Trail Dames – Page 14 – Trail Dames Blog

Eight Trail Dames made it out Landsford Canal State Park in South Carolina!

Six of us met up to carpool (Beth, Kelly, Kimber, Nina, Deirdre, and me), while two
(Chris and Mara) met us at the park. We drove down to Landsford Canal State Park
to catch a glimpse of the infamous spider lilies that only seem to bloom this
time of year. It was a quick 30 minute drive and a $2 entrance fee each, but we
all agreed, it was worth the price of admission.

As we climb out of our cars, we exchange hellos and catch up with each other. I
notice
Chris’ new day hiking pack and her weight loss. I am so proud of her.
She looks great and her new pack makes her legit day hiker! haha! Seriously, her
pack was so cute. Kelly and I helped her fill it with water, showed her how it
worked, and explained where the hose goes.

We saw a lot of kayakers getting ready to enjoy the spider lilies up close and
personal. You see, these little hardy flowers only grow on rocky shoals of a river and the Catawba River is one of the largest growing sites. The flowers
are literally growing on boulders in the middle of
the river!

After gawking at the kayakers, we found a nice park ranger that was willing to take
our photos in exchange for our beautiful smiles. So we took our “beginning of
the hike” picture, then we took a silly Dame photo before finally hopping on the
trail. Chatting away, it amazes me how easily we all fall into conversations
with one another. We have an awesome group of ladies and I got a chance to talk
to each and every one of them.

The trail itself was a nice and easy, well maintained path that was very well
marked. We started along the river then turn right into the forest and walked
along the canal path. We learned that the early settlers made these man made
canals through the forest to keep themselves out of sight and safe. We stopped
to read all the historical signs and after a mile we reached the viewing
platform for the spider lilies.

After taking lots of photos, and a water break, we continued on a nice easy trail for another 1/2 mile up to the stone bridge and official historical Indian
trade post sight. I snapped a couple of photos of the Dames on the bridge, then we hiked back to the lily platform one last time.

It started to sprinkle so I mentioned that maybe Kelly’s trail name should be Rainmaker. Cause
it seems that each time I’ve hiked with her, it seems to rain. haha! We finally get back to the cars and that’s when Nina surprises us. She pulls out a tupperware full of fresh strawberries to share! They tasted so yummy after our
hike. Thank you Nina! That was so thoughtful. We say goodbye to Chris and Mara
and then the rest of us hop back into my car and head back home. As soon as we
pull out of the state park, it starts to rain and we all look at Kelly and
laugh. haha! At least it didn’t rain on our hike! This was a great hike with a
great group. Looking forward to our next adventure Trail Dames.

Backpacking with Beiber

December 4, 2013 by Administrator

Backpacking with Beiber…..another wonderful post from Dame Sandi Adams

Backpacking was on Tanner’s summer bucket list, so we planned an overnight midweek trip. I chose the Cohutta Wilderness because it is my absolute favorite Georgia spot to backpack.
Meals were planned, maps consulted, the packs were loaded and off we went. The morning was sunny and warm as the Yaris took the rutted labyrinth of forest service roads like a champ and after what seemed like a hundred miles, we came to the Hickory Creek trailparking area. Not one soul to be seen… I checked the board for bear warning and nothing was posted which was a bit of a relief.
Tanner and I adjusted our packs, locked the car and took off down the trail. The first part of the Hickory Creek Trail was rocky and weathered with evidence of the spring storms and all downhill as it wound its way to the creek. We hear the water before we can see it and soon get glimpses of the creek before our first crossing. Crystal clear, with plenty of water, it keeps us company as we continue down the trail. Soon we hit the intersection of theConasauga River Trail and Hickory Creek Trail where we turn right and begin looking for the perfect campsite.
Before long we come to the perfect balance of trees for my hammock and a nice flat spot for the tent. The entire length of the site is situated directly on the Conasauga with a combination of deep pools ,little falls, huge boulders and the constant melody of the river. A covering of hemlocks, a nice big fire pit and a makeshift bench make it the unanimous choice. We go about the business of setting up camp, unpacking, gathering wood and having lunch.

