29 - North Fork of the Big Wood River

7/14/12 - Solo adventure with the pup.

Wildflower awesomeness.  Also, there is this straight walled rock canyon that the river pours through.  It's beautiful.  Towards the beginning of the trail a section is washed out and you have to go down to the river and pick your way down the side, but it isn't too bad.  I am seeking adventure, after all...

 

The trail continues past wherever the book thinks it ends.  It was supposed to be an 8 mile hike, but I was out 5 miles when i was finally convinced that the trail was "fading away into the boulders."  This decision likely came from the fact that this was when it started pouring down rain then the trail actually ending.  It was a very wet five miles.

Now, I bet you think this is going to be a long complaint about having to hike in the rain.  However, since I am about to move back to western Washington, I thought I would make a list of 10 reasons hiking in the rain is awesome.  Ready?  Let's go...

1. I finally got to use my WSU emergency poncho!
2. The pine and horsemint smell amazing in the rain.
3. The world seems quieter.
4. Thunder is awesome.
5. I found out that my new hiking pants really are quick-dry. Go Mountain Hardware!
6. Humidity is good for both skin and hair.
7. When I got back to the trail head, my car was cleaner. Multitasking at its finest!
8. No trail dust.
9. Excellent opportunity to sing "singing in the rain."
10. "God is in the rain."

That being said, there are a few things I've learned about hiking in the rain.  I'm not complaining, I'm "learning."

1. My emergency poncho has short sleeves.
2. Oso is still afraid of thunder.
3. My new hiking boots are super waterproof on the bottom 3/4. Excellent for stream crossings. There is a two inch strip of breathable material on the top, however.  Turns out, rain will fill these boots like tiny, foot-shaped buckets.
4. Unlike my awesome pants, my cotton sweatshirt has fewer moisture whisking properties.  This would have been less of an issue if my poncho had sleeves, or if I could have kept my arms inside it instead of trying to hold on my to psychotic dog who's terrified of thunder.

Ok, I learned two imporant things on this adventure. One - the benifits of rain totally outweigh the downers.  Two - I need better wet weather hiking equiptment.

Oh wait, three!  I found my first morels!

And a happy ending for all. :)