Throwback Thursday – The Solstice Tree

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.

Walter, Andy and I decorated a random tree out in the woods on Solstice Day. The snow was deep and it took us several attempts to get up the ridge. We tried Pinemont Road and I got stuck.

Even with chains on his KLR, my brother didn’t make it much farther.

We tried several other roads, finally finding one which was being plowed for logging.

It was the shortest day of the year and the sun was getting low when we finally selected our tree. It was just far enough off the road you would have to look hard to see it, just close enough that, if you knew what to look for, you could. With Walter’s supervision we adorned it with ornaments and bells. We celebrated with hot chocolate laced with rum and schnapps.