My Dog is Chelsea

Took two days off in the middle of a short work week (tactical error: should’ve taken the whole thing off) to go backpacking in Goat Rocks Wilderness (in the Wenatchee National Forest) with a couple of friends. It was perfect: a leisurely 7-mile hike with excellent company to a beautiful basin, where we pitched our tents, built a campfire and drank a bottle of wine over dinner (although, carrying a 40-plus-pound pack did detract a bit from the “leisurely” aspect). Twice we forged a river (as Karina likes to describe it) and once we saw the towering, snow-draped silhouette of Mt. Rainier.

From the forest service road, we took a trail that connected with the Pacific Crest Trail after 5 miles of incline. From there, we followed the PCT about a mile-and-a-half, and then dropped down into McCall Basin for the night. There, we found beautiful meadows, intersected by rambling creeks and surrounded by glacier-covered mountains. In the morning, we played cards and ate oatmeal in the sun before heading back the way we came.

We saw only 8 people, 4 horses and 3 dogs the whole time. Calla was none-too-thrilled about the horses. I mean, can you imagine? Having no preconceived notion of the equine species, and then to encounter a gargantuan quadruped, 15 times your size, lumbering towards you in the woods? I would tremble in my pawsteps and bark my head off, too.

Most exciting thing: it was Calla’s first backpacking trip, and she proudly carried her own food and water. It was almost too cute to watch her trotting down the trail, her head high, her pack swaying to and fro. Here are some pictures, taken by my trusty cell phone. Megan brought a real camera, so at some point I’ll be able to post high-quality photos. Until then:

Calla looking ridiculously cute:

A view during a water break:

And more of the view, slightly further to the right:

Me and the doggy at the campsite:

View of McCall Basin from our campsite:

Calla, at 6:30 in the morning, trying to get a belly rub in the tent:

And the small ones, because my phone sometimes randomly decides to take small pictures:

(meadows in McCall Basin)

(looking up on the trail)

(Calla takes a load off)

(sunlight shining through trees)

(looking out from my tent)

Sigh. Isn’t Washington state is beautiful?