A trip report as only a father can tell it.

“I left Knoxville around 1 PM Friday on my way to Parsons to pick up my daughter. She is 12 and in a few weeks she will turn 13. As she is on the brink of being a teenager, I have reached that reflective stage where I think back to all the times I watched her mature in little steps. I know she has more maturity to gain, but the thought of her being in her teen years leaves me with the overwhelming feeling that “my little girl” will soon be grown.

I arrived there about 5PM (gained an hour moving to central time). We quickly threw her pack in on the mound of camping gear in the Jeep and we were off to LBL. Given the fact it was 100 degrees in Parsons when I picked her up, I had a moment of doubt that she would make it through the weekend. So, I casually remarked, “you know, if it gets too hot, I can bring you home if you want”. She replied “it won’t get too hot”. God, she truly is Daddy’s girl.

We stopped in Camden for provisions. I let her do the shopping and I was surprised how quickly she moved into meal planning mode. She made a mental note of how many meals we would need to prepare and quickly began to rattle off what we needed. Hotdogs with all the appropriate trimmings and sides for supper Friday, chicken and rice for Saturday supper, sliced turkey breast sandwiches for Saturday lunch, milk and pop tarts for breakfast on Saturday. I might have made a few adjustments on that lineup, but overall I was pleased with the level of though she put into it. I told her we would need something to drink and she promptly said “we will need a case of water because it is so hot”. Good choice. She also found grape juice which I readily agreed to, and then she spied the Jones Soda. A few years back, she and I discovered Jones Soda together. We haven’t seen it again until lately and so it didn’t take much to con me into an 8 pack of Lemonade Berry.

We got out of there, packed our cooler and we were again on the way. It didn’t take long to get to LBL, where we entered at the South entrance and wound our way up the trace toward Hilmans Ferry on the north end. It was about 7PM and the deer were everywhere. We saw dozens. It is one of the few times I have seen so many spotted fawns. We were taking out time and stopped at the furnace where I explained how they used to smelt iron in it. Back when I was married to her mother, we had a house on the Tennessee River near an old furnace. Brittany was three when she moved out of that house. She looked over and said, “Dad, that is just like the one near our old house”. I was stunned. I couldn’t believe she remembered it but she gave details with great clarity.

We were soon back in the Jeep and in about a mile, I saw something in the road. Even from a distance, I knew exactly what it was. As we approached, it became clear we had come across the path of a rattlesnake. I pulled up and she said “quick, run over it”. I took time to explain how snakes are beneficial to the environment despite my personal belief that the only good snakes are dead snakes. She went into inquisitive mode and said “just exactly what do they do that is beneficial”. I was quick on the draw and said “they eat rats”. She never hesitated and said “I would rather have the rats than a rattlesnake”. Smart girl, but we left him in the road…alive…and moved on.

We got to Hillmans Ferry Campground and she said, “gee, there is a lot of people here, I was hoping we would go somewhere that is less crowded”. I almost cried. This girl is a product of her father through and through. I told her we could get a backcountry permit and could camp along the lake where it was less crowded. That was all she needed to hear. So, we picked up the permit and went back to Pisgah Point. There were only a few tents there and we soon had ours pitched on the bank of the lake. We ate dinner and sat outside looking at the stars where to my limited ability I identified as many as I could. I was feeling pretty bad about having never taken enough time to study astronomy when she blurted out, ‘gee dad, I hope I can learn as much as you about the stars”. I felt like I suddenly had a Ph.D. However, I replied, “darling, I expect you will learn much more”. It was the second time she almost brought me to tears.

The night was uneventful and the next morning we ate and set out in the Jeep to explore LBL. We traveled to many of the points and designated recreation areas and both decided Pisgah Point was about the best of the lot. We took time to go swimming in the middle of the day. We would swim a while then lay out on the gravel where we dried off in minutes, then back in swimming. We spent a good portion of the afternoon just talking and swimming. It is the first time in a long time that I could talk to my daughter that much. We discussed life, her goals, her life, my life and we even managed to get in a discussion about the boys she likes. Gee, that part of the conversation aged me about 10 years.

