After Lauren and my’s first camping adventure in April 2015, word got out just how cool it can be to spend the night camping on a remote platform in the middle of a dark swamp. Tales of the jumping fish or the pterodactyl didn’t scare anyone away; if anything, they entice more friends to brave the swamp. So in May 2016, Lauren and I plus three new swamp adventurers set off the replicate the trip that inspired this website.
After about a week of planning and coordinating, the five Swamp Girls met up at the Astoria WRC boat launch in Jamesville, NC. We carefully loaded up each of our kayaks with enough camping gear for a week even though we’d only be out for one night. Everyone had sleeping bags, clothes, extra supplies, and plenty of snacks to enjoy the trip.
Packing up our boats
Ready to launch
Unlike our first swamp trip, the weather during the paddle to the platform was sunny, warm, and pleasant. We didn’t have to fight against high winds or the early spring temperatures. We were able to enjoy Devil’s Gut a bit more rather than just pushing through to get to our destination. Lauren and I felt like seasoned camp counselors ushering new campers to the jamboree as we paddled past the rustic signs and navigated the turns of the swamp.
Signs pointing the way to the Barred Owl Roost platform
Unfortunately, spring rains had inundated the swamp with more water than what we experienced last year. When we arrived, the beautiful and unique walking platform was hidden under a couple feet of water.
Our camping platform without a walkway – flooded!
The Swamp Girls were still thrilled at our accommodations for the night and we quickly got to work unloading the boats and setting up camp.
Camp is set
Once we were unpacked, we paddled back out into the swamp to explore the area. The swamp is dominated by beautiful old cypress trees with roots that branch out like giant’s hands into the tea-colored water. The water is so dark that you can’t see the fish, turtles, and other aquatic creatures jumping and living all around you. There’s never any silence in the swamp; owls hoot, fish splash, herons flap their enormous wings over you. It’s a unique prehistoric area where I wouldn’t be surprised to see a dinosaur walking around in the distance.
We paddled back to the platform before dusk to eat dinner and relax around about 100 citronella candles and other mosquito-defeating technologies. After the sun set, we started seeing flashes of lightning and eventually the booms of thunder started rolling in. A quick check of the radar made it clear that a line of storms was heading our way. So we packed what we needed into the tent, stuffed what we could into dry bags, and tucked the remaining gear under a tarp I had thankfully packed at the last minute. Not soon after our gear was stowed and we were safely in the tent, the rain and wind hit. We spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing in the tent and stayed reasonable dry, which is a miracle considering I bought that tent for about $100 at Target over 8 years ago.
The Swamp Girls surviving a thunderstorm
In the morning, the storms had cleared and the air was crisp and cool. There’s nothing better than waking up early to a cold morning when you’re camping. All of our gear had stayed dry in the bags and under the tarp overnight. The boats had a bit of water in them that we had to dump before packing out, but that was the worst of it.
The boats tied up to the platform while the morning sun filters though the cypress trees
We grabbed a quick breakfast of Clif bars and gatorade and packed up the boats for the paddle back to the Astoria boat launch. The paddle out flows down river, so we spent a lot of the time floating and watching the scenery.
Just before the end of the trip, we all stopped in front of the Barred Owl Roost sign to take a group photo. The Swamp Girls family had successfully expanded and everyone had a great time. Let’s hope this turns into an annual tradition.
Another successful Swamp Girls trip!
Adventuring With Hillary 