After a short rest, we leave our site and head down the trail to explore.. We pass ginormous boulders, falls and swimming holes, a huge beaver dam which has turned into what must be a diverse mass of frogs, toads and Lord knows what else and come to the opening and intersection known as Bray field. (This used to be an old homestead but is now mainly used by backpackers.) We take off our shoes and wade across the Conasuaga River before I realize, we really don’t want to hike the entire Hickory Creek Trail, so we cross again and travel a bit down Tearbritches Trail, rockhopping the creek and wander along this beautiful easy section of the trail.
As the day turned into late afternoon, we head back to camp and take a swim in the cool clear river . We both enjoy some quiet time, then get to the business of preparing for the evening. We break up our wood, filter our water and settle down to cook dinner. Tanner is a great student of the outdoors, watching my every move and made my day when he tells me, “Mom, I can’t believe you know how to do all this stuff!!” After a satisfying, (although bland) meal of beef stroganoff and pudding, it starts to cool off and we get down to business and startthe fire. For years, I have watched my best friend, Leslie,THE FIREMASTER, start epic blazes. I have always been content to gather kindling and drag logs to the pile but she was not on this trip! Apparently, I was able to channel her talent and build one big honking fire!
We roasted a small bag of marshmallows, talked and stared into the fire (aka Hikers TV), until it got pretty late. The moon was new, so the night was DARK.
We made our way to our shelter, Tanner on the ground and me hanging in my hammocknearby and dozed off to the sound of the river. I woke around 7:00, rolled out of my warm bag and started another little fire. (Leslie, are you so proud?!) Sitting and drinking coffee and enjoying the beautiful cool morning, I counted my many blessings, one of which was laying in the tent next to me.
Tanner slept a little longer and finally crawled out, ate his bacon, cream cheese bagel and we reluctantly started to break camp.

We climbed out of Hickory Creek around noon as the day warmed,taking our time while I told Tanner funny stories about David and our many adventures in the woods, pre-kids. An occasional stop for water, a view and to admire a little red salamander made for an enjoyable although, hot hike out.
On a funny note, as we reached the trailhead, I noticed that theBACK side of the information board was COVERED with bear warnings and information underneath the engraved message:WELCOME TO BEAR COUNTRY……
We loaded up our gear and took the rutted forest service road back toward 411 and after what seemed like fifty miles bouncing from bump to bump, popped out in the middle of nowhere . After consulting the map, we found our way to 411. A quick stop at a convenience store for icees and beef jerky and made our way back to Woodstock and civilization.
This trip will always have a special place in my heart and I will cherish it’s memory. My son, Tanner, is an incredible young man. He has been through adversity and difficult times but has emerged strong and confident with a natural, loving, unshakeable faith in God. I am proud of him and grateful for the time spent.

Ann Springs Hike

December 1, 2013 by Administrator

Anne Springs Hike

Blog post from the North Carolina Dames!!

Several of us carpooled from Charlotte and drove the 30
mintues to Anne Springs Greenway, in Fort Mill SC, where we met up with Joy and
Nina. After paying our $3 entrance fee, we parked and got ready for our hike. It
was a beautiful day and we had 11 Dames enjoying the outdoors. It was Beth,
Karla, Kimber, Sarah, Joy, Dierdre, Nina, Barbara, Linda, Wendy, and me.

At first we had some trouble locating the
Timberline trail, but once we found it, we were good. We hiked up the Timberline
trail to the top, where we passed by a Peach Farm. Lots and lots of trees
dripping with almost ripe peaches. Sarah was curious about the peach tree, so
Dierdre gave her permission to have one and she did! haha! She plucked one right
off the tree. Oops…. 😉

We continued on, looking for the Blue Star trail. We
were supposed to hop on the Blue Star trail, but some how we passed it. Must of
been all the chatting we were doing. haha! We ended up on the Dogwood trail and
decided to hike down it to the Muscadine trail. After hiking by a couple of
ladies out their horses, we find the Muscadine trail just fine. But some how we
managed to make a big loop and end up exactly where we started! I called that
section of trail the twighlight section, because it was so confusing! Deciding
not to hike the Muscadine trail loop again, we road walked it on a gravel road
down to the lake. We met a nice man renting out kayaks for $5 an hour and then
found the Haigler lake trail. We finished up the hike all safe and sound and
then made our way to the Peach Stand for some rewarding, well deserved, yummy,
cold ice cream!

