sorry for the delay in posting trip report as i am still vacationing in the smokies with limited internet. the big creek camp was attended by a great group of varied guys. markus, michael, paul, steven, mat, other michael, and myself started off on a beautiful although sometimes overcast or drizzling day stopping for a very frigid swim in midnight hole. mat was the only one to brave the jump from the high rocks. the different paces after different scenic stops rearranged the order of hikers into many various and lively conversations between everyone. it was really interesting getting the opportunity to learn more about each other in such beautiful surroundings. overall, the 5.2 miles to the campsite seemed to come quickly. we all made short work of settling into our own personal grooves and collective site preparations for what would be a pretty rainy night. we were lucky enough to get our fire started before the sky really opened up and were able to dry out enough wood for a night of warmth. other michael, steven, and mat were unfortunately unable to join us overnight but were grateful to have their comraderie for the hike in anyway. they had the long hike out in the pouring rain that was followed by an italian dinner in town. a tarp left behind by previous campers gave us a relatively dry place to huddle together and share stories and opinions and felt like a very safe place to learn more of each other free from judgements. it was also exciting to learn of each of our new camp gear aquisitions and experiences and tips gleened from different personal camping experiences or problems. i will carry some advice and tips with me forward from here on out and found it beneficial gathering for the shared knowledge. all of the guys who joined are great company both on and off the trail and would look forward to many more adventures to come. despite the damp chill and the sometimes growling snore of a non-animal kind of 'bear', the nights sleep was uneventful without any critter sightings in camp. with how fast our hike back out seemed to happen perhaps some scheduled side stops or activities could've happily extended the time of fellowship in the forest. it was the perfect blend of old friends, current friends, and new friends and many expressed the desire for continued contact and a desire for many more hikes and camping trips.

thank you again for all the guys who came out and the kind words and actions during and after our trip. i also want to thank all those that contacted me personally expressing the desire for there to be more activities and communications in our region. there is a so much beauty in our mountain region and i heard that call for us nature loving fellas to unite and enjoy getting to know each other and share together our appreciation and pursuits of outdoor activities. i hope hearing how well the trip went will inspire some of those who mentioned joining individual trips to consider the possibility of posting and encouraging our local like minded community to band together in activities.