Wow...neglected much?

Totally been neglecting you, my sweet personal escape. I've not been on a trail in months, but have been dreaming. I've been looking at all of the lovely local fun to be had in the places we may be stationed...trying to see if there is anything that catches my eye.

I toil over articles, maps and trail reviews...looking for the perfect "back to the trails" trail. Something for the four of us...and then something for just me, maybe.

I dream of new tents (like the Eureka K-2 and the GoLite Xanadu 4 and the ultimate...the Bombshelter) and of cool but useful gadgets that can be got.

Soon enough, I will be semi-settled somewhere and can most truly start planning a new adventure. In the meantime, I'll ponder the possibilities.

Well, that's moot....

the hike is off, courtesy of the rental car company asking for an extra $200 on the deposit (bringing it to $400 plus rental cost). So I'm going to putter around Portland, sans personal transport, for a week.

There's plenty to do there, I've been told and read, so I will not lack fun...possibly even a couple of day type hikes in city.

In the meantime, I'll set up even better plans for the next mommy vacation and keep hiking local.

T Minus...

one month!!!! Roughly. I'm so incredibly excited it's scary.

I've opted for several small day hikes and some city sightseeing while in Vancouver, mainly to keep the family happy that I'm not off traipsing around glaciers (big babies). Washington is going to be an overnight at Ozette (if I can get a spot) and then two nights on the Hoh River Trail (just going to the ranger station then back) if I can stretch it that far. If not, I may see about one of the trails around Heart of the Hills.

In Vancouver I've got Lynn Canyon, Deas Island, Stanley Park and lots of other small things to tinker around with. No set plans there until I get a feel for the city and my own energy levels. I'm still hunting for good pubs and cheap eats in the city if anyone has a list they care to share.

The tent is getting pulled out sometime next week for an airing and go over with the waterproofing goo. Bag has been trialed on the upper deck and is definitely good for this trip. Pack has been tested on a short 3 mile round trip to the grocery store down the road (have no idea what the weight was but it was WAY over what I plan to pack)...I got some really weird looks from townies on that one.

I have my packing list set and have a couple of things left to get. Thinking on getting some of these to take along (since I tend to lose/damage/DESTROY any toothbrush that takes a trip with me). Of course, I 'could' just pay attention to what I'm doing, but why?

Still testing out yummies to eat. The Zatarain's pouches are a go, Jack Link's teriyaki nuggets are a must and now I've found these wonderful goodness bags (Breakfast Blend is the bestest)...they are sooooooo on the menu for breakfast and whenever.

Moral of the post: I'm insane. But I still need a good pub recommendation for Vancouver.

Oh the things you can do...

At the suggestion of some couchsurfers (google it) in Vancouver, I've done a little more digging for fun trails that are overnighters or day hikes. Have mercy...how will I ever choose?!?

Below are some parks/trails that I am seriously considering...also considering canceling my reservations at the hostel and just having addresses on hand for nights that I want a bed instead of a bag. This vacation just got a whole lot more interesting than what it was in the first place...mercy the decisions to be made in less than 2 months!

Joffre Lakes

Fraser and Thompson River Canyons

Mount Seymour

This is by no means all of my choices...let's not forget I'll actually be driving from Portland, OR to Vancouver, BC anyway. Lots and lots of distractions along the way. Ozette is kinda out of the way for that drive and may be a trip that I wait on. Take that one with the spousal unit and the littles since it is a family friendly way to go. So I'm looking at trails along the way, northeast WA now. Hoh to Third will be a by myself kinda thing later. See, I told you my planning was erratic...but now I've got to settle on something, time grows short!!

A Tent Possiblility

I meandered around Wally World last night for a few...couldn't resist the camping section naturally. I picked up the Ozark Trail kids tent, checked it over on size and such...it might well be a good option for me.

Of course, it requires actually buying it instead of putting it back on the shelf and thinking 'later'. If it doesn't work out, the littles will have a tent all their own to play in downstairs, right?

So, next week, I'll be getting it...waterproofing it...breaking it down and stuffing it in a sack (lord no I won't be using the bag it comes in...what are you crazy?) and giving it the benefit of the doubt. Pike Run will be the first test of endurance for it. Don't know when, but soon!

Two Things

Thing One: I think I might call the hostel and push my check-in back a day and add one more day to my stay. That way I can go ahead and try to do the Hoh to Third. I have to check up on shuttles before I do that though since availability on it is what the whole thing relies on. The one that I've found so far is listed as out of service right now due to illness, so the hunt continues.

Thing Two: I don't want to HAVE to buy socks...I knit after all. But I hate to knit socks...see the conundrum? I have lots and lots of cotton socks, none of which are particularly comfortable in my boots. So I gaze longingly at my small wool stash and choose a skein. Yes, my backwood friends, I've started knitting some nice comfy wool socks for my adventure. I am about half way through sock one...hating it but knowing that it's better this way. Really it is. I keep saying that to convince myself you know.

So the point of this....I need a shuttle service that is open and reasonably priced...I hate knitting socks but am doing it for the love of my feet and boots. Sigh, the things an obsession will drive you to do.

Expansion on Today's Trek

Now that I have the time, I'll expand! The littles are in the tub at the moment washing the soot from themselves. Gotta love burn season.

Anyway, we started out really late. Actually hit the trail around noon or so after a late breakfast and some lazing around the house.

The littles were more than happy at the beginning to be running about in the woods. I did a lot of saying 'Stay on the trail' and 'Don't jump in the river' even though I had to fight the practically irresistible urge to do those things myself. Better for them to learn the safer way now than later, right?

We did clamber down a trail that wasn't really a trail at one point. It was a dry stream that at some point connected a loop in the river but hey...it still got us to where we were going and the spouse didn't know until it was too late. After we picked the real trail back up, there was the cave to explore a bit (not too much though) then a nice climb up some natural rock steps cut into the bluff. Stunning view of the river from there (the spouse who is deathly afraid of heights about heart attacked on me when I took the youngest to the edge).

Bridges to cross, hills to climb, rocks to jump from and LOTS of burned out areas. The wind was whipping today, even deep in the woods, stirring up soot. I don't know when they did the burn, but it sure smelled fresh.

Only had to pack the youngest a little way, no more than a half mile over all, which is a massive improvement over last summer. He kept asking if the trail was 'the way out', lol. Yes love, it is. Didn't have a real meltdown from exhaustion until the last 500 yds or so of the trail, then we rounded a bend and saw the car. The world was right!

Not a bad day overall...we finished at a quarter past two. So a little over a mile an hour even with the breaks. Not shabby at all.

I didn't take a full pack this go round though. Saving that for Pike Run which the spouse now agrees to since the littles proved they could easily do almost three miles without much drama.

Stats:

Swimming Deer Trail - St. Francois State Park
2.7 miles
2 hours (with young children)
moderate difficulty with minor rock climbing and very few steep hills