By Amelia Fiore
Columbia Gorge News
THE DALLES — Britt Beeson, Tina Bowman and Amy Ford, all women in their 50s, just returned from a hike through the North Cascades National Park, up from northern Washington down to Stehekin. The trip was the latest in a string of backpacking expeditions the trio has gone on for the past six years.
Bowman and Ford have been childhood friends for decades, while Bowman and Beeson first met in college. Their first adventure together was the Timberline Trail in Mount Hood.
Bowman passed by it while hiking one day, searched it up online, and said, “Oh, I can’t do that. That’s way too far, and I’m 50 years old.” But Beeson, who had never backpacked previously, was confident that they could pull it off. They invited Ford and spent four days camping and backpacking circling the mountain, over 40 miles of rugged terrain and 10,000 ft of elevation gain.
They got their starter gear from Amazon, a quick and inexpensive option, even though the backpacks were upwards of 35 lbs. “Absolutely ridiculous,” Beeson said. “We had no idea what we had got ourselves into. But it was really fun. It was challenging, but we thought, ‘Wow, we did that.’”
The trip sparked a desire to continue their newfound backpacking endeavors. Beeson got her permit request approved for The Enchantments Trail in Washington later that year. This time, they only had to travel 21 miles, but the path was significantly more difficult. The area’s snow lakes caught them off guard, and Bowman even suffered a fall.
Each trip has taught them something new, whether about food, elevation sickness, or the necessity of consistent hydration. They now always know to pack a select list of items, including layers (even in the summer), tents, raincoats, flashlights, battery packs, water filters, physical maps, and matches.
The trio has also completed the Wonderland Trail, walked sectioned paths along the PCT Trail and around Mount Rainier, circumnavigated Mt. St. Helens, and summited Eagle Cap.
“Every trip is new for a different reason,” Beeson said. They’ve learned how to adapt to unpredictable circumstances and have managed interchanging equipment after lots of trial-and-error.
The group has faced their share of scary situations. Ford has broken her arm and twisted an ankle. The group also remembers getting turned around hiking Pocket Creek, when they found themselves on an unforeseen route as night was setting in. But they knew they had to keep going no matter what.
“That’s when we stop and eat something, take a break, try to recover enough to keep going. I don’t think we’ve ever gotten to a point where we’ve had to, like, carry each other’s gear, but we would do that, if somebody needed it. We would carry each other’s gear to make it a little lighter,” Ford said. “We also learn that we have a lot of strength and perseverance, because we can keep going through all of it.”
They always keep the conversation going, even when they disperse into separate tents for the night.
“We really lift each other up. We live different lives and we do different things, but this is how we all come together. And we talk, nonstop,” Beeson said. “Our friendship is huge. It’s so special, because when you’re out on the trail, there’s nobody else around. Strangers might be passing. So, we’re, like, stuck together for days.”
They’ve met a few hikers that they’ve helped or who have helped them with snowshoeing tricks or by lending gear. Aside from people they pass on the trails, they are cut off from the outside world. Beeson is the only one with signal, a satellite service that has been a lifesaver several times.
The escape into the peacefulness of the outdoors has been largely helpful for them to reset. “I love it. I’m not married to my phone, but I have my phone and my work phone that can go off anytime for the day or night and have to respond. So, it’s kind of nice when I’m away,” Ford said.
The trio is gearing up to bring their adventures to social media under the name Three Chicks Trekking, and plan to summit Mount St. Helens in September.
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