Aubrey's camera broke and she couldn't take any pictures, so this is my incredibly artistic representation of her trip. It may surprise you that I am completely self-taught.
After a couple of weeks of physical training, Aubrey set out on her next big step towards being prepared for our trip to Hells Canyon: she went on her first short backpacking trip. I recommend that people do this early on so that they can begin to feel comfortable in the woods. Aubrey borrowed some gear and went to the woods with her dog, Sunshin. She hiked Eagle Creek, which is a moderate trail in the Columbia River Gorge with a lot of beautiful waterfalls. Because the trail wasn’t too remote and there were other people backpacking there (in case she got in trouble), it was the perfect place for her first trip.
To prepare, Aubrey attended the “Backpacking Bootcamp” class that I teach for members of the Portland Women’s Outdoor Club. Here’s an overview of the material:
Head and shoulders, knees and toes- clothing choices
What you need and what you don’t – packing lists and gear descriptions
Eat like a hobbit- planning food for trips and cooking
Water purification options- I don’t have a clever title for that one
Fighting off the bear-shark- hygiene on the trail and going to the bathroom
You can’t take it with you- Leave no trace guidelines.
I then demonstrate how to pack and open it up for Q and A time. It’s a pretty fun night.
Aubrey cooked her own dinner on the trail using a small canister stove, and purified her water with AquaMira. She told me she felt comfortable and confident in the woods. Late that evening, her boyfriend surprised her by meeting her at her campsite. All in all, it was a successful trip and a good step towards being prepared for a longer distance trip. Go team!
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My friend Nate just suggested stage three: “Next she will crawl under 500 meters of concertina wire, filled with rotting pig flesh with tiny charges of TNT exploding around her while Nate and Adelaide fire rifles over her head and scream into a bullhorn. After this, we will go to REI and try on boots together.” Not a bad idea.