I learned that Joy lived in China for a long time while
teaching and has hiked all over the Great Wall. Sarah, literally, did a 180 of
her life. She sold her house, moved to a different town, started a new career,
and began living a life SHE wants. Lots of yoga and hiking! Wow, I was so
impressed with her bravery. I learned that even though Kimber was in the Navy,
she can’t swim! haha! Too funny, we all had a nice laugh. (Sorry Kimber!! We
still love you! haha!) Linda is about to go to Alaska to visit her daughter for
vacation. I am so excited for her, I hope she has a wonderful time. Diedra had a
wonderful time in Charleston, but I the ghost tour wasn’t that great. I learned
that camping with Wendy will be an experience! haha! She brings everything but
the kitchen sink with her. I wonder how long it takes her to set up? I wonder
what she’s gonna think of my set up? Everything I have for camping fits in my
backpack. Hee Hee! Barbara had a brace on her left knee and told us she had
surgery for a torn meniscus a while back. She seemed to be doing great on the
hike and I hope me asking if her knee was ok didn’t bother her. Nina’s birthday
will be next Wednesday. Happy Birthday NINA!! Even though Beth is stealthy
quiet, she has an eye for the trail. How about she knew we missed the Blue Star
intersecting trail but kept quiet and let us continue on our chatty merry way.
haha! I think I see a trail name in here somewhere for her, maybe Stealthy.
Hmmm…. Speaking of trail names, Karla was dubbed this hike with her trail
name. Let me paint the picture; It’s about 90 degrees out, the sun is shining
bright, and Karla busts out an umbrella in the middle of our

hike because she doesn’t want to get sun on her.
We all laughed and that’s when it came out. I called her Mary Poppins. So Karla
is now AKA “Mary Poppins”. HAHA!!

Smoky Moutain Backpacking

November 29, 2013 by Administrator

This is a re-posting from favorite Dame, Sandi Adams. Check out her great blog at http://emptynestart.wordpress.com/

Smoky Mountain Backpacking Trip

This three day trip started with a bang, literally, as I was making the trip to Clarkesville to pickup Kellye to head to the Great Smoky Mountains for a three day backpacking trip with SHOE and Turtle. I had to make an emergency pit stop in the dark, under an interstate bridge pylon and sacrificed my favorite pink bandana…
When I get to Kellye’s I realize my camera is missing and we have to backtrack to the scene of “The Incident” where I find it laying next to my pink banadana…

Hopeful that this was not going to be a theme for this trip, we headed to the hills.
We met our hiking buddies, SHOE, (slowest hiker on earth), and Turtle at the Smokemont campground dropped my car at the Mingus Creek Trailhead and headed to theThomas Divide Trailhead. Thomas Divide is named for William Holland Thomas (1805-1893,) who gained so much favor with the Cherokees that he became the only white man ever appointed Chief. This self-educated lawyer lived with the Indians, learned their language and ways, and defended their rights in Washington. He helped purchase much of the land known as the Qualla Boundary. He was a Confederate Colonel and the bravery of his Thomas Legion of Cherokee Indians and Highlanders is legendary. (Sorry for the history lesson, but I found this interesting)