After swimming, we went back had a late lunch and then took off for the Bison and Elk Prairie. The USDA has done a great job in recreating a prairie at LBL. We drove around and counted a couple dozen Elk before we encountered the Bison. They were moving across the road and when we pulled up to a stop they soon surrounded the Jeep. I had the panels out and the windows down and we could have literally stuck our hand out and touched them. I didn’t even have to tell her to keep her hands in the Jeep. She thought it was one of the neatest things ever. I had to agree. We were close enough to see the raw power of the animals and I gave her a brief history of the Bison and their removal from most of the free range.

We then drove back to camp where we ate dinner and I then proceeded to give her lessons in Gin Rummy. Well, actually she knows how to play and when the dust settled, after 36 games, it was about even. She is pretty good at it. She remarked that next time we need to bring poker chips and play poker. Her mother and cottonsox are responsible for her poker playing ability. That is just not one of the things a dad teaches his daughter. At least not at my house.

Another uneventful night and we woke up in the early dawn to watch the fog burn off the lake. She didn’t have to be told what to do to get packed up and I took her to breakfast on our way out. We were both tired and didn’t say much on the way home, but somewhere along the way, she said “dad, I had a good time”. I am not sure if she saw the tear roll down my cheek, but there is nothing she could have said that would have touched me more. After a while, when I knew I could control my voice, I said, “darling, when I am gone, remember me for these days”. She didn’t reply, but I could swear I saw a tear on her cheek.”

“ya big softy. great TR”

“awesome report.”

“I don't know what to say chili. That was a very touching trip report. What a good memory maker. This little girl obviously loves her daddy very much.”

“Nice trip, Big Daddy.”

“Posts like this remind us every so often, than behind every Backpacker and Troll on this board are Mothers, Fathers, Sons and Daughters......

It's been a long time since I saw a post that reminds me why I come here to begin with.....

Thanks Chili, I needed that.”

“wooo hoooo....sounds like an awesome time....thanks for sharing!!!”

“Great read to start the week with.

Have no fear, she will remember.
last edited: 8/06/07 6:27:24 AM”

“For Real...I wanted them to know that THIS is what the real TrailTalk is all about.”

“Great trip report and the best way to spend the weekend with your daughter.”

“Fantastic TR! What wonderful memories you will both have for a lifetime.”

“Now that was one of the better TR I've read...I suspect that week-end will live in both you and your daughters minds forever...very special, you are very lucky...”

“Beautiful.”

“Thanks chili, I needed that cry.

Mine are the same age as yours, and I watch them everyday in wonder. How did they grow up so fast? When did they become their own people? Did I do the best I could by them? I guess only time will tell.”

“heh. Wait until they are gone and you are still asking the same questions. Not to mention, they are asking you those questions as well. Nothing like having your 24 year old question what went on when he was 12 that made things the w=way they were. Ah the joys of kids.

Oh incidently... when a 24 year old does that... tell them the truth cause they know what they know. They are just trying to make sense of it all.”

“great report. I've been to LBL, nice place.”

“God bless, Big Guy.

Doug”

“Ahh don't you wish you could have that time back, sounds like you and your daughter would really like too. Being a Dad is great.”

“Nice. Although I question your daughters sanity if she stayed in your tent with temps ~100*

:p”

“LBL is neat even during the summer. Glad you had time to spend with your little one. Thanks for the TR. Missed you on the long walk last May. I did spy a white car at the drop off but the windows were really tinted so I didn't bother to knock. How did the Elk and Buffalo look? Was the heat getting to them?”

“The heat was working on the buffalo. They were mostly hanging out at the ponds.

