Two On The Shore

The title is for Tischer and I being back on the shore of Lake Superior and stoked for adventure from our new home in Grand Marais, Minn. We are Two on The Shore.

You can find me at Lutsen Resort as their new Director of Activities & Recreation, a role that I am extremely excited about.

This winter is shaping up to be a busy one between some freelance writing opportunities, an adventure film to work on, and a stream skiing project I've undertaken with another buddy.

Also check out the kayak expedition I completed with a good friend in 2010 (www.superiordream.com).







Thursday, March 12, 2009

Backpacking the lower Deschutes River

Tischer and I met friends Erin and Kirk in Hood River on Sunday night for a big cookie and a pint to start our 3 day backpacking trip.  We tucked into a campsite at Deschutes River State Park, where the Duschutes empties into the Columbia River, late that night for a campfire under clear and chilly skies.  Holy cats, the stars!

For whatever reason, we all slept in really late the next morning, waking only upon hearing a park worker fire up a chain saw.  This delayed start to the day would prove to shift our entire "schedule" back for the rest of the trip, though you would hear more laughs about it from us than complaints.  

After shuttling to our trail head 23 miles south of our final destination where we left my truck, the three of us enjoyed lunch in Erin's car at 4 in the afternoon while snow blew hard around us.  It was cold, but still we set out along the old railroad grade that would lead us along the Lower Deschutes River all the way to its mouth.  

We dropped into and climbed out of 4 different drainage's where train trellises no longer spanned across.  We pulled headlamps out when the the scrambling got dark, and we turned them off when the nearly full moon shed its light on our path.

While dinner cooked at our camp that night, Erin put together a masterful fire for our cold fingers and toes, and we passed the flask to warm the rest.  Tischer and I cuddled in my solo while Kirk and Erin made every attempt to ward off the chill next to me, wearing every piece of clothing they had.  

The next day was cold, windy and gray again.  Who said the high desert was warm and friendly this time of year?!  My bad.  Having covered more than we thought the previous day/night, we made our way along the second half of the rail trail, which is maintained as a bike and stock trail.  Simply a matter of cruising the double wide path along the east side of a fast moving body of water.  Not too challenging.

That night we rambled into an old rail car situated alongside the trail.  I've never slept in a train car before.  


1 comment:

andy westbrock said...

Does this mean you're a hobo now?