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Thank you Carolina Day School 8th graders for a wonderful retreat! It is a bit lonely now that there is no more chatter in Tucker inn dining hall and no more “oooo’s and ahhhh’s” at the waterfront as you see your class mates get launched off the Blob.

I enjoyed learning with you about the complexities of where our food comes from at Hickory Nut Gap Farm. It was an delicious journey around the globe. Who knew making a meal involved going to the global market place to get everything you needed. I can’t believe Chad was able to trade all their Millet grain for those Bananas from Ecuador!

To cap at off, you sure do know how to celebrate! I was truly a feast. Best wishes in your 8th Grade year!

Ryan B. Carlson
Director of Black Mountain Expeditions

This past sunday, I joined Patrick Weaver, owner and lead guide of AMI to host an Introduction to Ice climbing as a fundraiser for the Carolina Climbers Coalition. The event raised $500.00 for the CCC. Check out the write up on AMI’s blog for more details from the event. If you are interested in trying your hand…or should I say pick at ice climbing keep your eyes open for AMI‘s next intro to ice course.

Go to the BME Facebook page and submit your best photograph of a wildlife encounter that you have taken. Include where the photograph is taken. Submissions will close on midnight of thanksgiving and the photograph with the most likes will receive a BME t-shirt! Let’s see those photos!

Check out the recent article in the Black Mountain News about the recent Father Son expedition to the Wind River Range in Wyoming

Fathers and sons bond in rugged Wind River wilderness of Wyoming

“The Winds” are known as one of the most rugged and remote ranges in the continental United States. If you mention the “Winds” to any backcountry enthusiast, they will usually respond with a nod of approval and envy. Take a look at the photos from the expedition that just returned from the Wind River Range in Wyoming and start dreaming of your next adventure with Black Mountain Expeditions!

Photos

Cultural Immersion * backpacking through the rain forest* home stays* service project* harvest sugar cane*
rappelling* rafting* surfing

Our Black Mountain Expeditions staff will be leading us through a nine-day, fun filled adventure through
the Costa Rican rain forest. We will be surfing, backpacking, rafting, and rappelling, all while visiting and
volunteering with the village of Piedras Blancas. We will explore remote caves, rappel down a waterfall, make
our own sugar from sugar cane using a “trapiche”, raft down the Savegre River, and surf the waves of Manuel
Antonio. Over the course our campers will grow in leadership and appreciation for the Costa Rican culture.
For details, go to the BME Costa Rica Page

We love getting into the wild, and taking other folks there with us. We also recognize that it is hard to get out on big expeditions and adventures on a regular basis. There are many ways to take advantage of our own backyard and Cycling is one of them. BME is sponsoring a cycling club for this very reason, to help folks get out into their own back yard and have an adventure.. We are currently in the process of setting times for group rides and races. We are also in the process of making BME cycling Jerseys, check them out in the link below. Let me know if you are interested in getting one, they are available for a limited time. Drop me a line. ryan@blackmountainexpeditions.com.

bmex_jersey

BME is excited to announce a new program this summer! This ten day introduction to mountaineering course will help you develop a set of alpine climbing skills on rock and snow. With each set of skills, we provide you with practice climbing, anchor building, navigating and decision making so you can develop in each technique. You will learn technical systems and develop mountain judgment, becoming aware of alpine hazards and risk management strategies. Check out our program here:

http://www.blackmountainexpeditions.com/expeditions/wind-river-mountaineering/

Kayaking is no stranger to BME being one of the premier activities at BME’s brother and sister program, Camp Merri-Mac and Timberlake. The week of rivers is the perfect expedition to take your paddling to the next level. For seven days, we will paddle some of the Southeasts finest whitewater. We will focus on advanced skills such as river reading, surfing, safety, river rescue, and group management. During this course each individual will have opportunities to lead and receive constructive feedback about leadership styles and decision making. For more information here is the link: BME Week of Rivers

The other day I went backpacking near Black Mountain, NC for to find rest and solitude. There were several important things going on at home so I brought my cell phone stay connected. When I reached a high point on the trail, I decided I to check my messages in case there were any important messages (this is only 6 hours after I left home). There happened to be a message in my voice mail that was important enough that I turned around and went back home, abandoning my attempt to find rest and solitude in the wilderness. This is an all to common theme, Nature vs. technology in this day and age. If I would have just waited another 12 hours to check my voice mail, I could have enjoyed my night in the woods, experienced rest and solitude and come back to deal with the “emergency” at home.

Reflecting on this recent experience I was reminded of Richard Louv ‘s book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder. Here is a link to an interview with Louv regarding his thoughts on our children losing their connection to the outdoors.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4665933