Gifford-Pinchot National Forest

I entered this forest yesterday, just after coming down from White Pass.  It goes all the way down to the Columbia (where I am now), so I just got out this evening.  I really haven't had real cell service since Yakima, which explains the lack of blog updates. 

It was just about a perfect route.  Three climbs (two big ones) and two big descents - like, cruising around corners at 30 mph for 6 miles.  After White Pass I was apparently back on the west, wetter, cooler side, and it showed - thick forest, moss, ferns, everything!  It was chilly too - I was in long sleeves and a fleece this morning.

Funny story.  My map warned me that it was 71 miles with limited services through the forest.  As I headed in, I did a quick supply check - I just did a big grocery run, and I have my water - but I looked down and saw and empty water bottle cage.  I had left it behind somewhere!  Oh no!  Objectively, I should still be fine.  I had three bottles (a spare on the rack), which was as much as I carried across Nevada.  And I wasn't going to DIE - there were rivers and lakes ahead, I'd drink from them in an emergency.  And the campground would probably have water.  And there was some traffic, I'd stop someone if I ran out.

But even still, I found myself getting all anxious as I continued.  I was making contingency plans - OK, if the campground has no water, and no people, and it's hot tomorrow, I'll head back to town and buy more bottles.  I tried to exhale through my nose instead of my mouth.  So silly, not sure why I got so worked up.  Anyway, I got to the campground, which was full of hundreds of people.  There were water fountains.  And the campground host gave me two bottles of water.  And there were a couple places to fill up the next day.  And it was cool the next day and I didn't even drink more than the three bottles I originally had.  Well, better safe than sorry I guess!