TrailRidge Mountain Camp

I came across this photo today on an AT site. I never saw a bear or any sign of one near TrailRidge in my 5 years there. -Ben

I recently had a camp reunion with some folks from the very first year of camp, Gus Jerdee, his folks Tom & Marian Jerdee, Danny Moore, and Randy Nentrup (the original "Waste Watcher." Randy brought us the bad news that Bob's Dairyland is no more! It has been bulldozed off the land but not out of our memories. I'm sure lots of TrailRidge campers and staff will remember those Bob's Dairyland Hikes that started at Carver's Gap at Roan Mountain and finished up with one of Bob's famous milkshakes.

Collyn Martinez and I just spent 2 days fly fishing on the Guadalupe and Embudo Rivers in northern New Mexico- 1 in the Jemez Mountains and 1 in the Sangre de Cristo range (Southern terminus of the Rockies). We also had a great phone conversation with Mark Levin. 42 years of friendships! -Ben

I heard from first-year camper, Jason Lowentritt the other day. He shares a few memories.

Mark was my photographer instructor at Metairie Park Country Day School. I still have the Fujica STX 100 he told us to
buy. I went up with my brother in 1982 to build the camp. The Tin Can was life! The solar water showers we pulled up the hill above the mosquito line were cold life-saving showers with water we collected in the two trash cans from the creek. Memories!

Jason says he became a helicopter pilot including serving as a medevac pilot and that brother Josh is a doctor in New Orleans.

(And a note from Mark, I don't remember recommending a Fujica camera as I've never owned one. At the time I think I had an Olympus? But I'm sure Jason's memory is better than mine.

I've been following the "Six Pack Hikers" on their thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. It's a mom, dad, and four kids. I don't know them except what I've learned from their daily reports from the AT. This one is from their day 32 and it's their trek from the Clyde Smith Shelter to Roan Mountain. Many TMC campers will remember this section of the trail. If nothing else, you can get a glimpse of what Hurricane Helene did to this area. You can also go back to day 31 and watch their report going from the area of Beauty Spot to Iron Mountain (which was devastated by the storm requiring a detour) and then right behind the old TMC to the Clyde Smith Shelter.

AT Thru Hike Day 32 - Pinecone war and a cold foot soak? Perfect end to our day! Clyde Smith Shelter to Carver’s Gap, 10.0 miles. Roan Mountain, shelter hang, sweet stealth campsite, pack-free walk up to the bald, pinecone wars, and cold ...

The new Appalachian Trail stamp set is out at your local post office. And guess which AT scene they chose to represent North Carolina? That would be our own Roan Mountain.

"Rhododendron blooms in the Roan Mountain highlands of western North Carolina grace the first stamp of row four."

Anyone remember these? This was the type of stove we all carried on our trips out of TrailRidge Mountain Camp . Stored in the hiking hut when not in use. Extremely reliable and durable.

Every so often I hear from an old camper or counselor. These notes came this past week from Tommy Hopkins, a Metairie, Louisiana camper who attended for several summer. Tommy, now rebranded Tom or Thomas, is currently living in Houston. He's married, two "kids" in college, and working as an attorney. Great to hear from you Tommy.

As I’m sure you’ve heard from many other of the boys from camp, TrailRidge has had a huge impact and influence on my life. It’s impossible for me to think about my childhood without thinking about camp. I spent the whole school year waiting to get back.

There was a five day hike I struggled through one year and was pretty much pushed and pulled up the AT the whole way. And then I did it again the next year without nearly any of the pain / grumbling.

Some amazing overnight bike rides on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Will the Circle be Unbroken.

Trips to see several plays.

Bob’s Dairy Land.

The tourist day trip to the Mast General Store with withdrawals from the camp account.

I could do this all night.

I was sorry to read about Bobbie’s passing. I enjoyed learning about horses from her. I didn’t know anything about a frog on a horse until I showed up to the barn one day after breakfast or lunch. At the time I wasn’t crazy about how rigorous her swim test was but certainly appreciate it now as a parent.

Thanks for all the time you put in with the camp, Mark.

Not my photo, but one taken today. Perhaps it will evoke some happy memories. Or maybe not- the "Roan Groan" was not everyone's idea of fun. It is a 1,760-foot elevation gain from Hughes Gap to the top of Roan. That seemed arduous at the time, but by contrast, it is a 5,000-foot climb from behind my house here in NM to the Sandia Crest- a hike I still do up-and-down several times a year. -Ben

All you TMC campers and staff will have definitely put in some miles on the AT. Here's a video I just posted about an AT thru-hiker I met several months ago when he was only 50 miles into the trail. He just finished a couple of weeks ago. I'm sure if we asked 2-PAK does he remember some of the places around TrailRidge, he would know them all: Nolichucky River, Beauty Spot, Iron Mountain Gap, Little Rock K**b, Hughes Gap...and of course...Roan Mountain.

2-PAK completes the entire 2,200 mile long Appalachian Trail in 139 days. I met him on day six. There is nothing easy about hiking any of the Appalachian Trail. Dave, trail name "2-PAK," took on the challenge and successfully completed his thru hike.You...