First Day of Spring on the AT

We had a great first day of spring! We got up early and met the scout troop for a hike on the AT across Watauga Dam. We hiked four miles, all around Watauga lake - it was a GORGEOUS day.

Boys who are planning to go on a backpacking trip over spring break had to carry 20 pounds of water in their packs as a training exercise. Ben was up for it; Daniel not so much. We gave Ben 24 bottles of water, which he carried the whole way. (When we got home, I weighed one bottle and I think he carried more like 28 pounds of water!) He was a LIMP noodle when we got done, but he managed two baseball scrimmages and a practice that afternoon, so it obviously didn't kill him!

(Why is he so tired? His pack was practically empty.)

(Ben looks a lot better than he feels at this point.)

It was a great day to be outside!