Back together, for now

Emily and Esther spent what sounded like a great week at EFY in Forest Grove. Then went directly (via Bend) to Steens mountain running camp for the next week. I think that was good, but I would like to think you could do most of the same running without leaving the area here, so we may come up with a home running camp program next year.

That same week Zachary and I spent a great week in the Trinity Alps wilderness area (the same wilderness area where a helicopter crashed killing 9 fire-fighters 2 days ago). The hike in was made more eventful by one of us missing a turn. Some of the group realized he was no longer on the trail, and got word to me where I was bringing up the rear. I dropped most of my pack and went over a mile back and down a different trail. I was confused by seeing the same footprints going each direction. Zach had waited, back-tracked, turned around, and was heading out again towards a place called Bear Basin. He said a prayer and a minute or two later I caught up with him.

2 days later we all did a 20 mile hike one day, and the next day only the 1 youngest and 3 oldest members of the group were willing to leave camp to hike. I got in a great 11 mile adventure run on remote trails complete with route finding difficulties requiring map, compass, altimiter, and GPS use. I never got lost for very long, and didn't see another human the whole time.

We got home just an hour before the girls, unpacked, and washed the cars. I had a weeks worth of lab results and paperwork at work that I finally caught up on yesterday.