The energy at Camp Timberlake was off the charts today as we kicked off another action-packed week in the mountains! There is truly nothing quite like waking up to the crisp mountain air, knowing that a full day of adventure, friendly competition, and lifelong memories lies straight ahead.

The morning bugle blew, and the boys rolled out of their bunks, laced up their sneakers, and made their way down to the tuck. Our incredible kitchen staff greeted us with a classic camp breakfast that never fails to hit the spot: fluffy eggs, savory sausage, and fresh, warm biscuits. After filling up our bellies for the big day, we gathered outside on the lawn and shouted to the heavens during the morning yell. Powered up and ready to go, we headed into chapel to sing some camp songs and hear an encouraging true story from our staff before officially launching into our daily adventures.

Once chapel wrapped up, our adventure trip crews loaded up the vans and rolled out of camp to tackle some of the best trails, rivers, and swimming spots North Carolina has to offer.

Our Mountain Biking crew was full of grit today as Reid S., Chase O., Davis O., Reynolds A., and Baxter L. traveled out to DuPont State Forest. These guys put their endurance to the test on some rugged terrain and crushed an unbelievable 13-mile ride through the woods!

Meanwhile, our Day Hike crew made up of Zach M., Jack S., Zimmer W., David C., Wilson F., Theo T., Beckett B., Henry B., Chris J., Sumner D., and Franklin P. conquered the stunning trails of Linville Gorge. The highlight of their trek came when Sumner D. fearlessly led the charge as the guys sent it off the high dive at Babble Tower into the refreshing mountain water below!

To round out our off-site adventures, the Swimming Hole trip crew headed out for a day of pure splash-filled fun. Will W., Cash K., James S., Richard F., Baine B., Christian M., Bob E., Jackson P., Connor P., Cason D., Alex M., and Herrick M. had an absolute blast soaking up the sun and cooling off in the natural water.

Back on camp property, the action didn’t slow down for a single second! In-camp activities were firing on all cylinders, from the climbing tower and the ranges down to the lakefront. Up at the backpacking area during free time, we had a handful of brave guys testing their woodsman skills with One-Match Fire bar attempts. Gathering the perfect tinder and building a proper tepee structure takes real finesse, and the boys quickly learned that earning that mark is a whole lot harder than it looks! Despite the challenge, the determination and hustle from the guys trying to catch that flame were awesome to see.

When the lunch bell rang, everyone raced back to the tuck to find a massive crowd-pleaser waiting on us: golden chicken tenders and crispy waffle fries. While we refueled, the dining hall erupted during the announcements when we got the official word on last night’s evening activity… THE BLACK BEARS TOOK THE VICTORY IN PIRATE BALL! The Bears are keeping their momentum burning red hot, but the Golden Eagles are right on their heels as the coveted tribal banner race continues to heat up day by day.

Following lunch, the boys enjoyed the most sacred hour of the entire day—rest time. Cabins rested up, read books, traded cards, and recharged their batteries before bursting back out for an afternoon full of open activities and of course trading post snacks.

As the late afternoon sun began to dip behind the ridges, we gathered together once more for a dinner fit for champions: hot, cheesy pepperoni and cheese pizza paired with a crisp Caesar salad.

Right now, as the dusk settles over the valley, the boys are scattered all across camp locked in an epic evening activity of cosmic proportions: TRIBAL INFINITY WAR! The boys are teaming up, dodgeballs are flying, strategy is at an all-time high, and campers are racing against the clock to defeat Thanos and save the universe before bedtime.

From 13-mile trail rides and gorge cliff jumps to intense One-Match attempts and saving the galaxy, today was another unforgettable day here at Camp Timberlake. We can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Until next time, 

Noah Gensic

EX- Little Piney counselor

Tomahawk counselor

Rock Climbing Instructor

Disc golf prodigy

D1 Blog writer

Proud Golden Eagle

WCU Go Cats