THE BACKSIDE OF CALAMITY

THE BACKSIDE OF CALAMITY

There are few words that inspire fear into the hearts of hunters in Central Oregon as “The Backside of Calamity”.  Now you must understand Calamity in this sense is not a state or situation, but an area on the map.  Not a particularly impressive area from the front side, but the backside of Calamity is something to be revered.  Hunters who have inadvertently wandered off the backside of Calamity and returned are never the same.  Those who purposely wander off the backside of Calamity weren’t the same to start with.  Let’s examine two such hunters.  We’ll call them Gary and Marc.

One cold day in late November 2006 Gary and Marc decided to take a hunt into that dreaded place.  Hours later, the rest of the hunting party recovered the two hunters frail and exhausted.  From what the hunting party could discern through the demented jibberish that spilled from their quivering lips the two had just taken a stroll through the hubs of hell itself.  To hear the horrors of twisted mahogany and jagged rocks, steep cliffs and wild animals made a persons hair stand on end.  Since some reading this may not have adequate woods experience we will dispense with any detail regarding the horrors the two hunters saw.  Suffice it to say that any animals larger than a squirrel, or those of a feathered variety, don’t find the place very appealing.  It is assumed that Gary and Marc have learned their lesson.