The outdoor madness begins in February, with the Nehalem Bay Wetwesties campout. Rain, camping on the coast in a constant cloud. Sooo many memories, electric souppot and former Gyspiewagen. Booze.
NOT a camp, but a delightful trip up to Tacoma to mooch offa Spiffy and Copilot and drink beer in Feb. BEFORE they remodeled their kitchen. This is halfway home, along the former Milwaukee Road. History squeals like a hog.
Then, an exciting trip up Cripple Creek trail in the Clackamas Watershed in March, old growth temperate rainforest stumbling, slippy moss and dead leaves. Lonely false pyramids and cougar scratched cedars.
Badger Creek! The first annual Barlow District IAC Hoot. I had fun. The weather was nice. Mark didn't catch any fish. March.
A place called Big Bottom (no, really) along the Clackamas River. We try to go (read "I force them to go") every late spring to my special spot out there. Gigantic hemlocks, big ol douglas firs. May, you know.
Salmon Huckleberry Wilderness, not far from the fat flanks of Mt Hood. Middle of May. I had a grand time amongst the noble firs, imagining cougars eating my face off. Didn't see a soul. I've since painted those NASTY wheels.
Here we have the First Annual (!) IAC Lookout Springs Camp Trip and Menagerie, Memorial Day. Rain, camping in the clouds, mandolins and live ammunition scattered about. Jasan was there, in his truck.
A quick trip down the Clackamas in early June to Big Cliff, a place I love to explore. I'm fixin a SECRET TRAIL up on that cliff. SHHHHHH
Lots (LOTS) of poison oak.
Then, the 2nd Annual Deschutes River Rendevousvw (I never got that right). Deschutestrout puts on a HELL of a show. June. Don't miss it unless you're dead or really stink somethin awful.
After the Rendevsvousvw, a campy splinter group hit one of my SECRET SPOTS on the White River. Sunshine, I remember the days...Still June. Canned tuna, mercury laden deliciousness. Big ponderosa pines, dry crisp air smells like woodspice. Jasan's bus! It lived!
Finally July, a wholesome family trip (in the anger inducing rain) to Middle Santiam Wilderness at about 4000' and interesting tree species, wildflower meadows, ancient forests, clearcuts...Eva found and kissed many lucky frogs.
Hambone Springs! My favorite place close to Portland, aside from the name. 1st Annual IAC Cranky Hambone trip. I was cranky and I still don't know why. Sorry. Sue me. July. Dig the new silver Gyspiewagen and that buffet Set For a King.
3-Sisters Wilderness, the end of a 5 day backpack trip with my big kid. It was hot dusty windy glorious high altitude exhausting good ol fashioned fun. Then I had to drive home 4 hours. End of July.
Rhododendron Creek, not too far from Big Bottom. Nobody took a pic of the BUS??!! Well we have our memories. I like it there, I helped rescue an abandoned trail from oblivion. Middle of August in the big trees and moss, a very special wild place surrounded by a lot of logging.
Beginning of September, the First Annual IAC Trip Where Nobody But Me an Hal Showed Up But I'm Not Bitter. A great old abandoned campground called Twin Springs, not far from Hambone Springs. Fir pollen thick in the air, long hot shadows of early Autumn. Vine maple red.
Mid September, Cache Meadow up in the Clackamas Foothills, bushes fat with huckleberries. Starting to get cold again, our last family trip of the season. Too bad, so it goes. Another splendid unspoiled gem with lakes, meadows, creeks. An easy place to get lost.
Elk Lake Creek with the whole creaky NW IAC goonies. Well a few of em' anyway. Sharpening chainsaws, dogs pooping cherry tomatoes, too much whiskey, homemade Jumbalaya in a dutch oven, fall falling fast. One of those weekends you'd wish would last forever. The road to this place is now washed out. End of October.
A jolly jaunt to misty Fish Creek Mountain. (with the barkers and the colored balloons ah fergit it) 12 seconds before winter hit in the higher elevations, mid November and frost itchin at the door. Remember?
On Mt Hood's doorstep, big shaggy firs, lurking Sasquaches.
FINALLY (you're still reading this?) The First Annual (a trend) IAC Snow Camp near Breitenbush Hot Springs in the snowy (appropriately) central Oregon Cascades. Mark popped outa the darkness to help stranded motorists with tirechains, dog with coat. Dutch oven nachos. Tuff buses that Take No Guff. December.
Ok that's it. What a magic year for all. Let's all git off our campy-asses this year and REALLY do it right.