At night, on the lake, the temp dropped about 30 degrees as soon as the sun slipped over the horizon. It was just right to sleep on top of the sleeping bag. Brittany needed a fleece pullover Friday night.”

“To bastardize the classic line from that historic film A League Of Their Own (1992)....

"There's no crying in Backpacking!"


          [WINK]”

“She didn't whine a single time. I was really proud of her.”

“Damnit you brought a tear to my eye, good report, thanx for sharing.”

“There's tear in my eye, too, dammit. LOL. Ahh, but my eyes were tires and dry. ;-)

Nice weekend, nice companionship, nice reporting of it.”

“what a great tr. there was almost a tear in my eye! this is where you see the results of what you have tried to instill into your children. sounds like you have done a fine job. btw give the women in her life some credit also........
we will be up in LBL in october, can't wait.”

“nice Chilli - my daughter turned 13 this past summer.”

“Damn! great report man.”

“OK chili...now that I've stopped crying I can reply! I am sooo glad you were able to spend that time with your daughter.

Totally AWESOME!!!

My guys are growing so fast, I treasure every conversation I get out of the youngest (17) and I'm thankful when I see the oldest (21)”

“Hi Chili !

Thanks for the TR !”

“Nice TR. Thanks for sharing.”

“hey Chili,

Great TR! Thanks!
foggy”

“Great TR!
Where's LBL?
Now take her on a backpacking trip the next time and when she smokes you on the trail you'll never have a more proud moment just like I did at Mt Rogers 4 years ago wit my daughter. I think she was 14 then and as we all chose routes for the next destination it was her idea to go the long/hard route.Not to mention she had crappy boots.

I'm feeling it for ya brother.Mine actually went on the lost cove trip last month and enjoyed it.Now she's talking about taking her friends camping without me! Get ready bro it won't be long!”

“LBL is Land Between the Lakes.

Between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley running north to south in both Kentucky and Tennessee.”

“Wow! I mean Wow! I'm glad yall got to spend so much quality time together.

Being outdoors and in tune with nature enhances the bonding between people. There are no interuptions, no phones, commercials, noise or crowds. You can truly focus on each other. Good for you chili pepper!”

“I should have known that I use to go fishing out there when I was stationed at Ft Campbell,KY and use to go four-whellin at a place called Turkey Bay or something like that.”

“I must say that I'm upset to find out that there are rattlesnakes in the north portion of LBL. I've heard that there are only two counties in Kentucky that have rattlesnakes - Trigg Co and I forget the other one. Trigg Co is in the south end of LBL. I guess I was just relying on the snakes to know where the county line was and turn around when they approached it. LOL :)”

“im pretty sure i heard there were rattlers in the gorge. maybe it was copperheads, but defineitely something poisonous”

“Rattle snakes are all over Kentucky and even up into south Ohio.

”

“What a great report!”

“Stomper, it was just north of the furnace, that would put it in the southern portion of LBL.”

“Nice trip report Chili. I think you win the prize for making the most TTers tear up in a day! It's very cool that you and your daughter enjoy eachothers company so much.”

“Ya got me too Chili. Nicely done. Pics?”

“No camera. All the memories were captured in the mind's eye.”

“Frankly chili... I think that is the best way to do it. Seen too many times where the camera takes priority over the people and all you get is parts of what happened. Anyway... These are your memories. Some things don't need to be shared.”

“Nice report Chili.

It brings back memories of when my son and I backpacked the 100 mile wilderness. He was the same age - turned 13 on the trail. I think part of why I came to love backpacking so much was in that trip.”

“Very nice James. Glad yall had a great time. That was one of the top 3 or 5 trip reports I've ever read on this site.

My local Wal-Mart sells Jones Soda. A bit of Absolute isn't a bad touch with the stuff either.”

“Is Jones Soda made with sugar rather than corn sweetener? Is that why it's different?”

“Yes, that's the difference. It's good stuff.”

“great report, chili. Its good to have a one on one relationship with your daughter.”