lot of folks here eat well on the trails but we seldom discuss food and animal interactions.

I hiked the southern part of the AT through GSMNP and I always hung my bear bag in the evening. Never felt like I needed to do it, but it didn't take that long and was usually pretty easy. I also didn't really think it would stop a determined bear. However, someone best explained east coast bears as overgrown labrador retrievers. Very interested in everything, especially food. Most times they just want to see what's going on but can get quite angry when you take their food away.

I also thought it was more likely that I'd have a mouse or four chew into everything chasing smells. So, having said all that, for me, keeping things clean and storing your food away from the tent and sleeping bag is probably enough for me. I figure there's usually more than enough food in the trash cans at most developed campsites.

 

[Onedog]

Thanks for posting this up. I had a chance to do some Father's day woods walking as well and hope to put up some pics later.

I have a question for you or other visitors here, however. Up in NC where I have been wandering, we were advised to hang food from trees a couple of hundred feet from campgrounds to avoid curious bear interactions. Have any of you had an opportunity to practice this style of camping, or is food and trash being cooked, stored, washed, and disposed of directly at the campsite? Curious and trying to learn from folks in bear country whether it is east, west, or somewhere in between.

I know a lot of folks here eat well on the trails but we seldom discuss food and animal interactions.

I always hang my food from a tree away from where I set up camp. I try and use a bear can whenever I can but if I'm packing light for some reason I'll just take what I need for the night and hang my pack in a tree. I also clean up camp every night. If I'm in a campground I take the trash to where ever they have garbage cans. Otherwise I'll hang that as well and pack it out.
It's not just bears I'm concerned with. Raccoons can cause some mischief where food is concerned. As can a bunch of different types of rodents and bugs.

 

[Luca917]

I always hang my food. Had quite a few black bear encounters here in the Appalachians. And one or two Grizzly encounters when I lived in Montana.

 

[Kal-El]

Nice. Wish I were going on a camping trip.
I agree with Phil. The DPM is very intriguing and yours is sweet!