Off the Beaten Path

Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2

Breakfast Sunday morning came from packets, too—dog food for Orion, a freeze-dried combo of eggs, sausage, peppers, and onions for Hugh.

When they finished, the sun was coming up over the mountain peak. Hugh broke camp and they set out. The sky turned from pink to deep blue as they began climbing the steep, rocky slope. Close to noon, with the sun high above them warming the air, they came upon a large field filled with golden, purple, and red flowers. There was a small lake in the center which immediately drew Orion’s attention.

“Go for it,” Hugh said, laughing when the dog dove in. Deciding to follow suit, Hugh stripped then tested the water with a toe. It was definitely chilly. He eased his way in, then, after his body had acclimated to the temperature, swam for a few minutes. When he got out, he felt clean and reenergized. Toweling off, he started to get dressed, just as Orion left the water. The resulting shower when the dog shook himself dry made Hugh glad he’d only put on his briefs and a T-shirt. He got new ones from the backpack, spreading the damp clothes out to dry in the midday sun while he ate a couple of energy bars. Then they took off, again.

The hike led them over rocky terrain, through more fields, and up steep, tree-covered slopes. At one point, dead ahead of them, they saw three deer—a doe and two fawns, in a tiny glen. The minute he spotted them, Hugh pointed to the ground, meaning Orion should sit. He did, watching with as much fascination as Hugh. The doe sensed their presence, but apparently didn’t see them as a threat, although it was obvious she was on high alert in case she was mistaken as she led the fawns into the trees.

“That made the day ten times better,” Hugh told Orion before they continued on their way.

As it began to get dark, Hugh wondered if they’d find another small field to set up camp for the night. The best he could do was a clearing in the trees barely large enough to put up the tent and make a small fire circle.

“Not as luxurious as last night,” he said to Orion, “but it’ll do.”

Again, their meals came from packets. When they finished, Hugh gathered up the trash and took it, the plastic bags from cleaning up after Orion, tissues, and the camp shovel with him into the trees. Digging a deep hole, he took care of business then buried everything. When we find a place to settle for a while, I’ll make a real, well, not privy, because it won’t be covered by a shed, but the basics for one.

Finding somewhere to make a semi-permanent camp was on the top of his list, now that they were well away from civilization. They had seen nothing during the day’s hike which said other people had been in the area. It didn’t mean there hadn’t been campers or hikers, but if there had been, they hadn’t left anything behind to attest to their passing.

Aside from the deer, Hugh had spotted squirrels and Orion had flushed a pair of rabbits. Good news, if they were going to eat once they had to start hunting.

But first, hopefully tomorrow, we’ll find a safe place to settle, for a while at least.