PAINT THE HOUSE

I finally started painting my house! My plan for hiking this weekend was thwarted by heavy rain so I decided to dive into the project of PAINT!

Getting started. Elmo is on standby.

Need me for anything?

All done! I really love it!

Off duty...

INDIAN HEAVEN BACKPACK

The Indian Heaven Wilderness is a great place for a fall hike. This year I wanted to do a backpack in there. I shared my idea with a few trusty backpacking friends and was pleased to have all of them along, wow!

WILL, MARY, LINDA, TOM, LIN, JUDE

The forecast was doubtful for part of the trip. It's hard to score a stellar forecast this time of year here but that's what I was hoping for. I wavered about whether to go. Instead, maybe just a day hike and dinner at a brew pub on the way home on the nicest day would be better. Yet, the forecast could go in a positive direction and I could miss out. Often the forecast is not correct this time of year. I decided to go despite all the work involved in getting my gear packed.

Hiking in on Saturday was indeed stellar. The fall colors against the blue sky was impressive. We found a suitable campsite and settled in for the evening. It was proving to be warmer than forecast as well. Happy hour and warm dinner...so far, so good. Oops, Will dropped he and Mary's dinner! Linda and Tom came to the rescue with their extra food.

I went to bed hoping the weather would turn positive for Sunday, meaning it would be opposite the forecast. At midnight an angry wind began blowing over the ridge and along the lake. The tent flapped constantly the rest of the night. I waited for rain, none yet. I waited for it to get really cold! It didn't. At 4am a small shower confirmed that rain was indeed part of the weather plan, dang! I slept restlessly most of the night with the wind and the flapping, rattling tent. At 7am another small shower. That's when I decided not to stay for the rain show and instead hike out and return to my warm and dry surroundings in Portland.

My friends were understanding. At 8am Lin and I were on the trail and thinking I should scurry back to the car in time to beat the rain coming. Instead I found myself immersed in a fog laden forest with golden, cranberry, and crimson hues, and so much quiet. The quiet was euphoric. I watched the low clouds swoop down into the valleys, roiling, roiling. I had hoped to spot a bear in the distance nibbling the many berries available. No luck. I did see lots of deer and possibly elk tracks on the trail. Coyote scat was abundant as well. I hiked slowly, very slowly.

The mental nourishment from the cold crisp air was dream like. There is a reason that "Heaven" is in the name of this wilderness. Though I felt bad about leaving my friends behind I also appreciated the opportunity to see the forest in two different weather situations and without the distractions of the many conversations I have with my friends. My brain was on retreat.

I got to the car and was chilled. The air was damp and heavy with moisture. I changed into warm and dry clothes and headed to Stevenson where a hot chocolate at a coffeehouse with character warmed my core. I thought of my friends all day and wondered how their day was going. I was warm and dry and I was also elevated to a place where only those who truly enjoy the wilderness can understand.