Ten years ago, first-year camper Kirk Moyer from Metairie/New Orleans, sent me an incredible piece talking about his TrailRidge memories. Kirk was there that first year (1982)and came back for a second. That first year was no cakewalk so the fact that anyone returned was somewhat of a minor miracle. Kirk resent his story just this week to commemorate the 40th year of TMC's founding. Thanks Kirk. He's actually going to be up in the TrailRidge-Roan Mountain-Hughes Gap areas in a couple of weeks.

Check it out: https://www.trailridge.info/uploads/7/7/7/4/7774835/i_blazed_the_trail_-_kirk_moyer.pdf

Thirty years ago a bunch of very brave people - campers and staff descended upon the small mountain community of Buladean to mark the beginning of a new summer camp. TrailRidge Mountain Camp was born and for the next decade and a half made its own little piece of history. The photo below isn't from the very first year, but from probably year two or three.

That first year there weren't any cabins, no pond, and hardly any activities except "work." But bit by bit the camp became home to nearly a 1,000 boys and staff members over the years. It was some rocky ride...and one of those life-changing experiences.

Here's to you campers and staff from 1982 and beyond!