May-June, 2023
This day, after some adventures out and about, my friends and I came back to the campground in mid afternoon and settled into our campsites … me into my trailer for some quiet reading (and a nap) … and my friends into their trailer.
But we agreed to meet later in the afternoon on this particular day for a walk around the campground, and for a walk along the portion of Icicle Creek that abuts this campground. So, as planned, later this afternoon I walked the entire 20-second walk from my trailer to my friends’ trailer. 🙂
Here is a photo (below) of their outdoor seating area with table and campfire pit, and our various chairs and firewood and such.
The day was gorgeous so we took off on foot right away to walk through this wonderful campground. We quickly found Icicle Creek. [Click to enlarge photos.]
We were camping here in May/June, in spring, so the water level in the “creek” was full from spring runoff from the mountain snows. Hence the photo below of creek/river water up around tree roots.
I was fascinated by the tree roots in the photo below. The rocks don’t seem to stand a chance … the tree will win every time. “I will either gently move you aside, or unceremoniously shove you into the river, or simply bury you.”
Ah, oops, except when a storm or heavy rain causes a tree to fall into the river.
The two trees below were fascinating. The one on the left might be a Northern Pitch Pine or a Ponderosa Pine though I’m not sure about that since, in western Washington where I live, we have almost no pine trees so I’m not familiar with them. We do have evergreens! We have fir and cedar and juniper and hemlock and spruce and cypress and redwood and others, but not many pine trees. Here at Eightmile Campground, this location is considered to be in eastern Washington where there are a good number of pine trees. The tree on the right appears to be Western Red Cedar. But I sure could be wrong about both of them. Whatever these two trees are, I liked that they have grown together and yet retain their original nature. Lessons for us?
Here’s a video of Icicle Creek taken on our walk.
And then …… ahhh, and then. Back at our campsites. Later that evening, after dinner, after the dishes were done, after other evening chores were completed … my friends built another perfect campfire. We sat and talked … and relaxed … and breathed, and laughed … and chatted about the day and the week and our lives. And Finn the dog snuggled up to me. Well maybe once he did, he’s not really the snuggling kind. But a campfire like this with friends does bring out the best. 🙂
Oh my this looks like heaven. But that’s no creek! That’s a full fledged river! This looks like yet another beautiful campground.
No kidding that’s no creek. Can’t imagine how it got that name. But a beautiful campground it was, and heaven. 🙂
And those campfires are wonderful! How do your friends always build such gorgeous campfires?
I don’t know how they do that, June. I suspect years of camping and fire-building experience. I have no desire to compete! 🙂
My word you find the most beautiful places to go camping! This is gorgeous. I know others have asked how you find such places, and I read all your answers, but you sure do know how to pick ’em! The campfires are super. Thank those friends of yours. 🙂
I will thank them for you, Bill. I thank them too a LOT for the campfires. As far as picking campgrounds, mostly I’m finding that pretty much all Washington State Parks campgrounds are gorgeous, so how can I go wrong? But I also check things out online ahead of time, and sometimes just follow my friends to their favorite campgrounds, that’s always a win!
Friend of mine told me about your blog and I’ve been reading some here and there. I probably won’t go back and read all of them. But I like them. Your photos are great and you show good things about life. Just thought I’d say hi and thanks for all the work this must take. Gorgeous photos.
Walt
Hi Walt, welcome! Read as you wish, comment as you wish. Thank you for the very nice words, very much appreciated. 🙂 I’m glad you’re here. Share your own info and experiences here too, as you wish. We’re all in this life together.
Gorgeous!
🙂
#2 daughter (Virginia) taught us to identify the ponderosa pine by smelling the trunk. It smells like vanilla((yum!) It really does!! So we wandered around Bandolier National Monument in New Mexico and putting our noses to the trees and sniffing the trunks.😃
Try it sometime.
Vanilla?! No kidding? Makes me want to drive back up to Eightmile campground right now, well ok maybe tomorrow, and smell that tree. Thanks Fritzi. Please thank #2 for me. 🙂
Great photos, amazing country. Love your tree and rocks story. And the campfire! I suppose you could learn how to build a campfire from your friends, but why when you have them? 🙂
Exactly! Why should I interrupt the amazing work of my friends as they build the perfect campfire, time after time. That would be rude! 🙂
Just a simple walk around the campground but so impressive and so much fun for me to get to see what it’s like. Guess I better start taking photos of my own camping spots. Family and friends always ask what it’s like but I never take photos of the campsites or campground. Ok, I’ll start doing that. 🙂 Beautiful campfire.
Susan, I’ve found so many friends of mine have never been camping, and many of them haven’t even driven out into the woods that much. Maybe they drive on the main highways, but they often never get off onto side roads, much less onto forest service roads. So yes, take photos, and share them. Your friends and family will be stunned by the beauty around you. 🙂
WOW, that water looks cold, BRRR! You said earlier you put your hand in it, I’m surprised your fingers didn’t freeze right off. 🙂 Oh, wait, but then you had the campfire to warm up to. Love your blog, love the snuggling trees, photos are super. I suspect we’ll never get up your way (southern California) so it’s just spectacular to see things there. Thank you for the work of the blog and for sharing. Can’t remember how we found you. Oh LC? The “other” M thinks so. 🙂
M
M … that water was ICE cold! Holy moly, my fingers hurt. But yes they warmed up quick enough with that campfire.
And yes, LC. The “other” M is right. 🙂 I sure like that you folks are here. My readers are the best.
Extraordinary. Thank you!
You are welcome, Lori. Always. 🙂