Since we're planning on going on a longer backpacking trip in August, we figured it's a good idea to see how sleeping in the tent with Pepper is working out before we're stranded somewhere in the wilderness and realize that it is not working at all. We picked Wahtum Lake and the Tomlike Mountain hike, south of Hood River. The backpacks were packed, the drive to Hood River was unspectacular, and doggie was excited about what would happen. Guess neither he nor we expect this:
We were on the road up to Wahtum Lake when we turned around a corner and saw some snow next to the road. Odd, still snow here. But hey, it wasn't much. That won't stop us! Turned the next corner - more snow. Now covering the whole left lane. Ooookay. We can still make it! Turned the next corner - snow has swallowed the road. Ooookay.... we can't do that... And we were just about a mile or so away from the lake. So, we turned around. Bleh.
Jan was checking the map and found another campground not too far away. We were determined to make it work. Improvisation is our friend, right? So we turned onto the small road leading up to that campground. It was a rough road (my poor Fit!), but ok. At some point I noticed some trees that had fallen over next to the road. I said to Jan "You know, wouldn't it be fun if there were trees blocking this road just a few miles before the campground?" And guess what - we turned the next corner and... trees were blocking the road! I jinxed it!
So, we turned around yet again. By now it was about 1 pm, too late to start a real long 10 mile hike anyways. So we ended up driving to yet another campground and just walking around for a while. Pepper was all nose. Finally some fun after 5 hours in the car!
In the end we decided to pitch the tent in our backyard and sleep there for the night. Pepper settled in right next to us (not on his mat, mind you, but right between our two sleeping bags - guess that means I won't have to carry his mat in August!). And while we didn't sleep outside the whole night (actually just an hour or so), I think we can safely say Pepper won't be a problem in the tent. Now the only question is - can WE make it, too, or are we too old for this ;) ?
