The Great Viking Campout 2019

The annual Great Viking Campout took us to Tennessee this year. It was Tepper’s year and he delivered on a great call for fly fishing the Watauga River. The Watuaga and South Holston has been on my hit list for years, so teaming this up with my high school buddies felt like a double bonus in so many ways. And with a crazy busy work / family schedule, this June trip was my first real time to wet a line this year. The best part was that we camped right on the river and with a little tree trimming, I was able to string a hammock up right on the bank. So, even when i wasn’t fishing, I was within a stone’s throw of my happy place.

I love this camping trip and the energy that everyone brings for the weekend. We have a pretty good balance of games, adventures, competitions, campfire bullshitting and general life catch up. Everyone grew up competing in some sport and and this weekend seems to pick right back up where we left off almost 20 years ago. Polish horseshoes, cornhole, washers, disc golf, you name it and we’ll probably play it.

My first lesson of the Watauga was that this Tennessee Valley Authority river is true to its reputation of predictable and schedule dam releases. This pictures below show the before and then the same exact spot 20-30 minutes later. It happens fast and I can definitely attest to the fact that its nearly impossible to safely wade over top of the moon crater structure that is evident on the bank.

The main event for this year’s trip was the float trip. We hired 3 guides to take up down the river. This was the entire crew’s first time fly fishing, so it was a great place to learn and get on some fish. 2 of the 3 guides were really good and a couple of the new guys boated close to 20 fish on their first trip out. Nymphing was the name of the game, which i do enjoy. But, I was a little bummed that fishing to rising fish was pretty much non-existent after Memorial Day weekend when they started the afternoon dam releases. Prior to Memorial Day, some of the early season hatches, like the Grannoms, can be fantastic. But, that all changes when the release start.

I boated my share of nymph fish, but nothing to write home about size-wise. Without a doubt the ticket was the early morning streamer fishing. I was basically binge fishing, so waking up in the dark and starting fishing was a perfect way to start the days.

Next year is #puremichigan. Whether these guys know of not, they caught the fly fishing bug. Zooch is taking us to the Au Sable to fish the Hex. That’s another one i can knock off the hit list and if nymphing on the Watauga was fly fishing 101, they are going to experience master level class fishing for monsters in the dark.

Return to Penns Creek

Its been years since we had the twins at Penns Creek when they were just 11 months old. Prior to then, Penns was an annual tradition that Spence and I would do every year with Cooper. But, with a growing family and busy work schedules, we just haven’t had the time to get back. For this year, we made a commitment to make it happen at some point again.

I was super excited to take the family back out, but also a little anxious about camping on my favorite spring creek in the world and knowing that I would be skipping stones versus casting flies. I hadn’t fished yet all season, but it helped that I had a fishing trip coming up with some buddies down in Tennessee.

The decision to go back to Penns was sort of last minute and we lucked out with getting the last camp site. The big kids made a campground friend and if we didn’t have 1.5 yr old Declan, we could actually see the potential of camping being relaxing again. This year was also the first year without Cooper, who we just put down about a couple weeks ago. I knew going back here without him would be heartbreaking, so part of the driver to get back this weekend was to celebrate life in a place filled with so many of our memories. We had so many good times with him and I remember standing on the banks of that stream with both my Father and Cooper and now both were gone. But the amazing thing about Poe Valley and Penns Creek is that though life seems to change so fast, that river and valley does not. It’s like you are stuck in time and the only thing that’s changed in 20 years has been that tressel bridge and the tunnel. Hopefully one day, my kids will look at this stories and pictures and say the same thing.

And I was able to do some fishing in the morning and exceeded my expectation, which was zero fishing. We didn’t see a single Green Drake, but I caught a couple on the evening sulphur spinner fall. One morning I snuck down to some pristine streamer water with Hunter and hooked into a really big Brown on a big headbanger sculpin. The water was high and i tossed it directly upstream and stripped down a seam about a foto off the bank. I saw the trout swim from the weed bank and annihilate my fly head first in about 6” of water. It was a sick grab. I stuck him and he peeled to the center of the stream and start head shaking in the current. He was hooked good and my only thought was letting my 4 year old land a Penns brown toad, so I went downstream and handed him the rod.

He fought him really well and that picture of him holding that 10’ rod on that rock with a look of terror and excitement will never be lost. But, that fish turned and bolted straight at Hunter and though he did a nice job keeping the rod tip up, stripping line on a 10’ rod and keeping tension was just not something we had covered yet. I lunged at the line and quickly stripped to save what I knew already happened and almost knocked Hunter off his rock.

In a flash that fish was gone, but at that exact moment a fisherman was born. I had to break the news to him, because he had no idea and he was immediately crushed and even held back some tears. But, by the time we got back to the camp site, Hunter was telling a world-class fish story that sounded like a 30-year veteran. He told the story to Mom, Jack and then Clara and every time that trout got bigger to a point where his arms where as wide as his 30 lb frame would allow.

It was a great trip and as soon as we got home we booked our campsite a year out in the same place where cell reception doesn’t exist and life slows down a bit.

The Great Viking Campout 2018

This was Tony's year to host the Great Viking Campout and he took the boys to Asheville, NC.  I drove directly from a work conference in Atlanta and started a day early spending the night in Brevard for craft brews and wild brown trout.   The Davidson River has been on my list to wet line and and it lived up to its reputation.   It was a beautiful, gin clear freestone that gets tons of pressure which in turn creates very challenging and technical fishing.  Catching a few of these trout exceeded my expectations and really started the trip off on the right foot.

                          This Davidson River (freestone!) wild brown rivaled the awesomeness of any I've caught on my native PA limestoners.

