This trip was unplanned. Casey, a friend I've made via Instagram, and I had hoped to go camping over a recent long weekend, but had to reschedule. Originally we were thinking Rainier National Park, but with the weather looking rainy (surprise), I suggested going over the pass to Central and Eastern Washington. And that was about it.
We said we'd leave around 6pm on Friday, and her friend Nicole decided to join too. One of them was bringing marshmallows, I was bringing my tent, and we might car camp. Or backpack. Actually, no one knew. We’d figure it out on the way.
Friday evening came, and Casey and Nicole picked me up before heading east out of Seattle on I-90. The sun faded and the sky erupted into a vivid sunset, complete with a view back on the Central Cascades and the endless grasslands rolling out in front of us. I thought we could camp along the Columbia River, somewhere near Mattawa, at a free campsite I had found online.