After celebrating two years of hanging out and adventuring, Carl and I decided to test the strength of our relationship by going backpacking. It's the ultimate masochistic sport where you carry all your belongings on your back and purposely make everything much more difficult than it has to be. For this endeavor we chose to explore the edges of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, a rarely-visited area in the most south-westerly corner of Oregon. It was almost completely burned in the Biscuit Fire in 2002 but is still home to some rare plant species and a couple wildly beautiful rivers.
This was Luna's very first backpacking trip and our first together, so we were curious to see how everything went. The drive in was beautiful but not for those with a fear of exposure: 14 miles of gravel road closely skirting the rugged mountain side, walls of wildflowers on one side and a sheer drop with expansive views on the other. It didn't take us long to gear up and head out from the trail head, and the dogs were soon out of sight.
It was kind of surreal walking through stands of burned, dead trees, and definitely on the warm side. Neither of us can imagine making that trip in the height of summer. Ten years after the fire the flora consists of scrubby manzanita and chestnut, and the occasional knee-high pine tree. Nature recuperates, but it's amazing to see how long the process really is.
The trail conditions made this an incredibly challenging trip. It seemed that the trail crews hadn't been out there in years, so we got to perfect the art of scrambling up, over, under, and around downed trees. And even though it's May, those higher north-facing slopes are still covered with stubborn snow banks, requiring some creative path finding and cross country travel.
The dogs were in heaven. Bubba is turning nine this month but he's still going strong, bounding over logs and trotting resolutely down the trail. Luna didn't stop moving the entire day, zooming up the hills, sprinting joyfully across the snow patches, and returning every so often with a look of sheer bliss on her face. Here she's wiggling her approval of our lunch spot.
Of course we had to stop for the occasional photographic opportunity. Those are the Siskiyou Mountains in the background in the picture on the left, and on the right we have proof of entering the wilderness area.
Just another section of the trail we got to overcome.
We finally found a swath of hillside that had survived the burn and set up camp in the shade of huge pine, spruce, and fir trees, on a ridge with views to both sides. Bubba was excited to rest his weary paws.
Luna was still going strong but took time out from exploring to help Carl clean his face.
The little puppy (well, not so little anymore) was constantly looking around and checking out the big exciting world, while I perfected the art of the backcountry lounger.
The dogs didn't feel like waiting until the sun went down to crawl into the tent.
The next morning we woke up to find ourselves engulfed in the clouds. Even though we weren't quite expecting that we were fairly prepared for the cool, wet weather. Carl was very excited that morning.
Bubba was not impressed and kept wondering where his couch was.
Needless to say, as the day wore on the clouds wore off and it was once again sunny and beautiful for the latter half of the hike out and the drive back. We stopped along the way to check out some of the amazing plants around here: Oregon azaleas in fully bloom across the hillsides, and California pitcher plants covering a fen (which is cold, alkaline water that moves, as opposed to a bog which is stagnant acidic water. Who knew).
After all that, Carl and I are still talking to each other and the puppies are pooped; can't wait to do it all over again!