The trail was moderate with some decent climbs and rewarded us with the diversity of flora and fauna that makes the Smokey Mountains unique. The rhododendrons were abundant and still in full bloom. Yellowish brown cobs of squawroot poked through the leaves. I couldn’t remember what they were called but found out that this is a favorite food of black bears. (We saw much evidence of bears but figured that four chattering women would be enough to scare any bear off!)
We took our time on this warm, sunny day, catching up and taking turns leading the hike. As elevation changed, so did our surroundings. The ghostly silhouettes of hemlocks ravaged by the woolly adelgid against the sky, numerous coves of hardwoods and always the forest floor was alive with fungi and wildflowers.
Arriving at Campsite #52, at Newton Bald, we found a solitary camper who had set his five man tent up in the center of the fire ring area! Kellye scouted the area and found the perfect ridge top spot to spend the night. While we searched for the perfect hammock trees and Lesly and Melissa looked for a flat spot for their tents and we began the ritual of setting up our temporary home for the night.
Our first “excitement” of the trip occurred when Kellye wandered off to take care of some personal business and interrupted a bear! The bear grunted a warning to let her know he was there and they both took off in opposite directions. She quickly came back to home base, eyes wide and put us all on alert that we were not alone!! Needless to say, I did not wander far to take care of my personal business after that!
Dinner was cooked and we spent an inordinate amount of time coaxing flames out of a stubborn fire, night fell, the temperatures dropped into the upper fifties and we all retired to our sleeping quarters. I listened to a little bit of Pat Conroy’s latest and drifted off to sleep only to bejolted awake by the sound of what I was sure was a BEAR climbing the tree that my hammock was attached to!!! The commotion continued as everyone scrambled out of their tents asking Kellye if she was okay, so I rolled out and found her hammock had “ratcheted” DOWN the tree!! Fortunately, she was fine and we all went back to bed. (We think she might have a trail name, Ratchet!)
Day 2, we took our time with breakfast and breaking camp, enjoying the cool temperatures before beginning our hike. We continued on Thomas Divide heading to Deep Low Gap, again enjoying the diversity of the trail. Excitement came when Lesly and I spotted a small creek off the trail. She needed water and I dropped my pack and went off the trail to capture a photo of some red bee balm. Immediately what felt like needles on my legs caused me to scream, as the realization thatyellow jackets were swarming around us! Needless to say, we both moved quickly but not before I had at least 12reminders of why I never want to step in another yellow jacket nest. After retreating a safe distance we took a break where everyone contributed Benadryl cream, anti-itch and Neosporin to ease the sting. (Truth be told I wanted to cry, but satisfied that urge with talking with my trail mate.)
As we began our descent into the lush green forest, crisscrossing small streams, it occurs to me that we have been going down alooooong time and that we will bebacktracking up this haul tomorrow morning…….We reach our destination, the very slanted world of campsite #51. Being in the Gap, there is little breeze and the temperature and humidity have increased. Again, we repeat the camp setup ritual spreading out due to an absence of flat areas and spend the rest of the day, chatting, sharing stories, laughing, eating and daydreaming.
As night falls, I gratefully climb into my hammock and quickly fall asleep, only to be awakened around 3:00 am to thunder and rain. After assuring myself that my tarp was secure and all my belongings were underneath and dry, I slipped back to sleep until dawn. Our plan was to leave early, due to the number of miles and difficulty of the trail for the day, so I packed my hammock and gear and sat under the tarp drinking my coffee and eating a builders bar. (a nice perk of having a hammock means you can pack everything up underneath the tarp, leaving it for last)
We all begin the slow tortuous climb in the rain to the intersection that will take us to theMingus Creek Trail and our car. Seriously, even though I have eaten most of my food, my pack feels just as heavy as when I started and it takes me a bit to find my trail rhythm.Unfortunately a couple more yellow jackets find my rhythm and get between my pack and back delivering more stings!! We space out a bit, each hiking our own hike and meet sweaty and tired at the top of the climb. A downhill stretch follows along the creek and takes us to 90 foot waterfall. It is still raining, so the photo op is cut short as we slip and slide across a narrow bridge crossing and continue down to the trail intersection, where thankfully the rain ends and the sun starts to stream through the trees. After consulting the trail map, we take off on the Mingus Creek Trail. The trail starts innocently enough, absolutely beautiful and follows and crosses the creek for some time. As the temperature and humidity increase, so does the climb. Kellye and I hike together, stopping periodically to curse the trail and sip some water, even taking a break or two for a gu and bar break. As always, about the time, I think I can’t lift my leg another step, we reach the top and collapse for a well deserved break! This was a tough trail! Spotting the trail sign for Newfound Gap Road at 2.9 miles made us very happy!!
However, that happiness was short lived as we began the trek over a jarring, rocky, mossy, slick downhill!! BUT it was sooooo beautiful. If we had more time, I would have loved to linger at the many creek crossings and moss covered logs that called my name! But at that particular moment the lure, of my dry clothes and a burger at the NOC were a motivating factor! As we got closer to our destination the trail widened and we were able to walk side by side, recapping some of the highlights of the trip. The aching shoulders, legs and blistered feet were replaced by the pure joy of spending time outdoors and conquering any difficulties that came our way.
As we burst into the parking area and into reality, I contemplate offering the nearby picnickers a $10.00 bill for a cold drink. NOTE: If you ever see dirty, sweaty, smelly people piling out of the woods with their life on their back, offer them a cold drink, they will never forget you!
The reward for this journey ends at theNantahalah Outdoor Center or the NOC. I have been hearing about the Flamethrower Burger and the HOMEMADE chips for the entire trip and satisfy this fantasy with my friends. A berry cobbler topped with ice cream is the icing on the cake. Sitting on the river with my feast and friends, I count my many blessings and dream of the next adventure…..

