Trip report!
Short and Sweet!
Got to the trailhead in pretty quick time, parked the truck, pulled the coil and stashed it (cheap antitheft). Walked into the woods, noticing the temps dropping quickly from 20 deg Celsius to about 14 deg Celsius. Went form dry and warm to moist, damp and cool. Perfect weather, temps.
I did'nt go far, about 2 klicks down the trail then beelined off the trail to the river. Walked silently along the river rocks, avoiding the weekend crowds, their garish loud logo MEC/LULULEMON/ADIDAS/NIKE/ETC ETC etc etc etc emblazoned "look at me! look at me!" clothing an all out assault on my eyes. Their chattering and whooping and urban slang an all out assault on my ears. (but thats a LONG rant for another day).
Trotted up the river, deftly going from dry rock to dry rock, the river burbling and babbling beneath as i made good time to a bend in the river. Honestly did'nt feel like going far, felt more like sitting and puttering around.
Found a nice log to sit on, and started making an Indian fire (tiny, about 5" across). Used my Mora to make a pile of shavings from a birch branch, about an ice cream bucket full. Pulled apart one of my wax+PJ cotton balls and one strike of the firesteel it was aflame. The birch shavings quickly caught the flame and burned hot, almost smoke free. This is what i wanted, no smoke, and barely any fire odor. I did'nt need the freaking ignorant sheeple thinking it was a wildfire (honey, is that smoke> i think its a forest fire!) and calling the FD. I toasted my cheddar cheese buns, and enjoyed them with aged cheddar slices, olives and sardines with chili's. desert was some dark swiss chocolate. Washed them down icy cold water from my Camelback Storm.
I waited until the fire was nothing but white ash, then doused it and scattered the ashes and rocks into the river. No trace i was there, save a lingering odor of olive oil and sardines on the log. where i spilled a few drops. Mr Ant was busy checking it out. Packed up and headed out to another location.
Got to the next location and set up my mylar rescue tarp (basically a reflective sheet with a blue tarp fused to it). I set it up so the shiny side was reflecting the sun away from me, then i sat underneath it , nice and cool and shaded. The Spectra/dacron blend thread is bomber tough. Found a flat rock,put my fleece on it, and my pack behind me. Threw some pebbles into the river. Fell asleep for a awhile, the murmur of the water lulling me to sleep, a light breeze on my face. Birds chirped and chipmunks chittered and chattered. Occasionally i would wake up, to the whistles and warbles of little chickadees as they sat on my knee, waiting for food. Asleep again.
Woke up about half an hour later, fully relaxed. A regular hiker was setting up his towel and sitting down to enjoy the sun. He is maybe mid 50's, and deaf/mute. I have conversed with him before, although not with voice. We both used hand motions to "talk". He enters the river and takes great delight in splashing about, soaking the big boulders and throwing water over himself, grunting and making vocal noises. So happy, like a kid.
I fall asleep again, waking up about an hour later. Make another cheese sandwich and eat it. I then try something new shelter wise. I take a willow branch, lash my tarp grommets to it and bend the branch into a upside "U" shape. I stake the back of the tarp flat and crawl in. Its a very comfy shelter, open, yet small and it heats up easily when i try a candle inside it. Too hot actually. Put the candle out and wander around the immediate area. Find a perfect limb for a walking stick, break out the CsabaCanada/RangerKnives modified Becker BK7 and with a few swift chops the limb is down. Shave off the bark and then use my Emerson Bushman to carve facets all over it. Its stout and beefy.
The afternoon wanes on, its time to head out (cant miss Family Guy!). I load up the gear, and head back onto the trail. On the way back i find a tree thats oozing pitch, but i forgot my pitch tin so i'll have to grab some next time. Another half hour an i'm back at the truck.
backinto traffic, noise, chaos, methheads everywhere, idiot drivers, NOISE........
blarg. At least i was able to escape the crap for a few hours.
sorry, still dont have a camera, i would have loved to get some pics of my little fire and of the tarp setups i did..
