I spent last night in the Bonney Meadows, Mt Hood National Forest (wilderness area). I had never been there before. The meadow itself is full of small running streams and is muddy and wet everywhere. This creates a very lush environment full of grasses, ferns, wildflowers. This attracts many types of small songbirds. I heard more distinct bird songs than I could keep track of. Once dusk set in the frogs began singing throughout the meadow. They sang all night. There is a deep but narrow creek that runs through the meadow. I camped beside it. The creek, frog, and birdsong combination was stunning and pacifying -- so much so that I largely sat quietly and listened. It was a cloudless night and the stars were crisp. In the time I was there I heard few planes, which is awesome given its proximity to Portland. There is a campground in the meadow, but it is in the woods where the ground is dry. Hammocking allows you to sleep in the meadow -- awesome! I did have a scare, when getting ready bed my headlamp caught a pair of eyes staring at me from the woods at the edge of the meadow. Eventually they left, it took me a while to regain my peace.
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