The rest of the boys showed up Friday afternoon to set camp outside of Asheville for a fun couple days of disc golf, corn hole, Polish horseshoes, fishing and, of course, more good beer.  The weather was perfect and the camping location was outstanding.  Great 2018 camp out and looking forward already to 2019.   

The Great Viking Campout

Each year a group of high school buddies get together to camp out for the weekend.  At this point in our live's we have the means to do a little better than the $15/night campground, but we dig camping.  I didn't come up with it, but camping is really the only prerequisite for the annual trip. We all grew up in the country, so there is that element of nostalgia.  But, probably more important at this age, is that no one needs to get in a bar fight or get a DUI, so we camp.  We typically just play corn hole, Polish horseshoes, listen to Tom Petty and usually partake in one main event to pretend the whole weekend isn't about drinking. 

This year was my year to pick location and I took the boys near my old stomping grounds on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, Virginia.  The river was super high and murky for this time of year, which made the fishing tough.  But we all caught some smallies and the day was absolutely beautiful.  

The highlight of the float was a class 2 rapid that had a knack for swallowing canoes.  Only one out of three canoes in our our convoy made it through dry and I was glad to be in this good fortune.  Similar to allowing your friends to putt first on the green, going last has some of those same advantages.   While, watching your friends kamikaze cluelessly down the river wont guarantee your own success, it sure helps to know what line NOT to take.   There were a lot of rods and tackle boxes lost that day and we were able to document the floating yard sale once we made it through.

We capped Saturday night with a Penguins playoff game.  We may have been camping in the middle of nowhere, but missing the game was not an option.  These boys came prepared and with an extension chord, flatscreen, and Apple TV, we were able to catch the game right out of the back of a Jeep Cherokee.  We didn't win the game that night, but I'd venture to say we had the best seats on the planet.  I'm feeling another Cup run.

Camping with Kids

We've been chomping at the bit to get the kiddos camping for the summer. 

We decided to go Laurel Hill State Park and stay a little more local for this camping trip so we could make it back home if needed.  And as it turned out, we did just stay for one night with bad storms and a challenging two year old.  Hunter is still in the crib at home, but left unrestrained inside the large family tent and he was the equivalent of a highly energized electron.   Next time we're setting the hammock up for bed time. No child can resit the fire side hammock.  

When it comes to spending quality times with kids, I don't know of a better way than camping. There are no distractions and the memories are life long.  Nothing fuels their curiosity more than nature.  Everything from bugs, to 'precious' rocks, sticks, stars, animals, etc.  

Return to Penns Creek

For many years, a camping retreat to Penns was an annual event for the family.  As I got into fly fishing, I would go every year and try to hit the Green Drake hatch.  I went with my girlfriend, who eventually became my wife, along with our first born (our Lab Cooper :)  I got my Dad into fly fishing late in his journey and we took many trips to Penns, even when he was battling through the end stages of cancer.  The periodic cicada hatch of 2008 (Brood XIV) on Penns Creek will go down in history for me as one of the best outdoor events of my life with my wife, Father, and many friends. 

Penns Creek is a special place and I hold it close to my heart.  It’s crazy then its been a couple years since I have been out here, but with a few munchkins all in diapers, it is explainable.  I was glad to make this trip happen again and spend a night out here.  Penns is 3.5 hours from me, so its not really a day trip and anyone that knows me, knows I don’t like to be rushed.  

There were a few noticeable differences with the new trestle and tunnel renovations.  The improvements are nice to see, but I liked it the old way.  I liked the raw, wet, cool dark feel of the old tunnel, the dripping water and knowing there were probably thousands of bats above, watching me.  Of course there was the chance of a rock tumbling from the cavernous ceiling, but I figured if that happened, I probably deserved it for some reason of another.  Every time I walked through the heart of that stone mountain I felt I was leaving all worries behind and renewing my soul.  I didn't quite get the same feeling walking through the new steel tunnel, but I am sure I am in the minority camp on this one.  

The one thing that didn't change was the wild brown trout were still the prettiest fish in the state.  Something special about these trout.  They never disappoint.

Twins 1st Fall Camping Trip - Penns Creek

We've been wanting to take the twins camping as babies and finally decided to take them on a whim to one of my favorite places on the planet - Penns Creek. 

It was a lot to throw together late Friday night for a one night camping trip, but I'm really glad we pulled it off once before they turned 1 (in less than a week!)

I could write a whole page on the page on how special Penns Creek is to us, so needless to say, it was extremely important to bring Jack and Clara and get them right in the water!

We got there Saturday afternoon, set camp up and a little hike in their new baby backpacks - a major upgrade to those Bjorn chest things.  The twins did just great and love everything about camping including romping around in the tent with Mama and chilling outside and trying to eat leaves and play with pine needles that fell into their pack and play.

Baby friendly camp site

Saturday night was not exactly how I drew up in my head.  Part of the reason we decided on going was the 0% chance of rain and stellar October weather we had.  I should know that in this valley anything goes...so as I was getting the campfire going, a major thunderstorm rolled in.  Picture Spencer in the tent with two hysterical babies while I ran around organizing camp in the pitch dark with a head lamp, grilling steaks and potatoes in the downpour while getting soaked to the bone. It was a pretty stressful hour, but the thunderstorm rolled out and the babies finally fell asleep.  Mom made her S'Mores and I drank an IPA - we had survived.

Sunday was an amazingly beautiful fall day.  At one point on the stream I found myself completely lost in just watching the leaves fall and was filled with so much joy.  I've been going to Penns for years now, but this was my first time in the fall and first time with the twins. 

Tressel bridge just wide enough for a double stroller

Fly fishing with Jack on my back

Passed out after a long hike and fishing trip

Me and my little girl