Rites of Passage on the AT

Lukas Connor Schoonmaker - Big Flat Mountain - Sept. 18, 2009

My firstborn son turned 5 years old a couple of days ago.  Lukas Connor Schoonmaker (Made in Ireland, Born in USA) is now officially out of toddler-hood, and into full-fledged boyhood.  He makes his fourth public speaking presentation tomorrow in school, and this speech will be centered around the Swiss Army pocketknife that he now owns, courtesy of Daddy, who gave him this real live weapon to celebrate his five years.

Lukie and I drove west on Friday, up over Afton Mountain, and then north on the amazing Skyline Drive, cresting the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  We went all the way north until the Loft Mountain area, so that we could set up camp on one of the peaks that we see out our windows, beyond the foothills in our backyard.  Lukas did not let go of that pocketknife for even one second.  Signs warned us of the prevalant black bears, and we were sure to keep our food safely tucked away.  We set up camp on Big Flat Mountain, pitched our tent for the night, and then spent some time setting up the fire, and cutting down some good skewers for hot dogs and marshmallows.

I've never seen a kid so happy to roast marshmallows. (Lukas Connor Schoonmaker, Sept. 18, 2009 - 5th Birthday)

Eventually the sun set, we went off to bed, and played with the flashlights in the tent over long tales of Narnia-meets-Middle-Earth adventures where Lukas rescued his brother, Rhys, from the clutches of some evil villain in a castle.  Just when I was drifting off to sleep, and we were watching the stars out the tent top with the wind kicking up into high gear, my five-year-old sidekick decided it was time for a late-night bathroom run, all varieties included.  This bathroom trip ended up more interesting than it already was when we encountered a tall, stately, white-tailed buck, who stood within reaching distance of us for more than five minutes, interacting with Lukas.  Very cool.

The night was long and cold, with howling wind and flapping canvas.  We slept in numerous layers, hoodies, and sleeping bags.  At 5am, Lukie and I both awoke in the dark, and decided to head out into the mist to hike some miles around Big Flat Mountain on the Appalachian Trail.  This was my favorite time with my son on this trip.  He made the whole thing by himself, carrying his breakfast, knife, and pack all the way.  The views were breathtaking, with no description doing them justice.  The sunrise was amazing, and Luke earned several war wounds to take home with him.

Son, you passed the test.  You made Mommy and me proud–as you always do.  Welcome to the next chapter of boyhood.

~ by Adrian Schoonmaker on September 21, 2009.