Lifestyle
Divas and the Great Outdoors
Although most of us think of enjoying the great outdoors as a rugged and rough activity, there are many different ways to enjoy all the beauty that the Northwest has to offer. Some involve a backpack, a compass, iodine pills and powdered black bean soup mix and some don’t.
This urban diva loves being outdoors, whether it is camping on the coast or hunkering down in a secluded cabin in the woods. Heck, I’ve even camped out on the deck of an Alaskan ferry boat for three days. (Of course, I was much younger then.) I’ve learned over the years that enjoying the outdoors for me is less about missing the comforts of home than about missing the pleasures of life.
I get great joy in sitting around a crackling campfire in the backcountry of Eastern Washington with my pals. But I find the moment is just a little more joyful when I can also be enjoying a lovely 2003 Walla Walla Cabernet and some freshly grilled Cuban spiced Tri-Tip at the same time.
Here are this Diva’s “must haves” for truly enjoying the great outdoors:
- One of your best friends who knows how and loves to cook — especially one that can work some magic with a $9.99 hibachi from the camping supply store in Vantage, WA.
- A few great bottles of reasonably priced red wine, such as the Dusted Valley Syrah or the Seven Deadly Zins (2 of my favs).
- Some well marinated, perfectly seasoned, preferably organic red meat (sorry my veggie brothers and sisters.)
- Gourmet S’Mores. Take vegan marshmallows from the PCC, a bar of Green & Blacks chocolate and organic Graham Crackers, stack together and fire. Melt. Eat. YUMMMMM!
- Extra thick Therm-a-Rest. Never leave home without one! These are more comfortable than any air mattress you can find and you don’t power or need an annoyingly loud blower to puff the sucker up at night. Just some good ol’ lung capacity.
- Cake, Jimmy Cliff, Talking Heads & Neko Case. This means you need an iPod and something with which to play it.
- TP ( Do I really need to spell it out?)
Yes, there are probably more things you really need to enjoy the great outdoors such as tent, some stakes, maybe a tarp and some bug spray, etc, etc. But these are just a few items to make your backcountry excursion a little more Diva-esque.
Now get out there and find your backcountry!
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