Rainy Camping at Table Rock

Adventurers: Jena, Casey, Shelby, Chris, Robbie, Bridget, Shaun, and Buster the dog
Weather: Rainy

Friday night started out cool, but no rain. We set up camp and built a fire, then sat around the fire and had a "fat kid party". For those unfamiliar with the term, everyone brings something they like to eat, and we sit around the fire and stuff ourselves silly. Once we had exhausted our food supplies, we headed off to bed. Shortly after everyone settled into their shelter of choice, it began to rain, and Shelby and Casey found the flaws in their shelter in short order. Once they had repaired their shelter, the two had a fat kid after-party during which they consumed 200 Andes chocolates between them (as was evidenced by the carpet of Andes in their hammocks the next morning.

Saturday morning, we awoke to a steady rain, with temperatures in the low 50's. After some debate, we decide to do breakfast, then come back and pack up camp before we headed off for our hike to the top of Table Rock. The hike went well, although everyone was thoroughly soaked by the time we finished the 8.5 mile hike. The view from the top was of course obstructed by the rain, fog, and clouds, and it was quite windy, so we all ate a quick bite before heading back down the trail to a rock outcrop to eat a proper lunch in a relatively dry area. As we were packing up from lunch, another group (likely from a local college) came hiking by, looking as if they fully intended to spend a week out on the trail. All in all, the trip could be considered a success, as everyone came home with the same number of fingers and toes they started with and there appeared to be some learning taking place.

Notable quotes of the trip:
Casey: right before attempting a river crossing "This is going to take some skill..." (as he slips off of the rock he was going to step on)
Shaun: "...of which you apparently have none..."

Shaun: upon seeing the girls in another backpacking group fawning over Buster the dog, "I really need to get me a dog"