Picnic on Pistol Creek

The Adventurer, Vernon Wade

Vernon was born in the Pacific Northwest and still lives in the shadow of Mt. Hood, near the small town where he grew up. Vernon has spent decades wandering the hills, hunting mushrooms, camping and riding motorcycles into the remotest nooks and crannies to be found in the region.

We set out for Pistol Creek about 12:30 Friday afternoon. The plan was to clear a trail in to the swimming hole that we could pull a cart full of camping gear along.

Andy pulled over to mark the map and I noticed steam puffing out from under his fender. A few moments later it was yakking coolant from the vent hose as his radiator boiled over. For some reason the fan stopped working.

Cap’n Ron had already started walking in with his cart by the time we arrived.

Cap’n Ron and I had blazed a route the previous weekend, but there was, as yet, no trail.

We hacked our way in, Cap’n Ron tugging his cart through brush and over logs.

Cap’n Ron pushing through the salmon berry brambles – proof of concept- the trail will accommodate a cart!

I cooked hotdogs on the engine cases during the ride in. When I parked, I wrapped them in a towel stuffed in my backpack for the hike to the creek. They were still hot and the buns warm and moist, when we sat down to eat.