In picture number one you see a young male trying to hang onto the last remnants of his former more natural self (and doing a pretty fine job of it.)  In picture number two you see this same male on the right having fully given in to the more civilized life.  Both these photos are of camping/hiking trips that my dad took with his cousin.  The trips were separated by about 30 years.

Backpacking in the William O. Douglas Wilderness

8/11-8/14/08 – The original plan was for my Dad and his dog Buckwheat to join in the trip as well. Unfortunately there was some extremely bad luck (or good luck depending on how you look at it) and my dad developed appendicitis the morning were supposed to head out. He made it through without complications, and we were lucky it didn’t come a day later in the middle of nowhere. I decided to head out a day late and basically followed our original route which is outlined with thumbnail images below. Click on any of the images to get to the full album containing a total of about 80 photos organized chronilogically.

8/11/08 – Dad parts with one of his most beloved and useful organs, the appendix. How could anyone not love and organ that does nothing but cause pain and keep doctors in business.

8/12/08 – It is now the day after the appendicitis. Dad is out of surgery and recovering. I decide to get the doggies and go for a 3 day version the trip we had planned. I basically do the same route we had planned on. It is on the eastern side of Ranier in the Wenatche National Forest in a portion called the William O. Douglas Wilderness. I start at Dog Lake and hike to Frying Pan Lake approximately 13 miles in. The first photo is my view from the campsite, not really, but it was just outside the stand of trees I was in. The weather was bad and I opted for cover rather than pretty views.

This second photo is in camp with my two canine companions. We encounter hordes of mosquitos that are relentless in their pursuit of a meal.

8/13/08 – 9:30am I Depart Frying Pan Lake and head for Two Lake, the long way. I get lost in some poorly marked meadow trails near Cougar Lake and lost two hours, but eventually made it out and still got into camp with an hour of solid daylight left. The first photo is of Bumping River, I had to ford it. It was knee deep and not nearly as serene as it appears frozen in time.

As you can see, I set up camp virtually the same as the night before, but I can’t even get the doggies to sit and pose. They are so tired the only position they will accept is with their heads resting in my lap.

8/14/08 – Leave Two Lake for Dog Lake and head back to Steilacoom. This day had was largely along the Pacific Crest Trail and of course had spectacular views of Ranier, Adams, and St. Helens. Photo number one is proof of the horendous mosquitos the morning that I leave Two Lake. All those little bright flecks are horrible biting insects. Me and the dogs have bites to prove this was some of the thickest skeeter country I have ever been in.

Cinder and Nadia take a short break and play king of the moutain.

At one point on the trail, in one field of view I could see Adams, St Helens, and Ranier. Unfortunately I didn’t have the proper lens to catch it so you will have to settle for two amazing views.

I enter the national park and encounter a sign that says no pets. I figure Cinder and Nadia are closer to stock since they have packs on and keep going.

I keep telling Nadia this is hiking not hunting. I guess she didn’t understand and just had to fetch some sticks.

We finally finish and pose for one last photo op in front of Dog Lake and Spiral Butte.

To leave you with the view I spent the most time looking at…Cinder’s butt. I do have to admit she did most the pathfinding and pacesetting. She had no mercy on me and Nadia. She was out to prove she was number one and set a grueling pace for 3 days.

8/15/08 – Here’s Dad, 2 days post-op. Feeling better, but no where near 100%. Buckwheat makes a cameo as well.

6/15/08 – The three of use go to the Skykomish and Andrew introduces us to fly fishing in a raging torrent at the height of the spring thaw.