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The night the weather turned

EmberScoutSep 16, 2026

We had planned two easy nights by the lake. The forecast said scattered showers, which in hindsight was doing a lot of work. The wind picked up around ten and by midnight the rain was coming in sideways. One of our stakes pulled and the vestibule started flapping like a sail. My brother went out in a headlamp and rain shell to reset it while I held the pole from inside, and we both ended up laughing at how ridiculous we looked. We made it through, dried out in the morning sun, and drank the best bad coffee of my life. Ten years later it is still the trip everyone brings up. What is yours?

2 replies

  • PineLanternSep 16, 2026

    Scattered showers is the single most dishonest phrase in forecasting. Great story.

  • EmberScoutSep 16, 2026

    Thank you. We still call it the sideways night, and nobody trusts my forecasts anymore.

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