Into the woods

So, today, I drove my husband out into the middle of the Cascade Mountains and left him there.

No, this isn't because he's lukewarm about powertools. It's totally his idea! He is spending six days backpacking approximately 65 miles from Stephens Pass to Snoqualmie Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail. That's the trail that runs from Canada to Mexico, the western equivalent to the Appalachian Trail. When you put it that way, 65 miles doesn't sound so far, does it? HA - that's only because you didn't see the big-ass pack he had on his back. I believe today, his first day, was to be 10 miles and 3,000 feet of elevation gain.

My friend Monica and her 8-year-old daughter accompanied us on the two hour drive to the drop-off spot. We all hiked in with him for a mile or so - it had been raining and everything was green and lush and cool - and then we said our goodbyes and hiked back out, leaving him to his adventure.

I am to meet him Saturday at noon at a trailhead near Snoqualmie Pass. It reminds me a little bit of that time we rented a cabin on Kodiak Island in Alaska, and the floatplane pilot dropped us with all our gear on the little pond and said "ok, see you in five days!" A leap of faith.

Anyway, when I got home the dogs were totally like, "Dude! You LOST ENRICO, you big bonehead. Now, think back - where was the last place you remember having him with you?" This just confirms their suspicion that we really ought to take them with us at all times so they can help us avoid these sorts of sloppy mistakes.