28 August 2011

We went almost-backpacking this weekend. Our intention was to hike up a trail in the Red Buttes Wilderness area of Northern California and spend the night. After driving over the same 6-7 miles of dirt road looking for the trailhead for over an hour, and with fading daylight, we decided to pull into one of several primitive campsites along the Applegate River and pitch our tents. The river was truly beautiful. The eroded gneiss riverbank was a comfortable spot for breakfast.

After breakfast, we went hiking through an old growth forest. The Red Buttes Wilderness area is known for its diversity of flora-- we recognized pines, cedars, madrone, azaleas and plenty of poison oak-- and we aren't even botanists.

 

Forest rangers had removed a section from a tree that had fallen across the trail. Brandan counted the tree rings and got past 150 before the tree rings mixed in with the bark. Helen was feeling chilly so she hiked in her pajamas. 

Gibson enjoyed playing with a handheld radio on the hike. He can be a reluctant hiker, but the radio was a perfect diversion. 

This photo illustrates why you should always pack a swimsuit when you leave home. We spent most of Saturday afternoon playing in a gorgeous pool on the Applegate River. The river is fed from snow melting off the Red Buttes and the icy water was perfect on a hot afternoon. At dusk, we watched humming-bird sized bats skim along this same pool, looking for bugs. This is a pretty magical place we can't wait to return to.