Before she heads away to become a doctor, Lisa, the dogs and I took a last minute backpacking trip into a lake I discovered last fall. The lake has everything I desire for paradise: isolation, a Sisters view and an old ladies' distance from the van. To get there, you must bushwhack. Other than a piece of litter wich we packed out, we saw no human signs.
The dogs carried the wine, air mattresses, my tevas, towels, food bowls and their food. They were the first into the water - packs and all...
quickly follow by me... (the water gets deep and cold right where I am) 
then by Lisa. Unfortunately the air mattresses did not hold air long enough for a float in paradise.
We hiked much of the lake edge to find a camping spot. The snow pack had just melted away leaving a high waterline and boggy edge. A slightly sloping tent space was at a premium. 
While watching an Osprey fish then feed her young in a nest across the lake, we feasted on gourmet wedding dinner salmon, green beans and pino gris wine - paradise.
Special friends; sunset mountain view; coals perfect for som'ors - paradise. 
Paradise
Knowing that I would be camping on a lake with water loving dogs, I brought along a cheap tent for us. Dumb. Twenty dollar tents don't breathe even without the rainfly. After a short night filled with trying to convince the dogs that their sleeping spots were not on my pad, bag or me, I awoke to a tail thumping shower of condensation. The sun was up (barely) and there were SQUIRRELS out side to be chased.
quickly follow by me... (the water gets deep and cold right where I am) then by Lisa. Unfortunately the air mattresses did not hold air long enough for a float in paradise.We hiked much of the lake edge to find a camping spot. The snow pack had just melted away leaving a high waterline and boggy edge. A slightly sloping tent space was at a premium. While watching an Osprey fish then feed her young in a nest across the lake, we feasted on gourmet wedding dinner salmon, green beans and pino gris wine - paradise.
Special friends; sunset mountain view; coals perfect for som'ors - paradise. ParadiseKnowing that I would be camping on a lake with water loving dogs, I brought along a cheap tent for us. Dumb. Twenty dollar tents don't breathe even without the rainfly. After a short night filled with trying to convince the dogs that their sleeping spots were not on my pad, bag or me, I awoke to a tail thumping shower of condensation. The sun was up (barely) and there were SQUIRRELS out side to be chased. After all the squirrels were treed, the dogs cooled off by "herding" a flock of ducks. 
time for a canine morning nap
After a breakfast of Starbuck's coffee, cream cheese and salmon on bagels and of course som'ors there was time for one last swim before putting on the packs and leaving paradise.
McKenzie 
Cedar
wet Willy
time for a canine morning napAfter a breakfast of Starbuck's coffee, cream cheese and salmon on bagels and of course som'ors there was time for one last swim before putting on the packs and leaving paradise.McKenzie Cedarwet Willy