Backpacking the Deschutes

In referring to the narrator's brother and artist:

"He has seized Nature in his arms like a voluptuous mistress and is now pressing kiss after kiss upon her lips until both of them - Kaspar and Nature - are out of breath. It almost seems to me as if Nature were powerless and impotent before true artists and overcome with devotion just like the sort of mistress who denies you nothing."

from The Tanners by Robert Walser Two weeks of intermittent rain did not make for a good start to summer. People were getting cranky and irritable. It was time to get out town fast.

An early start Sunday morning heading due east from Portland an hour and a half led three friends and myself to the Deschutes River TH by 12:30. First trek of the season. The hike description on PortlandHikers can be found here. The hike was long but flat. The first half we followed a hiker only path along the river before scrambling up rocks to the main biker-friendly road. It sure did make me wish I had a mountain bike. The views were outstanding. Oregon's sudden and striking change of scenery west to east never fails to amaze me. Bare, golden rolling hills followed us across the river, towering over a railroad still in use. Claire counted 86 cars for one Burlington Northern Santa Fe cargo. On our side of the river were tall grasses down below and jagged rock faces to our left. At several points along the way were old wooden boxcars, and the remains of some wooden rails could been seen peaking up through the gravel under our feet. Before settling down at our campsite for the night we hike a mile and a half further to come to an old abandoned homestead. Yet, new corn was planted all over the sandy property. Sounds like a mystery for the Boxcar Children. (dun dun dun)
Our short rest here found me with what I can only guess is an ant bite on my bum. Shucks. We came across many snakes, and one particularly large and hissing rattler who did not want to let us get by. Though tics are reportedly heavy in the area our checks at the end of the day did not evidence as much. After a good 5 hours and 13 miles of hiking we set up camp near a large multi-family party of rafters with teenage girls and box wine. At our camp it was pasta for dinner, tea for dessert. As soon as the tea was sipped the rain started. We scrambled into our two matching tents and hit the hay. It rained nonstop until 8 the next morning, exactly when we were ready to get out and going. Sometimes everything could not work out any better and the air is heavy with magic. A quarter to ten and we were back on the road again. It was slightly less pleasant with all my fresh blisters (I must get new shoes). But 10 miles and 4 hours later we made it back to the car just long enough to throw down our packs and jump in the river. Now it's really summertime! On our drive back we stopped over in Hood River at the Full Sail Brewery. We each ordered a half pound burger and all made the Clean Plate Club. That is a lot of meat. We looked around to see if anybody noticed how impressive us four girls were but all the other patrons were too absorbed in Nascar crash reels replaying on ESPN to take notice of us.
I barely made the drive back awake amidst a food coma. Now it's time to reset up my tent in the backyard where I've been camping out the past week or so. Isaac's been doing the same and the site of our tents side by side is adorable.
Much love to you all,
Happy summer,
Maya

Midday stretching, in a boxcar.
Backyard Camping.