The (no) labor day weekend

So after many otherwise promised away weekends...finally Joe got a camping trip. We're trying out our 'hiking in' skills, since we're planning at least one more of those before the year is out and on a substantially harder trail. We restricted ourselves to cold foods when planning at the grocery store-since that's how we'll be hiking our trail in December. And Saturday morning we packed up the goods, including tent, thermarest pads (a blessing), a change of clothes and enough water to float home on and set out early in our new hiking boots (sexy sexy)--my pack weighed about 32 pounds and Joe's went up to 36 before causing our food scale to blink in error.

Even though we were only doing 7.5 miles in, we wanted to get an early start for cooler temps and because of the popularity of the trail. We hit the trail head around 9am, but parked further back at the "fewer break-ins" area and started our journey about a 3/4 mile from the trail head. I'm quite glad we had that moment because we saw this guy on our way in, which was pretty cool.Although we've hiked this trail a few times now, we've never gone past the high bridge-primarily because in our hiking guide it says this is trails end. The last time we hiked it we asked a few people who were carrying overnight gear where they might be headed and found out just how much more the trail extends. Our original and ambitious plan had been to hike up to Wahtum Lake, however, further inspection showed that this area was a popular drive in location, so we opted to stop before reaching that point at the creatively named 7.5 mile camp. The trail, as it extends past our original stopping point only grows more interesting, with curious rock outcroppings, rockfall and more waterfalls, the most incredible of which was Tunnel Falls, just a mile shy of our stopping point. The tunnel that was created to pass the falls was dripping with runoff and provided a respite from the heat. Just lovely.

We camped in an unmarked spot (rebels that we are) just before the less attractive 7.5 mile camp (we turned back after seeing it's offerings). The site we chose had access to the creek and we dipped our hot feet in the freezing (so cold it burns) water and then set up camp. We dined on bread and cheese and a bottle of Windy Point Red (acquired on my birthday wine touring extravaganza) and followed it with our one goofy ration of freeze dried ice cream sandwiches (I highly recommend them-artificial flavor and all). Most of our evening was spent creek side eating and playing chess with a small magnetic chessboard that I thought was worth the weight. The part of the forest that we camped in was burned in the early 1900's and was mostly new growth, we camped next to two gigantic trees that in stepping back and observing, Joe noticed were old growth and remnants of the fire.

Our early arrival meant a lot of time to kill, so we got in a few games of chess and then back in the tent some crouched rummy. Later, laying in our bags looking up we saw a large bug dragging a spider away to eat, through some encouraged flicking from the inside of the tent we persuaded it to not dine on our rooftop.

We were lulled to sleep by the creek running over its rocky bed and while not having had the benefit of a full nights sleep, given the varying comfort of tent sleeping, we didn't rise until 8:30am on Sunday.

The return hike was spent in isolation for the first couple of hours and then surged to parade/crowd traffic in the last one. Eagle Creek was packed to the gills, with cars parked on every available surface; we should have sold our space (in the shade and everything). People were stalking us from the moment we stepped onto the asphalt. When we reached the car I snaked out of my boots slowly and into my sandals as people salivated over our spot-I fully expected to see bruises on my hips and shoulders from where the weight of my pack was, but there were none (they still smart but have yet to show any of the glories of black and blue they deserve). Eventually, we promised our spot away to a very smiley family and glided from the scene-hot, tired and (deliriously) happy.

The weekend itself left me with a great grin on my face...and had I not wanted to get home and see the kids and take a shower I might have been tempted out to Hood River for some Double Mountain Brew (a pint of their chipotle...oh wait, stout, er...Porter)...eh, next time.