Ask anyone who has spent a summer in Western North Carolina ‘What comes to mind when you think of the Blue Ridge Mountains?’ and you are sure to receive a whirlwind of colorful descriptions and tales of thrilling adventures. One of Highlander’s greatest gifts and oldest traditions is sharing the beauty of our landscape and sparking an appreciation for the outdoors within each of our campers. From Camp Highlander’s start in 1957 until now, there has never been a summer where the sounds of our campers’ marching feet and adventurous spirits couldn’t be heard echoing through the valleys of Pisgah National Forest.
There is nothing quite like a cabin overnight to bond a group of campers together in lifelong friendships. A night under the stars while tending the embers and cooking dinner over an open flame has proven to be a timeless tradition that never fails to make incredible memories. That being said, great trails and campsites are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the opportunities these mountains provide us.
This summer we are extremely excited to be launching a new addition to our arsenal of exciting overnights! Campers will be embarking on climbing overnights into Pisgah National Forest and tackling some of the best routes in the Blue Ridge! The head of our climbing and ropes course programs, Amanda Finstad, will be leaving her home and climbers’ paradise in Durango, Colorado to join us here at CH again this summer to lead these new adventures. Our young climbers will now have access to several routes that were previously next to impossible to get time on. In addition to expanding our access of Pisgah Forest routes, we will also be taking trips to rappel down breathtaking Big Bradley Falls in the Green River Gamelands. This 80-foot descent is a popular guided expedition for many local outfitters and will be an extreme new development in Highlander’s programing as we move towards more adventurous options for our ever-popular camper choice days!
Be sure to keep an eye out for some of the other great new developments we are launching this summer! 2016 is sure to be a fantastic year filled with many new adventures and opportunities!