Christopher's First Backpacking Trip

We had a fantastic Labor Day Weekend. Some of our friends, Bill and Amber Ballinger, came to visit. For the past 8 or 9 years, Bill and Andy have always gone camping together over fall break and then Labor Day. Then the wives joined them for the weekend, and now the baby.

Friday and Saturday we spent relaxing in Johnson City. Andy grilled BBQ chicken and fruit, which we all enjoyed Saturday evening.















Sunday morning, we loaded up the car and drove to Roan Mountain for our camping expedition.
We hiked to the highest peak that you can see in the background.
















Christopher road along in his baby-carrier, which he loved. When he wasn't sleeping, he was talking to anyone who would listen as we hiked along the trail.















At the top of the bald, we set up our tents as well as a tarp for some shade. Christopher enjoyed a snack with Daddy...

















...before joining everyone for an afternoon nap.
















The view was spectacular.
















We were right on the border, so we could see Tennessee in one direction and North Carolina in the other.















At one point during the weekend, Christopher was holding Bill's hand and had his other hand on Bill's walking stick. Bill was helping him move the stick, and he was walking right along. So we decided while we were hiking that Christopher needed his own walking stick. He was quite pleased when Daddy made him one.
















Though he took a few steps with it...






















...he was much more interested in eating it.
















Daddy, Mommy and Christopher all eating their supper out of a cup.
















Christopher spent the night in Mommy's sleeping bag. It dropped to 55 degrees by 9 pm when we went to bed, so it was probably around 50 at some point during the night.
















Playing with Daddy in the morning after he woke up. Christopher liked the tent.






















Right around dinner time, huge clouds starting rolling across the mountain top. It would get so foggy that we couldn't see the edge of the pine trees, then it would clear up and we could see hundreds of stars. It alternated between these conditions all evening. It was amazing to watch a huge wall of cloud moving toward you, then wisps of it starting to blow by before being completely enveloped by it. In the morning, the fog was thick and not clearing up anymore. We could see enough to eat, pack up camp and hike out. For most of the return trip, we couldn't see more than 20-30 feet in front of us.
















*Ahh* The end. Just after we climbed into the car to return home, it started raining. We really enjoyed our time together. Christopher did so well and talked non-stop whenever he was awake. He was sad to go home.

Andy, Rachel, Christopher, Bill and Amber.