Northwest Reflections: Getting Outdoors in the Rain

As I write this, we're having another early mini-heat wave here in western Washington. Yet here I am celebrating a quintessential Pacific Northwest experience: being outside hiking, walking, running, kayaking, bicycling, or ______ (fill in the blank) in the rain.

I've camped many nights during torrential downpours, more than once when parts of my sleeping bag got soaked. Was I miserable? Yea, a little.  Would I do it again? Heck yes!

On a week-long backpack trip on the Pacific Crest Trail in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, we got stuck for two days at camp in a heavy rain. During a kayak camping trip off Vancouver Island last year, the proverbial tarp was strung over our tents for extra protection from the persistent rain. (Northwest campers have even been caricatured in this Blue Tarp Campers ad.)

Insurance

I could go on and on about wet days and nights in the outdoors here. I've suffered many, as has pretty much everyone who gets outside on a regular basis. As we like to say when it's particularly nasty out:

"It builds character."

But here's the magic: When it's raining hard and steady, the rest of the world falls away and you feel so enveloped in the elements.  It's a very in-the-moment, Zen experience.

Although it's hard to photograph rain, I think I succeeded here.

Another not-so-secret:  With increasing traffic on our trails now that the word is out on our amazing corner of the world, hiking in the rain is the time to escape the crowds, find a greater sense of solitude.

Maybe you're one who likes having people around. One of my happiest teenage memories is squealing with laughter when several of us crowded in a little tent during a two-day downpour. 

Ever done worm rolls over other tent mates in your sleeping bags? When you're rained out for a day or two, you too will invent creative ways to pass the time.

Between the rains: an exercise in futility?

Just a couple weekends ago I hiked a beautiful trail that would have been packed on a nice day. Our group saw just a few others (and a geology field trip class) as the wind was blowing and the sky was spitting rain. It was magnificent!

There's a good reason why Gore-Tex, a major breakthrough in breathable rain gear, was developed here in the Pacific Northwest. Us Mossbacks are glad for that reason. We relish getting out on a rainy day. 

Bring it!

Happy trails and thanks for visiting Pacific Northwest Seasons! In between blog posts, visit Pacific NW Seasons on FaceBook, Twitter, and Instagram for more Northwest photos and outdoors news.  

Have you had many wet days outside? Jump in with a comment below and tell us about your rain stories.

And the rain is predicted to return in a couple days.