First Camp of the Year

For weeks, I kept checking the weather report. Needed my days off to not be full raining. I can handle a below freezing night in the tent - which I got - but I wasn’t looking for that typical Washington camp. I wanted sunny blue skies, a fire pit, and a gorgeous hike. I got all three at Umtanum Creek Campground.

Between Ellensburg and Yakima, the Yakima River flows through a deep canyon. The landscape is nothing like the Western side where I typically live and hike. Dotted along the river is a string of campgrounds of which Umtanum is by far my favorite. Even in April, it filled completely with happy campers. Everyone besides me was in an RV or trailer. They had heat, but I don’t mind a snuggle in a warm sleeping bag. My only complaint was not having a camp blanket. I immediately went home and bought one off Amazon.

It is also the perfect time of the year to enjoy the bloom of desert wildflowers. It’s hard to put into photos how delicate and beautiful they are dotting the landscape. These aren’t the big, bold flowers of grandma’s carefully curated yard. No, they are small flowers in a harsh landscape

… and TRAINS

I cannot put into words how beautiful this area truly is or how happy this little overnight made me. It was a very special time and the perfect way to start my camping season.