Daddy-Daughter Camp #11

Maggie and I are back from camp. We were up in Elkmont for a couple of days. We ended up in Campsite J14 again—this was our third stay at J14. We had a good camp, even though I was somewhat ‘off my game’ in terms of prep and execution. We celebrated the Autumnal Equinox so it qualifies as a ‘fall camp.’ We celebrated Rosh Hashanah by enjoying apples and honey—May it be a sweet year ahead. We dined on some good food al fresco. Maggie slept in the tent while I was hammock camping between the poplar and sycamore I’ve used before. 

This was our 11th Annual Daddy-Daughter Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) fall camp. Doing anything that long is noteworthy. We have pretty much established a tradition. 

In 2014, Maggie came home from her fall break for the unfortunate reason of the funeral of a beloved mentor. It was a long drive to get here and a sad occasion that took all of her fall break and left her spent and tired. We said then that the next fall we would go camping. So out of sorrow a joyful tradition was born.

In October of 2015 we went camping in Cataloochee in the GSMNP. Maggie had never been to Cataloochee and I had never camped over there. Maggie had never seen elk, but we saw a bull bugling in the first field we passed. We had a delightful dinner and settled in for the night.

The next morning we were going to hike up on Cataloochee Divide Trail. We stopped at an overlook where we were greeted by someone who immediately starting complaining: ‘the colors aren’t very good this year!’, ‘they’re going to ruin this park like they did the ones out west!,’ ‘it’s getting too crowded here,’ and more griping in similar critical comments. I told Maggie that the colors were fine. We had sunshine and a great day to hike. We didn’t need to let that negativity color our day. 

Maggie, up until this point in time, had also never seen a bear wild in the woods. She always wanted to, but I told her it would happen when it happens. We hiked for a bit with Maggie leading the way. Suddenly coming around a bend in the trail there was a huge sound crashing down through the undergrowth. She turned to me and said, ‘That was a bear, wasn’t it?’ I told her, ‘Yes, deer don’t make that much noise.’ She was disappointed, but we hiked on. A little bit later Maggie suddenly stopped—urgently pleading with me to get the camera. There on the other side of the ridge up in a big tree she had spotted a bear cub! I fumbled to get the camera out for her. Then she saw another cub. Then another! 3 cubs! Then we saw mama bear climb up and sit in the crotch below them watching us and huffing to make sure we knew she was there. We snapped pics and took video for maybe 10 minutes! Not just a bear sighting, but a real-live encounter. I cannot imagine any first encounter that would have been better.

We had thought about hiking more, but there was nothing that could have been a bigger highlight. We turned back towards where we had come, sat at an overlook and enjoyed our lunch. 

That night we had another great meal. At one point watching the fire I asked Maggie to look at it. She did but wasn’t catching what I was trying to point out. The smoke was going straight up into the cold night air—not shifting this way or another—no need to dodge it. It was just about perfect. After all that person’s cussing and fussing, we had had a great day filled with beautiful moments. We still call it the ‘Best Camping Trip Ever!’

Every fall since we have packed up the gear, loaded up the cooler, and headed to the hills for a few days of R&R. Besides Cataloochee, which remains our favorite, we have camped at Elkmont, Smokemont, Cades Cove, and Look Rock. We have hiked to bunches of waterfalls and historic buildings. We have welcomed guests along the way—Hey Stacey! Hey Marcy! We have had encounters with dear friends—Hey Jim! Hey Bill! Hey Beth! Hey David! Hey Ellen! We have seen more bears and elk and other wildlife. We have listened to birds and brooks. We have dined on delightful meals of breakfast, soups, campfire potatoes, and pumpkin bread. We have even seen the Northern Lights. We have been rained on many times. We have been cold waiting for the sun to get up. We have shortened trips because of tropical storms. But we have always found ways to enjoy ourselves and the beauty of these mountains. 

While Maggie finishes her D.Min. degree we will have to shift our fall trips like we did this year—still officially in the fall, but in September rather than October. One year we had hit fall (barely), but it was way hotter than we like. So next year we’re thinking about Balsam Mountain Campground which is at about 5,300’ elevation—should be nice and cool in September up there. Again, it will be a new campground and new camp experience for the two of us. It will be a different kind of forest. Already looking forward to it. 

Earlier this year Maggie and I took a trip to see National Parks in Florida. At the Everglades we stopped into the Flamingo Visitor’s Center to see if they had anything that would help identify all the birds we were seeing. They did not, but the ranger said the closest thing they had was the Junior Ranger Activity book. So Maggie took one. Through the rest of the day and the next morning she filled in the puzzles and made observations and completed the book. We went back to the Visitor’s Center and she had her book inspected and took the oath and became a Junior Ranger. She got several badges as a Junior Ranger at other parks revealing her delight in nature and the outdoors and conservation. 

But the one she really wanted she hadn’t done yet. So together as a Daddy-Daughter team we completed the tasks and filled in the Junior Ranger book for the Great Smoky Mountains. We explored the cemetery; we listened to birds; we watched for wildlife; we counted out-of-state license plates (more than 40 states! ); we created a riddle; we enjoyed wildflowers. We had a delightful conversation with the ranger who was checking us out; we swapped stories about our observations; I told stories of growing up in Gatlinburg; we took our oaths and got our badges. We are now officially Junior Rangers of the park we love so much and where we have enjoyed so many experiences. 

Next year will be Daddy-Daughter Camp #12 if we’re able. Come what may, it will be a delight! 

Daddy-Daughter GSMNP Camps 

2015 — Cataloochee — Best Camping Trip Ever — bears and elk 

2016 — Elkmont — Stacey’s first bear in Cades Cove —chuck box 

2017 — Elkmont — Hot! bear cub up on Spruce Flats Fall trail 

2018 — Cataloochee — Stacey/Marcy — tropical storm/waterfalls 

2019 — Smokemont — Deep Creek falls — really cold 

2020 — Cades Cove — Anthony Creek/Nature trail — Jim, David & Ellen 

2021 — Cataloochee — Bill & Beth — broken coffee press—grounds on the ground! 

2022 — Elkmont — great colors — Avent Cabin 

2023 — Cataloochee — Maggie roasts the perfect Marshmallow 

2024 — Elkmont — Retirement — Hurrican Helene — Laurel Falls to ourselves!

2025 — Elkmont — Nature trail — Newfound — Junior Rangers!!