Pacific NW

Expeditions

This morning I turned on the radio early, listened to the forecast, and went straight back to bed for another few hours. It was a grim one. Seas are running 20-30 feet high in the Gulf with no sign of letting up for a week. A high wind warning was issued as a Southeasterly rose to 55 knots. A series of lows are aimed at the northern panhandle. It looks like we will be hammered with storms and rain all week! Inside the inlet it was still calm, but I went out to tell the harbormaster we’d be here for a while. One of the Powder guys was strolling down the dock with backpack on. “Going for a hike today?” I asked. “Yeah, we’re gonna start climbing”. He perked up a bit when I told him the forecast and wished him the best of luck. An hour later it began sleeting and the winds and clouds shrieked down the mountains. They decided to stay, thank god. They approached me later. “So do you have one of those VHS things?” “Yes” I replied to his question about the VCR. Apparently their corporate sponsors must be pushing a timeline, for they were anxious to leave. I am grateful to be free of the burdens of corporate sponsorship. The money would be nice, but expectations and timelines of their world do not apply to reality here. Many a time have a sponsor’s expectations pushed an expedition to its death. Today Silent Partner sits patiently at the dock as the storm shrieks through the rigging. We are extremely grateful to be safe in a harbor.