Trip leader Barney reported Monday night on the Trip 8 team’s Monday activities:
“True confession: The Trip 9 team brought out the best in the Trip 8 team. We actually did get out of camp by 9 a.m., not 9:25 or even later. We went on our longest hike by two miles, to Bible Rock. That says a lot when you bring out the best in others. Trip 9 rocks!
“But in the Trip 8 team’s favor, we started the uphill song fest. Summer, between huffing and puffing, channeled Julie Andrews: “The hills are alive with the sound of music …” Rose, Laura, Kristi, Janine, and I joined in. We worked our way through Sound of Music songs, switched over to the Beatles, then John Denver and camp songs. I think we’re ready for prime time. I submitted a video. You be the judge.
“Everyone was looking forward to stopping at the general store again. Ice cream! Michael pulled into the parking lot and Joe from Trip 9 followed. I was last. Why aren’t they parking? Noooo. Tell me it ain’t so. Closed on Mondays.
“We had another late afternoon swim, washing off 8 miles of dust and drowning our general store sorrows in a communal Mexican dinner. ‘May I have a bit more guacamole? A bit more cilantro, please.’
“I actually combed my hair for the first time in four days. Brace yourself: I have included a ‘before’ photo of me and my hair.
“Is it sad to think that this is our last night out here. Even with all the changes, threat of smoke, and threat of rain, we have had a most wonderful time. Thank you PasstoPass.”
Barney’s final Trip 8 team update Tuesday evening:
“Last night’s Mexican dinner became breakfast burritos. After that, each of us received well-earned PasstoPass swag. Choose a ball cap, a beanie, or a neck gaiter, each with a logo we’d lived — a hiker leading a llama — emblazoned on cloth, but that logo, that memory, was already emblazoned on our hearts. We will never forget the llamas: Peggy, Violet, Kate, Dot, and Mary, just as we will never forget each other: Michael, Laura, Rose, Janine, Summer, Robert, Tony, Sandy, and me.
“The Trip 9 team got out of camp at 9 a.m. sharp again. Farewells to new friends. We made camp spic and span once again. Our final lunch volunteer drove up — trail anger Jerry Bassett — himself a three-time veteran of PasstoPass hikes. From a tricked-out, 35-foot motorhome, Jerry and his wife Rebecca set up a lunch spread that required three tables end-to-end. Were our appetites up to the challenge? It was close, but the Trip 8 team came through once again. We shared stories from Robert’s, Michael’s, Jerry’s, and my Boy Scout days. Everyone heard how many different ways Boy Scouts had contests involving fire. Laura shared how she wished Girl Scouts had done the same thing. All agreed that “Scouts” today, with both young women and men, was a good thing. Michael told a final pirate joke.
“In Lord of the Rings, there’s the moment when the fellowship splits. We, too, must now go our separate ways. As we do now. Back to the challenges back home. We had a final circle where each one shared their answer to, ‘What was your best moment?’ Summer said it was when she started singing on a steep uphill. ‘Everyone joined in. I don’t even have a good voice.’ Robert shared how back in the city if a foot was acting up and he had to give it a few moments, he’d worry about being embarrassed, having to explain it. ‘Here, these last few days, there is none of that at all. I felt comfortable being with all of you who understand.’
“The Trip 8 team signs off now with a group photo, and hugs for Charley, our llama rancher extraordinaire.”
Trip 9
Assistant trip leader Kristy reported Monday night on the Trip 9 team’s Monday activities.
“The Trip 9 team arrived at the Rocking R Ranch in the Teanaway on Sunday, greeted by the generous hospitality of not only Charley and his llamas, but also the Trip 8 team. They provided a dinner of spaghetti and meatballs with salad. Fortunately, we came with bread and cookies to share.
“This morning [Monday], all 14 hikers set out together, along with Josie, Violet, and Kate (the llamas); Charley; and two llama wranglers. The weather was perfect — clear blue skies, temperature in the 70s, and minimal smoke. We hiked to Bible Rock, which afforded stunning views of the Stuart Range, as well as a side trail to Cheese Rock, an impressive formation with eroded holes giving the appearance of Swiss cheese.
“All hikers did well, some aided by singing a variety of show tunes (the hills are definitely alive), folk songs, and favorites from the 60s and 70s ( the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel were favorites). There was even some harmonizing!
“On our hike, we saw bear tracks, but no bears, and a large insect that none of us could identify. Google tells us it was a Mormon cricket.
“One of the lovely features of our campsite is access to the river. After our long hike, the Trip 9 team cooled off in the river and had an opportunity to get to know each other before another delicious community dinner with the Trip 8 team — a burrito bar. For many reasons, we will be sorry to say goodbye [Tuesday] to Barney and the rest of the Trip 8 team.”
Kristy also reported on the Trip 9 team’s Tuesday activities.
“This morning we said farewell to the Trip 8 team, after a breakfast of burritos, including scrambled eggs cooked in a Ziploc bag — who knew!?
“And then they were six! We got to meet three more llamas — Josie, Mary, and Dot — on our hike up the middle fork of the Teanaway River. The hike went through an area that was burned in 2017 in the Jolly Mountain fire. It was smoky here today, although by the end of the hike, the breeze had helped clear the skies.
“We hiked the gentle trail up and up to a nice open area where the llamas could graze, or lie down for a rest. Charley packed a blanket, and hiker Bill had a good nap. Some of our hikers went on farther into the trees before coming back for a relaxed lunch. Thanks to Theresa and AJ, we lunched on sandwiches of salami and cheese, accompanied by absolutely delicious fresh vegetables from Theresa‘s garden. Not only did she bring carrots, cucumbers, and sweet little cherry tomatoes, but also cucamelons, which look like very tiny watermelons.
“After the hike, we enjoyed another dip in the river. We look forward to refueling with a good dinner, although we will miss our Michelin-star-worthy chef guy.”