Camping this summer 7-28-2025

This summer me and my partner went camping in my early 2000's Subaru Outback. I was so anxious about the trip going well that I made a list of *everything* I needed to bring. We had a cargo bubble on the roof, loaded with tools, gas and the cooler. In the back we had a 6 inch "full size" memory foam pad and our clothes.

We drove out of town for about 1.5 hours and then up a steep, unmaintained forest road that was full of switchbacks. My wheels spun going up several times and I even scraped in places. My car was just capable enough to complete the 4k foot/14 mile climb to the top.

We stopped a few times to oggle the views and take fursuit photos. It was genuinely the happiest that I had been in a very long time, and it got better.

We rounded one final switch back and saw our location for the night. A firewatch tower sitting atop the peak, with views of Mt.Rainer, Mt.Hood, Mt.Adams and Mt.Rainier. Genuinely breathtaking views and one of the best experiences of my life. The air was cool and fresh and the sun was warming.

We set up camp inside the firewatch tower, made chili-mac on my old coleman stove and strung lights up inside the tower. My partner and I fell asleep cozy and warm together, only to awake at 6am as the sun filled the room.

I let my partner drive back down the mountain after we packed up. Neither of us thought to keep the car in 2nd on the way down and as a result of that, she overheated the brakes until all 4 were smoking. After a brief stop for lunch and to see my family, we went home.