Eagle Creek in the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness. June 12-14, 2009, with Shonee and Hyrum



The adventure I took from June 12-14, 2009, had been building up for several months.  It was the first time in a long time I had been on a backpacking trip and I really needed a break after that particular year at school.  I was very excited to head out into the woods of the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness along Eagle Creek with the guys.  I remember when we were out there and I was just so excited even though it was pouring down rain and my shoes and feet were soaking wet.

I didn’t own any of my own gear at this time so I borrowed stuff from the two guys I went with, Shonee and Hyrum.  I even shared a tent with Shonee, which I have done for all the trips I’ve been on with him except when our spouses are there and one other trip when I finally got my own tent.  Actually when I had my own tent I still bunked with him, but I will tell that story later.

We drove away from Salem Friday evening towards some ominous clouds but they would not deter us.  We got to the trail head around dusk and were contemplating whether or not we should head out into the woods or stay close to the car for the night.  Adventure won and we headed out.  Darkness soon enveloped us and if I remember right the rain got worse as the evening progressed.  We hiked a few miles in and I was up ahead of the other two thinking I saw a bear up ahead, while rain was dripping down my neck, when I came to our campsite.  Fortunately no one else was there because there wasn’t much space for even the two tents we had.  To this day I think that is the quickest I have seen tents set up and packs covered for the night.  It was cold, wet, purple, and dark.  And I was loving every moment of it!

The next day we got up and finally saw what was around us.  Green.  We were engulfed in a sea of the most glorious green I have ever seen.  I don’t remember what I ate on this trip (except some fruit snacks), but we did go on a hike the morning of the 13^th deeper into the woods.  We left our gear at our site where we planned to spend our second night.  On our hike we found a better camping spot for the next time we would head into these woods.  It was next to the creek and had more space so we could come out with more people.  Our journey continued on until the trail was so over grown, it wasn’t worth moving on.  The foliage was still all wet from the previous night’s rain.  The wet ferns rubbed against our clothes leaving us rather wet.  Especially my feet because I had mesh hiking shoes that just soaked up every drop. 

 At one spot we referred to as clover mountain, we stopped to take pictures and drink some water.  As we were hiking out, I realized I left my water bottle back at clover mountain.  Shonee was kind enough to run back and get my bottle – I think he felt a little responsible and my feet were turning to prunes.  Hyrum and I continued on back towards camp arriving shortly before Shonee.  He ran to clover mountain and back smashing down many clovers trying to find the bottle, but was unsuccessful. 

 I had recently purchased a flint and steel and wanted to tryout my fire making skills.  Using dryer lint as a tinder bundle (thanks Bear Grylls) I got a small fire going.  Not far from camp we found a fallen, rotting tree where the under wood was dry and good for burning.  We got a fire going, got my shoes drying and I needed some refreshing.  I pulled out my water bottle and offered Shonee a drink.  That’s right.  My water bottle was not back at clover mountain but in the daypack.  I found it on the way back to camp with Hyrum when we stopped for a picture of a tree fallen between several other trees on alternating sides of the fallen tree.  Hyrum had the idea to offer Shonee a drink after we’d been back at camp for a while.  I think it worked out.  Sorry Shonee. 

We hung out for the remainder of the overcast day around camp adding wood to the fire to dry our shoes and whittling on sticks.  Flag Day was another overcast day.  After a nice fire to get us started for the day (which I think Hyrum or Shonee started with the flint and steel), we hiked up and out rather quickly.  A gentleman at the trailhead mentioned having seen bears often on this trail.  I wonder if it was actually tree stumps he was seeing.