I really didn’t think I’d ever do it.
Day hikes? Yes, please.
But… carrying all that extra stuff on my back and cuh-cuh-cuh-camping out? Overnight? With no shower at the end of a long hiking day? And having to… you know… in the woods?
I don’t think so.
1. Dig a hole at least 6″ deep. (That’s dirt on the trowel, y’all. Just dirt.)
2. Poop in it.
3. Use TP/wipes as needed.
4. Bury the human waste and biodegradable paper products.
5. Bag any non-biodegradable paper waste and carry it out.
6. Use hand sanitizer.
Backpacking has always been Tim’s thing. He’s been sending himself on long-distance walkabouts almost every year since he retired from the Navy in 2013, starting with a 3-month trip on the Pacific Crest Trail. He’s also done the entire John Muir Trail, parts of the Appalachian Trail, and a Grand Canyon down-n-up, among others.
I’ve always been the support person for these adventures, providing drop-offs and pick-ups at trail heads, mailing supply packages, and taking care of all the other things that need to happen when one’s spouse is temporarily living off the grid.
What made me change my mind? A combination of three things.
- Being in Washington for an extended period of time, with access to fantastic trails in both the Cascades and Olympics, during prime hiking season;
- Realizing that other than a proper pack for me, we had enough gear & supplies needed to outfit both of us safely; and
- Reminding myself yet again that life is short, so maybe I should fix my pony tail, set my squeamies aside, and find out what I’ve been missing.
This.
This would be one of the things I’d been missing.
So we bought me a big-girl pack, and we planned our first excursion: 3 days, 2 nights, about 27 trail miles.
Come along with us. The easy way.
Day 1:
Thought you might like to see a map that shows where we were in relation to someplace you might recognize. Like Seattle.
Day 2 (pink): Pacific Crest Trail to camp at Basin Lake (C)
Day 3 (green): Basin Lake alllll the way back to our Point A
Mileage by map: 23.4
Mileage by tracking app: 29.1.
Average of the two: 26.2 (Can I count this as my first marathon?)
Popular place.
We were definitely not alone. Lots of other campers, due to the fairly easy 2-mile hike from a main road.
This is my “dirty bag” for collecting water, which I then filtered into…
Delicious, cold, fresh and safe
After a few minutes standing in hot water, that formerly dehydrated chicken breast looked and tasted like… dry chicken.
It’s model name is Hubba Hubba, and we have made all the jokes.
That 40-degree rated mummy bag? Nope. I got cold, even wearing jammies, and temps probably hovered around the mid-50’s.
We have since replaced it with a warmer bag.
Let’s start Day 2:
This was our first evidence of recent forest fires.
We arrived at about 2:30 p.m., and had the entire basin to ourselves. There may or may not have been afternoon skinny dipping, and we didn’t even encounter anyone coming in as we climbed out the next morning!
I missed seeing the stars through our roof, but I slept far more comfortably than I had the night before.
OK, put your boots & pack back on, and pick up your poles for Day 3:
Following the trail was difficult, with fallen trees and ash obscuring the route in places.
Based on topographical maps, we probably hit about 6500.
Wanna watch how slowly I hike? Sometimes I cover a whopping 2 miles per hour. Oh, and you can probably tell I didn’t know Tim was taking video. Derp.
Look at my dirty pants!
And herein lies a shopping lesson.
These are boys’ REI brand mountaineering pants, priced at $39.95.
Comparable pants in women’s sizes started at $64.50.
The boys’ version fit me perfectly, and my psychological barrier to purchasing clothing marked XL instead of S was completely obliterated by my excitement over the money I’d saved!
And that is when karma made its move against my sense of hubris.
The boar attacked within about an hour, and I spent the next 2 days battling and recovering from food poisoning. That sandwich was the one and only item I took in that day that Tim didn’t, so we’re sure it’s the culprit.
Message received.
And no boar for me again, ever. Even pork is gonna be an issue for a while.
I’m ready for more of this.
Descriptions of our other two Washington backpacking adventures:
- Where there’s fire, there’s smoke. A lot of smoke.
- I was not bare in bed, but a bear sure came near my bed!
Disclaimer: No compensation was received from any brands or entities named above, nor does our mention of them constitute an endorsement. Links are provided for information and convenience only.
So glad your enjoying life and having great adventures, you go girl ❤️
Thanks, my friend. I think about you and your girls often. Text me sometime so we can catch up? My number is still the same.
Thanks for sharing your adventures. It is so nice to see these beautiful places on your blog.
We are definitely lucky to see the places — and people — we get to see. Maybe I’ll bump into *you* again next time we’re in SA!
Way to go. So happy for the two of you.
I didn’t even have a meltdown!
Congratulations. Here’s your next hike? https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/trekking-through-fire-and-ice-on-greenlands-102-mile-arctic-circle-trail/2018/08/09/1a4d8f9e-90e5-11e8-8322-b5482bf5e0f5_story.html?utm_term=.4231e255391c
We could do that!