Day 2- Cuba Libres and Cuban Sunsets

November 8, 2013 by Administrator

Wow…..just….wow………It is day 2 of my adventure and I am in Cuba. Seriously, can you believe it?!?! J Most of the day was spent getting to the airport, getting my ticket and waiting to board the plane. Everything took forever, and due to the unusual-ness of my situation, everything had a covert feel about it. The other violin maker, Martin, had arranged for my ticket and none of the rules seemed to apply….instead, I stood in my own line, had a certain person I had to work with and was greeted by name, even though I had not even produced my passport yet! Oscar, the ticket agent was ready for me and treated me wonderfully, so covert operation or not, I was in. While waiting for my ticket, one of the young men who worked for the airline asked if I had ever flown to Cuba before. When I said no, he smiled kindly and said, “Don’t be scared”. I grinned and said, “Who, me? I am not scared!” But I did wonder what he meant by that……

When we finally walked out to the plane, for the first time in this whole process, I had some serious misgivings. Now, I know what he meant by that.

I am pretty sure that the plane was about 135 years old. Seriously….peeling paint, bald tires…the whole bit. Geeesh….I don’t like to fly anyway, but this was really pushing it! When I got on, it turned out that I didn’t have a seat assignment, but the flight attendant waved her hand and said “Sit anywhere…the plane is empty!”. Well, the plane seated 48 and was half empty…..but it took me three tries to find a seat that worked! The first one actually laid down flat into the seat behind it!! J Well, I snuck a quick peek at my phone to make sure that there were no, “Get off the plane, I have a bad feeling about this!!” messages from anyone that I knew, and seeing that there were none, I figured I was ok. J

I spent the flight writing in my journal and only looked up when the flight attendant passed out meals. This is a two hour flight and they served a meal! Who does that anymore?! And THEN….she offered me the beverage of my choice…coke, water, fresca, orange soda, wine or a Cuba libre!! For those of you that have not seen the Tom Cruise movie Cocktail, that is a rum and coke! Who does THAT on a plane!!? No charge…just welcome to Cuba. J Needless to say, I was all in. That was followed by a shot of Cuban coffee, very strong and very sweet. What more could a girl ask for? It also goes without saying that on this flight, there was none of that ‘switch languages in the middle of the flight’ moments. However, they did try and repeat some of the announcements in English, which I am certain, were solely for my benefit. I know that tourists go to Cuba, and the people on my flight might not have been Cuban nationals, but they were all definitely Latin. Dorothy, we are not in Kansas anymore…..

When we finally touched down everyone was craning to see out of the windows (none of that silly ‘keep your seat belts fastened’ on this flight!) and there was a smattering of applause. I got all bubbly and teary…I am in Cuba!!! Then the nerves settled in. All I have been hearing from Martin is that Cuban customs is a nightmare. They held him for over three hours last time and as of two days ago; I did not have the appropriate paperwork to enter the country. Mom and I joked about me being like Tom Hanks in that movie where he got stuck in the airport, but once I entered the…ahem…terminal, I knew that spending the week here would be no joke. A large, yellow metal room with nothing in it. Except a drug dog sniffing everyone’s luggage and a whole lot of scary looking people in uniform. I eyed the rows of doors nervously…..supposedly, that is where they take everyone to question you. “Be nice”, Martin has been imploring me for the last month. “Just be nice…be patient and don’t argue”.

