Quiet night for a very chilly walk
Helping Out in Hot Springs After Helene and Camping on Troublesome Gap
We were blessed to have the opportunity to help out with the recovery in Hot Springs, NC. The amount of damage was hard to see, but the local businesses are working hard to get back up and running. It is going to take a while.
I think the attitude was best expressed by the sign in the widow of Gentry Hardware
Here are some pictures of the damage from the hurricane
We had a great time camping on Troublesome Gap with friends! Thanks to everyone for joining us and helping out.
One morning we were treated to a valley full of fog, where the tops of the mountains looked like islands, simply amazing
Some of the sunrises were amazing
It was a wonderful weekend
Damage from Hurricane Helene
We had the privilege of going to help with the recovery for a few days. The damage is hard to describe. One of the major problems is that the power and data infrastructure can’t be repair because major swathes of power lines and power poles are just gone. Power poles snaped in half. Cars wrapped around trees. We were working in an area where power may not be restored for 6-9 months. Thanks so much for everyone in our crew and the many people coming to help out and sending supplies. Here are some pictures
No Campsite Damage
Surprisingly there was no damage to the campsite, so we are ready for you to come join us
Western NC Hurricane Damage Update
The damage in WNC is horrible. We have family we can’t contact. If you need to check on family, here is a tool that allows you to see which roads are blocked.
You can also use google maps to select a route. The DriveNC site is more pessimistic than the google maps. When I trying to work out a route to check on family that we can’t reach. The DriveNC site shows roads blocked that google maps doesn’t. The damage up there was horrible. Carefully consider the situation before travelling to the area.
Campsite Reopening
We are planning to work on the campsite on the weekend of
Relaxing Walk Down Big Pine Road
This gives you an idea what the drive up to the campsite from Big Pine / Walnut / Marshall is like
How We Setup Our Camp
Here are some pictures showing how we set up our campsite
Camp viewed from above
Teardrop with galley open
Cooking and eating area
Chairs ready to get comfy
Shower setup – definitely a luxury to have a shower
Getting ready to fix dinner for guests
Shelter with one room tent ready to get in
Ready for the rain, we don’t use the stove insde the one room tent
We put up the one room tent with walls under the shelter before the rain came
Stove / oven combo – so very handy
Always take a valve like this or a hose with a sprayer to hook to the hose bib
Cooking and eating area under shelter
Clean place to step out of the teardrop with shoes that are ok if they get rained on
Lighting under the shelter
Cooking area setup
Supplies in the lid of the camping box
Supplies and pots / pans
in the bottom of the camping box
Camping box open
Biscuits getting ready to go in the oven
Bicsuits in the oven
Sitting by the fire
Campsite from above
Spring Camping on Troublesome Gap
We just spent a few days camping on the mountain. The weather was great. We enjoyed getting away from it all and spending time with friends
Building a Mountain Campsite
If you have ever wondered what goes into building a campsite, here are some videos that show part of the process
Fall Camping on Troublesome Gap
Pictures from our wonderful trip on October. A great weekend with friends and family!
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Troublesome Gap Honey is Here
Every year the bees make the trek up to the mountains where they spend a little over a month at Troublesome Gap. We have a campsite on Troublesome Gap. It is a remote area and the bees have access to sourwood and locust flowers. This gives the honey a unique flavor and color that varies each year depending on how soon or late the different trees and bushes bloom.
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The honey has a crisp color and flavor. If you have camped on Troublesome Gap, adding a jar of honey to your pantry is a good way to bring home some of the uniqueness of Troublesome Gap and enjoy it all year.
Get your own jar here.
