Don and I drove to Eastern Washington, near Yakima, for my first backpacking trip ever. Would totally do it again. Just not in Eastern Washington. I'd rather face bears than the rattlesnakes I nearly stepped on.

pretty much desert country. We parked in a gravel lot and headed west for a good hike and 24-hours of backcountry adventure...

This is where my friends the rattlesnakes live, within the rocky walls of the deep canyon. On our hike in, I almost stepped on one as we were getting ready to cross a creek bed. That set our nerves on edge for the rest of the trip.

This was the creek we camped by, using water filters to gather refreshing chilled water...

The view of the valley of the canyon that extended for miles...   

yum, lunch - ramen and Gatorade! (It was actually quite tasty for being in the woods with nothing but ramen, chili and trail mix).