Wilderness First Aid Weekend

This past weekend we headed up to the Ahtanum Forest (outside of Yakima, WA) for a wilderness first aid training class, put on by the Northwest Overland Society. If you're going to do a Wilderness First Aid class, it really only makes sense to do it in the wilderness, does it not?! It was a lot of fun, and absolutely gorgeous. It was at 6,000 feet, so much cooler than it was for everyone down at civilization elevation. I've discovered through all our camping travels that if you're wondering how warmly to pack for camping, finding out what elevation you will be at is pretty much the best way to decide. For example, in our area anyway, if you are camping at a low elevation next to the Columbia you will not need your long underwear or hats, just a sweatshirt for the evenings. However, since I knew we were going to be at 6,000 feet it's pretty much guaranteed that we will need long underwear, warm clothes for nighttime and jackets and hats.

My girls and their faithful companion/guard dog/tattle-tale. (Anytime they do something she doesn't like or think is safe she trots to find me while whining frantically.) Camping breakfast. The best kind of breakfast.

Being a First Aid Patient. Telling Daddy that she fell down and has a stick stabbed through her calf, and a broken elbow. The kids LOVED being first aid patients. :-)

All wrapped up and splinted and ready to transport to the nearest emergency facility.

Weapons safety. Even if you don't own, believe in, or care for weapons you should know how to make them safe. Knowledge is power, and in this case it could also save your life. I won't say anymore about that subject. Tucking my soap box under my chair.

Blue Lake. Although it would be more aptly named Green Puddle. It was beautiful enough but the mosquitoes... OH. MY. GOODNESS!!!!! If we hadn't brought along extra strength Deet, we would have had to leave, not even kidding. Even with the Deet, it is incredible how eaten we all are.

On the way out of camp we went the more difficult way... it was so fun! This is the guys assessing the first hill.

We were third to go up the chosen route... This gives you some perspective on how steep and long the hill was.

Let's go Rovey, Let's go!

There was a huge root at the top, which sort of complicated what would normally be a straightforward rush up the hill.

The other Rover. He felt compelled to try the more difficult way first. :-) And he got his wheels off the ground, if you'll note here, which always makes for more fun. :-) Due to my camera angle you can't tell how tight this was. It was actually just inches of clearance on either side of the vehicle between two trees. I just wasn't going to be on the other side of the car with my camera while he was trying to make that hill. :-) I'm sure I could have jumped out of the way if I'd had to, but I like this camera a lot, and did not feel compelled to jeopardize it for a better picture.

All of us, with Mt. Adams in the background.

We ended up at an AMAZING old fire lookout... with one of the awesomest panoramic views I've ever seen of Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier. It's moment's like this where I feel so blessed to live in the Pacific NW and to have my Lovely Rovey, who gets me to places like this with relative ease. It was absolutely incredible. So, we took a family pic in front of Rainier. Even though my children look like homeless ragamuffins, and we hadn't showered for two days here this might have to be on our Christmas card this year. :-)

Mt. Rainier and the sweet wildflowers that had the good grace to grow on a little mound to make this picture. I couldn't decide if I liked the pic that was focused on the mountain or the pic that was focused on the wildflowers better. As I am usually a very decisive person and indecisiveness drives me insane, I decided to be decisive about my indecision and include both pictures for your perusal and viewing pleasure.

My very own lovely wildflowers. Or hooligans, depending on the day and situation.

We found snow at the highest point we traveled. :-) This was the only stuff we had to drive through though.

Rimrock Lake.

And a panorama of Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier from the lookout. Which gets ridiculously shrunk in this here blogger. Which I will not rant about today, no I will not.

My next post will not be a going losting adventure. I promise. However, I hope you've enjoyed this trip through the lovely Pacific NW wilderness with us.