Category: adventures

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Papoose Cave – June 9-11, 2018


At the beginning of June we went on a multi-grotto caving trip to Papoose in Idaho.  There were 19 cavers from 6 different grottos in attendance!  (Cascade Grotto, Gem State Grotto, Northern Rocky Mountain Grotto, Oregon Grotto, Silver Sage Grotto, and Detroit Urban Grotto)


A couple days before we left for Idaho I came down with a cold.  I was feeling a lot better, but not 100%, so I elected to not go caving on Saturday.  Riley and I stayed at camp with Larry and Rob.  During the day while everyone else was in the cave we had all the weather – rain, sunshine, hail, and snow.  We added to the kitchen tarpology to provide a covered place near the fire.


Such a conundrum – would I really rather be drinking a Great Burn beer when I have Fort George 3-Way?  Hmm.


After everyone left on Monday, we went on a de-rigging mission.  Riley wanted to come too!


This is the most water anyone has seen at the entrance of this cave.  Last time we were here, the entrance was completely dry.


Waiting while Daryl de-rigged the second drop.

After getting back to camp, we changed clothes and then started our way home (we broke down camp completely before heading into the cave – slowly we’re figuring out how to be more efficient!).  We stopped for lunch and a beer at the Rants & Raves taphouse in Riggins, then hit the road.


Riley is very rarely completely exhausted after a trip, so it’s easy to see when it’s been a great trip for him!  Everyone at camp loved him and he got almost everyone to throw a stick for him at least once.  There were so many smells and trees to pee on!  Plus, he got to sleep in the tent with us, which means puppy cuddles all night long!

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North Cascades Ski – May 20, 2018


A week after our recon trip to the North Cascades, we went back and got some real skiing in.

We drove up on Saturday and hiked our backpacks and gear into the woods to set up camp.  We just got a brand new tent (a Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2) and this was it’s inaugural trip out.  While hanging out in camp we heard an avalanche!


We got up on Sunday, secured camp, took our food to the car, and then started up hill.  This was our first real backcountry trip in our new gear and it felt really good to be out using it.

While skinning through the woods we heard two more avalanches!  We stay away from avalanche terrain whenever we’re in the mountains, but it was a good reminder to be aware of your surroundings.


After traversing across some pretty steep slopes for a bit, my knee had had it.  We skinned up to a rock I could hang out on, then Daryl and Riley headed up hill a bit longer.


I took a mid-mountain nap and woke up feeling great.  I love being in the mountains so much.  The North Cascades is such wild nature.  Mountains are so beautiful, so scary, so wild.  I never mind when Daryl wants to ski a longer line than me, because I get to just sit in be.


Always flashing mountains.


I love skiing with my puppy!

There were a couple sketchy spots on our way down, navigating around the creek, but once we got to the skiable snow, it was all fun and games!


After two weeks of having loaner cars while mine was at the dealership, it is very wonderful to have Betsey back!

 

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North Cascades Recon – May 12-13, 2018


This weekend we visited a new National Park – North Cascades National Park.  I love collecting new sign photos.  This is our first with Riley!


Our Crosstrek was at the dealership for two weeks and I got some fancy loaner cars. First I had a 2017 Impreza Sport hatchback, then I had a 2018 Impreza Sport sedan. Then I called and told them if my car wasn’t ready by Friday I was going to need a higher clearance vehicle so we could go camping. With zero hesitation they handed me the keys to a 2018 Crosstrek! Thanks, Carter Subaru!


Before we left I prepped all the ingrediants for a HelloFresh meal. Hello Fresh? More like Hello Camping Bibimbap!


Camping with Riley is great because he can cuddle in bed with us!


Left over bibimbap with a fried egg for breakfast.  YUM!


They opened the North Cascades Highway on Friday and on Saturday we drove to Washington Pass and camped just behind the road closed sign.  There were three other parties camped here, as well as a couple of photographers who walked down to the observation point to camp.  We just upgraded our backpacking tent to a Big Agnes Copper Spur and this was our first trip out.  It’s the perfect size for the three of us!  And only 3lbs!


I really love that my favorite summer time activity is skiing.


After touring around in the woods we meandered our way through the park on the way home.  Colonial Peak and Pyramid Peak in the background above Diablo Lake.