Last year's car camping thing was a fun change of pace, but we are getting back to our Pacific Northwest roots this year and doing a “Quads That God Gave Us” wilderness backpack trip, albeit with a just a modicum of bushwhacking. The dates are August 3-5. The semi off-trail destination is in a wilderness area north of Highway 2 near Lake Wenatchee, WA. Round trip mileage will be in the neighborhood of 6 to 10 miles. If you would like to join us, contact me via PM for exact location, driving directions, etc.
An interesting twist to this year's event is that it will take place during an open black bear season, which is a first for an organized rondy of this kind. There will be a bear tag in my pocket and I'll be bringing my canyon-crossing bear hammer for this one in the event that Mr. Fuzzy Britches wants to run headlong into a freezer and sausage casings. I know others are planning on doing the same. Besides the comaraderie and bear hunting, there is also some potential for trout fishing and real-world, practical backcountry shooting practice. Might even do a fish stocking if I can get that okayed in time.
As always, these are open to anyone interested in having a little laid back fun in the backcountry. It is an excellent opportunity to get to know some great like-minded people from the Pacific Northwest and a great way to check out a wide assortment of solid, proven backpack hunting gear from a wide variety of product designers and manufacturers.
Patrick Smith of Kifaru will be there as well as Aron Snyder from Rokslide.com!
As I understand it, both will be flying up to Seattle on Thursday, staying over at my home on the Olympic Peninsula that night and then we'll make tracks for the trailhead early Friday morning. No guarantees, but depending upon their arrival time, I might be able to arrange an opportunity for those that can't make it to the Rondy to meet both of them on Thursday evening at a pub in north Seattle.
Hope some of you can make it!
All the best,
Allen
Bushcraft@comcast.net is probably the easiest way to get ahold of me.
