Plan B Camp March 2025

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.

It was early March when I decided on a last minute camping trip to the Gifford Pinchot. The weather forecast for the weekend was fair, with rain predicted later on Sunday. Even with no real planning and a late start, I had the truck loaded and ready to go by 1:30

The road in was considerably better than when Andy and Jason camped with me there last month. There was no meaningful snow or ice to impede my progress.

Pulling off on the spur road that lead to the camp site, I could see a snowfield across the path ahead. I parked near the junction of the spur and loaded the sled for Walter. I shouldered my pack and, dragging four tipi poles, set off across the snow.

Finding the rest of the track clear and free of ice, we left our loads at the campsite Walter and hiked back to get the truck.

First thing I did after getting the truck to the site was set up a table and chair, pop a beer and have some lunch.

After lunch I started making camp. I decided to set up the base the way Patsy Harper described it to me. Instead of tying all four poles together, I tied two pairs of poles separately, laying one pair on top of the other, forming an X. Spreading the poles so they wouldn’t slip I could lift all four, kind of like opening an umbrella.

I stacked the rest of the poles like I normally do: Filled in each side, added two more in front to frame the door, and the final two poles opposite those, in back, leaving room between them to cradle the lifting pole.

I set my bunk up before putting the cover on and laid out a blanket for Walter. Apparently his bed did not meet with his approval, for he spent the night outside under a tree.

Stretching the canvas around the poles, I got the tipi pegged down as the sun was setting. Dusk was gathering as I kindled the fire inside.

Glancing up through the smokehole, I could see the moon shining brightly, waxing into the second quarter.

I woke up cold Saturday morning. The fire had died and but stirring the ashes revealed live embers still glowing. I was able to rekindle the fire by adding some tinder to the coals and blowing it into flame.

I soon had tea on the boil, followed by a hearty breakfast: a roll, bacon, and eggs over easy.

After breakfast, Walter and I went looking for Lava Creek. The trail had either overgrown or we just missed it. It never was much of a trail to begin with.

It was hard work bushwhacking through the fallen trees and brush, but eventually we came out on the edge of the canyon with Lava Creek rolling and tumbling far below us.

Along the way I found a rotten lobster mushroom and some fresh bear scat. I made a navigation error on the way back, doubling the distance to camp. It is easy to get turned around in the tall trees. I was glad I had a compass with me.

Mike showed up for a visit soon after we got back to camp. Walter heard him coming long before I did. Mike wanted some exercise, so we went for a another little walk. Following the main road south we came to a bermed off road we had explored last month.

At the end of the abandoned road we cut through the woods on a bearing of 306 degrees, retracing the path I took on my earlier wander. Again, it would be hard to find your way without instruments. We didn’t find any game trails going our way and relied on compass and GPS.

Several times I thought I saw the tipi through the woods. Each time it turned out to be a snowfield. Finally camp hove into sight and we made it back to camp in time for a snack and a well deserved libation.

After Mike left I collected and split some firewood and got the evening fire going. Trimming some vine maple, I made a tripod. Soon I had the pot on the boil for happy hour.Hot rum and lime.

It turned into another clear night, the moon overhead, a little bigger than the night before. Again, it shone through the smokehole, helping illuminate the inside of the lodge. Outside, the trees glowed silvery blue by its light.