Ride to Camp — Camp to Ride
Dugout Canoe Project
I got a notion to try my hand at making a dugout canoe. A neighbor up the road gave me a cottonwood log and even helped me load it. Joel loaned me a trailer and Mike helped me retrieve the log last month. It's been sitting in my driveway ever since. ...
Three Bros in a Tipi
I just got home from a camping trip with my brothers. Don't tell them, but I love those guys. David and Andy are both younger than me. We used to fight all the time but somehow, we grew out of it. The three of us get along well now. In fact, I don’t know anyone...
Ironwood
Holodiscus discolor, commonly called Ocean Spray, arrow-wood, or ironwood, is one of the more abundant flowering shrubs in the Pacific Northwest. Known for its hardness, it was used for tools by native people throughout the region. Ironwood was fashioned into...
I’m A Fucking Genius
I’m stuck in the loop of “I’m a fucking genius!” followed by “This God damned thing!”. I guess using the Scrambler as a year-round daily commuter and camping mule is taking its toll. I got the rear brakes back together (I’m a fucking genius!), but they are...
Lost Creek Longhouse Chapter 6: Striking Camp
(Click here for Chapter 5) With only two days left in camp, the weather started to clear. As the sun crested the tree line Sunday morning, the meadow began to steam and the canvas started to dry. ...
Lost Creek Longhouse Chapter 5: Disappearing Lake Regatta
(Click Here for Chapter 4) I had expected to have most of Friday morning to myself, but my cousin, Giovanna and her husband, Chase turned up right after breakfast. They must have gotten up at the...
Trying Out the Halti Laavu Pro
I bought a new tent! As Amy is quick to point out, the last thing I need is another tent. But I wanted it. I have been intrigued by Baker and Whelan tents for years. Basically, half of a small wall tent, they are designed for expedition camping. Open down the length,...
Lost Creek Longhouse Chapter 4: Camp to Eat, Eat to Camp
(Click Here for Chapter 3) Tuesday morning we decided to go into Trout Lake for breakfast. There was no cellphone service in camp and Robert was anxious to call his wife. We were expecting several new people to show up and I wanted to text them with a road...
Summer Solstice Cookout
My wife was having her book club over to our house for dinner. It seemed prudent to retreat to the woods for the evening. My brother’s wife is a member of the book club, leaving Andy unsupervised. It didn’t take much coaxing to get him to join me. ...
Lost Creek Longhouse Chapter 3: Settling In
(click here for Chapter 2) It had been a warm, clear day when we started Saturday, but by mid afternoon the sky had gone slate-gray and opened up on us. We made camp in a torrential downpour. Mike had to leave before we were done setting up; Jason, Robert, and I...
Blast From the Past
Mike and Amy and I did a short wander in the Gifford Pinchot, hoping to find some boletes or some late season morels. Aside from a nice flush of Amanita, we got skunked. We swung by South Prairie, but Disappearing Lake has...
Lost Creek Longhouse Chapter 2: Setting Up
(click here to go to Chapter One) Our longhouse was essentially two tipis married with a ridgepole spanning the distance between them. Panels of canvas covered the center. This was the first time (and maybe the last) I attempted it. I brought thirty-two...
