Memories of a Fall Adventure

The Other Matt hiking on a rainy day.

Fall camping is wonderful!

Sure the weather can be a little less predictable, but here in California we have quite a lovely autumn! 

I have a fall camping memory from my time in the Pacific Northwest that has stuck with me for years and reminds me of some of the best aspects of slowing down to enjoy.

My ex-wife and I set out in lovely Oregon autumn weather for a weekend backpacking trip in the Cascade Range. Our hike-in was comfortable and accompanied by beautiful views. Small passing clouds made the scenery even more poetic. This late in the year means little to no issue with bugs and great temperatures for hiking.

We set up camp near one of the Twin Lakes and eased into our weekend with a quick dip in the lake before settling in to prepare dinner. Dinner with a lakefront view was terrific! And besides, we had the place to ourselves. Another benefit to being out a little bit later in the season.

Fog in the trees on a rainy day in the forest

We woke in the middle of the night to a rainstorm. We spent some time in the middle of the night reconfiguring and trying not to get too wet in the process. It’s not much fun trying to reset your campsite in the dark - in the rain - half asleep. Luckily, we didn’t have any pressing anything the next day. In the morning, we made a small fire near the tent and configured a small tarp off the front door as a sort of porch. We needed the fire to help dry some of our gear and the ambiance a fire provides is always a nice addition.

The first half of the day passed with little activity. We tended the fire, read a little, napped a little and generally enjoyed the lack of “getting anything done”. The rain continued, on and off. Our plan for the day was a side hike to the other Twin Lake. Not to be deterred by rain, we got our foul weather gear on and continued with our plan.

It was a great hike! We wandered past the lake and through the woods on a trail that was little used and quite rugged. We saw more of the beautiful forest in this somewhat unexplored part of the Cascades and were glad to have had the time to get out there and see it. But in reality, as beautiful as it was, we were wet, we were getting cold, and we only had so much energy for this kind of adventure. So we made our way back to camp.

We restarted the fire and found clever ways to get some of our gear dried out. Or at least drier than it was. And the rain continued, on and off. We tended the fire, read a little, napped a little and continued not “getting anything done.” Dinner came and went the same way and we made a little progress with wet gear. But by then, everything was a little wet in the forest. Bedtime comes early in the wilderness and we slept well enough considering the damp.

The next day started much like the day before had ended. We would be hiking out later, but it was early and there was little to “get done,” so we just hung out while the rain continued, on and off.

The hike out was wet. Rain or no, the forest was now well watered and we were too. All our wet gear was thrown in the back of the truck and we tried to dry out and warm up in the cab on the drive home.

This trip wasn’t all ethereal wonder and tranquility. It was real and it was challenging and it was wet. It is, though, in the past and has earned itself some reprieve from harsh judgment. And it offered up some great lessons.

Primarily that the shoulder seasons have lots to offer. They’re often less crowded and depending on where you are, they may be less buggy. In this instance we learned to truly enjoy a small fire and to tend it well - which takes time and attention. We learned that getting out into the wilds doesn’t have to include getting to all of the places on the list or getting all of the trails hiked. Getting out into the wild can be about being right there where you end up. And a cozy camp can be exactly what keeps you there for a while.

So get out there any time of year and enjoy it!