Sticks and Stones

Yesterday Will and I took our first backpacking trip of the season to Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It was an amazing trip in very quiet, fragrant, lovely woods along the Stillaguamish River. This time around the weather wasn't as warm and there was snow at many of the sites I had considered. The weather at our elevation was pretty temperate but not hot enough for us to dip into the river. Mostly Will and I just hopped along the stones and I watched while he played with two favorite backwoods toys: sticks and stones.

I couldn't locate his sleeping bag or pad so I just brough along a blanket for him which I should have known wasn't going to fly. Of course, I woke up in the night and realized that I was sharing my mummy bag and Thermarest with him! My main excitement this time around was that I did spring for the extra weight in my pack and decided to bring a sleeping pad. Sure enough my cold arthritic joints ended up on the ground and he was warm and comfortable on the pad-- too funny!

On the walk back to the car Will wished that he could stay a few more nights so we'll see what we can do for the next trip. My favorite thing about the woods is the delicious smell and Will agreed. On the way out he said that the woods smell like marshmallows, mushrooms, and chicken!


After several bowls of brown rice cereal with pecans and dried apricots, he had his first bowel movement in the woods!

Watching his kindred spirit, the slug.

Sitting on our undisturbed bear can.

Eating with his "spork"