Going off the Grid

What better way to nourish the soul than to go off the grid in nature. Its not hard to do in the Gorge and the Pacific North West (PNW), as our rugged mountains you can tuck away not far from town and be off the electronic grid and out or range to the rest of the world. Life is fast paced and demanding, we all need to give ourselves the gift of "time, nourish our inner soul and heal". Take time for the pursuit of self wellness. Get out of town, away from all electronic connections, work, noise and distraction.

This Summer is familiar, like Summer I recall for many years and when I first moved to the PNW. Cooler temperatures, rain one or more days a week, some over cast skies and when it does clear; lots of puffy white clouds to offset the deep blue sky. A hot dry Summer was seldom. So getting off the grid, always prepare and bring a tarp, rain jacket and second set of clothes incase you get rained on.

Camping, you just never know what weather will occur, so looking for the perfect spot to set up with canopy from the trees to provide shade and shelter. Plenty of thick forest, lush and green, old growth trees and yes most of the PNW from the Cascades West is a rain forest. Well the Skamania County is the "heart of the Gorge", and I got off grid in the "heart of the range of surrounding mountains. Believe it or not, still in Skamania County, however it is off of Bear Creek! Sitting on the South side of Rainier and the North side of Mt St Helens and the West side of Adams, tucked away a paradise of a camp spot; Iron Creek Campground.

Forest Service Campgrounds suite my likings well. I don't need hook up, there is running water ( however I prefer to pack my own drinking water). Tent sites, trailer sites, and double size for groups. Sitting on the Cispus River and every spot tucked away to enjoy the peacefulness of nature. There is no direct route and back roads may take longer with the pot holes, fixed? washed out areas and slow driving. But who needs to be in a hurry to relax and chill in the woods, half the fun is getting there. So whether you go up over windy ridge or through the little towns of Mossy Rock and Randle....the view is beautiful ( even on a cloudy day). Would have been awesome to enjoy the mountain peaks in view spots, but something mystic about the fog and heaviness up in the clouds.

The main point is to take time, get off the beaten path, away from every day life and refresh the soul. Its healing and we all need it. Grant yourself permission to relax and savor the stillness. If you attune yourself to the calm around you, worldly distractions will be minimized and the unadulterated flow of your consciousness will reestablish itself in the forefront of your mind. The needs of the body, the heart, and the soul will then be revealed to you, empowering you to tap into the essential healing energy of nature.