First, the guard steered me towards an immigration booth that said VIP and the guy behind the glass eyed me suspiciously and kept saying something in Spanish that I did not understand. I finally figured out that he was telling me to stop piling all of my paperwork on his counter. As he asked questions, I stammered through an attempt at explaining why I was here. In Spanish. Note to self….the next time you fly to a Communist country, learn how to say why you are there in Spanish!!! However, after several minutes of my stumbling over my words and him glaring at me, he sighed and handed me my paperwork. “Adios”, he said as he pushed the buzzer to unlock the door. I made a quick escape, thanking God for the millionth time for the ‘yes’ face that I have been blessed with. J

After that, I picked up my luggage and headed for the customs guy. I was not looking forward to trying to explain horse hair, super glue and chisels to these guys in Spanish. I started to dig out my paperwork that says why I am here and why they should let me in and that I am harmless. I opened my mouth to say “Hola” and he opened the door and said, “Buenos tardes. Have a nice day”. I was so surprised that I almost forgot to move!! But then I did. I grinned and headed out that door before he could change his mind and search my bags.

15 minutes start to finish….it has to be a record for Cuban immigration!! J J

A tall, handsome young man walked up and said, “Are you Anna?” Merlin, my new Cuban friend and guide for the week, was here and life is officially grand. He helped me to a car driven by his friend Carlos, a fiat copy that is literally falling apart. Carlos explains that to have a car in Cuba is very rare and that his car is his priceless, prized possession. To me, it was wonderful. After a quick blur of Spanish, Merlin asked if I liked beer and the car veered into a gas station. The next thing I know, we are rolling through downtown Santiago, windows rolled down, salsa music playing loudly, sipping beers and laughing. (Carlos, our driver was, of course, NOT sipping any beer!) JSeriously…does it get any better than this?!

Santiago is…well, it is just something else. I have to pinch myself to see if I am really here! You know how everyone says that in Cuba it is still 1955? Well, that is totally true. But you have to imagine that everything stopped then, but that time kept going. So all of the buildings are falling apart, and paint is peeling everywhere. Yet, it is beautiful! It is very, very clean and the age of the buildings doesn’t keep the original pastels from glowing in the sunset. It is obvious that there is a lot of poverty, but it has an order about it that is very interesting. There are cars going every which way, and the occasional donkey-drawn cart ambling down the road. It is a little chaotic, but still comfortable, and by far the calmest Latin city I have visited to date. J There are people walking arm in arm up and down the streets, while others congregate on corners and in doorways. You get the idea that they are enjoying the twilight and the relief from the oppressive heat. Lights are starting to turn on and more and more music is playing as we drive through the neighborhoods.

As we drive, Merlin tells me about his work repairing instruments and performing with the symphony. He is a bass player too, and when I told him that I played also, he said that we have to play together. He has a duet transcription of the Eccles Sonata and declares that tomorrow we will play it. “You do read music?” he asks worriedly. After assuring him that I do, it was settled. After quite a bit of driving around to get my money changed, and a quick stop at the house that I am staying at, Merlin took me to his apartment. He spent the whole day patching and painting the walls and took a lot of pride in it. We hung out with Carlos for a while and were soon joined by a friend of Merlin’s that is a saxophone player. Merlin’s mother sent over some dinner and we ate around a small table under the light of a hanging lamp. His apartment is small and peaceful and I am touched to see how proud he is of it. He is 27 years old, but I get the idea that 27 here is more like 19 in America. He and his friends are all single and have a youthfulness about them that reminds me of the students I taught in Haiti. I feel completely at home with them, even though I can’t understand most of what they are saying. J

After catching me yawning, Merlin took me for a quick visit to meet his family, which live three doors down. I was able to give them the giant bag of M&Ms that I had brought for them and they smiled and passed them around before I said goodnight. We had one more quick stop….a nearby apartment where I can pay $1 for a half hour of internet use. Well, it took 20 minutes to find a way to email mom and dad and tell them that I am safe. Between the dial up speed and the fact that Cuba doesn’t seem to like AOL or Yahoo, I was finally able to log onto Gmail and was able to send a quick message home saying that I am in one piece and that life is great. Now I am back at the house and am eyeing the bed. The mosquitoes are voracious, (as they were in Santo Domingo) and if I can get my bites to stop itching, I might just get some sleep before Merlin is back to get me at 8 tomorrow morning.

Buenos Noches…..

Anna

Lansford Canal with the NC Dames

Lansford Canal with NC Trail Dames