I did my first solo backpacking trip this weekend! No boogeymen, axe murderers, or marauding animals! Even better, my imagination behaved. There were no mysterious shadows or strange sounds in the night, only the light tapping of rain on my tarp and the rushing of a small nearby creek.
This frees up a lot more possibilities for me. I have a handful of solo trips planned this season, and now I know I can handle that aspect of them.
I chose something very familiar, the Eagle Creek trail in the Columbia River Gorge. When I've done this as a day hike I never got to go as far as I want, there's always a late start, sunset, or younger children/husband wanting me home that prevented me from seeing all the waterfalls. It's also a very popular trail. I figured if I was spooked by being alone, there could be an option to be closer to the crowds down around "7 1/2 mile camp." But I went a fair bit further. I wanted to test myself and I wanted to be away from the variable of other people.
There was a creek crossing up to my knees (my limit for now). Crossed at 4:00, didn't see a soul until noon the next day. I was only aware of two others who crossed/were planning to camp in the general direction, a pair of women together. We chatted. I felt reassured knowing 1. no yahoos past the creek 2. the only other folks anywhere nearby (who I was aware of) were female and friendly.
Big Cedar Spring was my goal. I carried waaay too much water there, because I didn't know if I'd get all the way and wanted an option of making a dry camp. Now I know I could do that with a lot less.
I got there! There were big cedars! My feet were wet. Wished I had brought plastic bags to use between my dry pair of socks and my wet shoes. In the morning I realized some stuff sacks I had could be used that way. Lesson learned: Work with what you've got.
Set up my tarp and hammock, cooked dinner, climbed into my hammock and did not leave it for 10 hours! I must have slept some of that time, right? I was cold. 3/8" CCF for underside insulation didn't cut it. So yeah, everyone who says "skip CCF, just get an underquilt" was right. But for different reasons than I thought. It was an experiment.
Noticed the first light around 4:30. Was so pleased I made it through the dark! Slept/rested til 7:30. Had a delightful breakfast and packed up, ALL AT MY OWN PACE, and headed by down again.
So, an unabashed, proud, "Yay Me!!!"
Here are the photos from my iPhone 4 that don't have wonky orientation tags:
EDIT: for the full collection, scroll down to Doug I's post to see the test photos that he reoriented for me.
Lovely wildflowers along the trail
Good morning!
Hammock & Tarp
About to pack-up
Blissing out observing nature
A pleasant little waterfall
