CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The women were able to leave their vehicle in the valley and take the shuttle bus to the White Wolf Trailhead. The snowpack had been especially high, so the river was really flowing and the waterfalls, even this time of year, were full and powerful.
They intended to hike a little over ten miles the first day. Most of the trail wove in and out of forestry land. Rocks sometimes rose up, flat or jagged, but for the most part, trees dominated the scenery. Meadows were normally filled with beautiful wildflowers, but they’d missed the explosions of colors due to the time of year. The grass was drier and brown in color rather than the various shades of green normally found earlier in the year, but it was gorgeous terrain.
The hiking was downhill, and the roar of the river became a constant sound as they approached the bridge. The year before they’d been warned it was impossible to cross, as the bridge was in ruins, but obviously it had been rebuilt. They had no problems crossing at all. Still, they could feel the power of the river as they went over the bridge, the water hitting the beams and supports.
They met a couple coming the opposite way on the trail and stopped to talk to them briefly. They’d camped for two days and had run across two rattlesnakes on the trail the day before on the rocky switchbacks. The ranger had warned Vienna’s party of a bear that had suspicious behavior. It took three incidents coming in contact with humans before a bear was removed, and this bear had only one. It hadn’t actually attacked anyone, but they were told to watch out for it. The couple had avoided the campsite where the bear was reputed to have been seen.
They continued on downhill, the grade much steeper now. Vienna loved hiking. It didn’t matter how hard the trail was, there was something about being in the open air surrounded by rock and trees, the meadows, grasses and wildflowers that reset her every time. Even if it happened to rain, which it didn’t, she loved it. The day was clear and actually hot. The skies were cloudless and a perfect pale blue.
A very large downed tree hung partially across the path and partially over the river. They could detour around it or scoot over it. Looking at each other with big grins, they immediately made the decision to go over it, using it like they would a bridge, although they weren’t going to walk on it.
Vienna found herself laughing and talking about Stella’s upcoming wedding and the past antics of their animals—whether or not she should have all of them present when she walked down the aisle. The hike was strenuous but exhilarating and just what she needed, resetting her. She didn’t once think negative thoughts. The scent of the pines and redwoods, the various grasses and flowers, even the churning river and slabs of rock, were all so familiar and felt like home to her.
Her heart was much lighter by the time they reached the campground. All the pressure in her chest was gone. She was exhausted, but it was the kind of exhaustion that was good. The problem was, the bear had claimed the campground before them, and it was adamant that it wanted to stay. The six women looked at one another and decided none of them were in any condition to take on the bear.
“Backtrack,” whispered Stella. “Let’s camp by the river. There was that one little spot that looked sandy.”
They backed away and began walking very fast in the direction they had come. “That’s right,” Shabina said. “It was a swimming hole. I noticed because I was so hot and thought it was a good place to cool off, but we were so close to the campground and I was tired and hungry.”
“Water was calm there, cut off from the current,” Raine agreed. “Nice little cove.”
They made it back to the sandy beach in record time. No one else had claimed it for a camping spot. They set up their individual tents and ate. There was no campfire, but they were used to that. The evening was warm and they spread a ground sheet and made drinks, mixing the vodka with various flavors that were usually poured into water. Raine was the only one not drinking, and Vienna only drank a couple of the drinks because most of them were pretty bad. All food was put in a bear container just in case they received a visit from the resident bear.
It was still warm, and Vienna stripped down to her panties and bra after everyone had retired to their personal tents. She went back outside to the groundsheet to lie down and look up at the stars. The sky was particularly beautiful and very clear. She tried finding the various constellations and then counting the stars.
“Bear. Bear. Don’t you come around our camp, you cranky old bear. I’ll punch you if you try to take over this campsite.”
Stella’s belligerent voice jerked Vienna awake. Vienna jumped to her feet, looking wildly around for the bear, but she didn’t see the animal anywhere. Stella was also in her underwear, and she had her fists raised as if she were ready to punch the bear just like she’d claimed.
The other women raced out of their tents dressed similarly, with the exception of Raine, who had thrown on a light, unbuttoned shirt. She looked calm and ready for business.
“No bear that I can see,” Vienna hastily informed her.
Harlow showed her fist. “That old bear better not come around. I’ll fight him off.”
“I’ve taken plenty of self-defense lessons,” Shabina said. “I know exactly where to place a good kick to send that bear flying. He wouldn’t come back to our neck of the woods.”
“I think I’d be the one to fight him off,” Stella said. “I saw him first. I think he ran when he saw how big my fist was.”
Zahra made a sound between a laugh and a snort of derision. “Seriously, Stella? Your fist wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
Stella looked at both her fists. “I beg to differ with you. I have big fists. Hammer fists.”
Raine and Vienna exchanged a long look. Sometimes when they got together and were alone, they did drink a bit too much because it was such a rare occasion. Stella was funny when she drank, but she did have a wild imagination and the others tended to egg her on in whatever she was pursuing. They weren’t going back to bed anytime soon.