Early morning solo hike along Breedan Road that crosses Rock Creek.  I probably could have driven the road with my Outback if I was cautious but I needed the exercise. It was quite chilly due to the wind and 52 degrees on this 23rd of June so I was glad to have some light gloves, buff and rain jacket along for extra layers. I hit the trail about 6:30 in the morning as I like to do. I love hiking in the barren scablands of Eastern Washington.  It is seldom visited except by hunters in the fall.  I hiked a total of 8 miles along this seldom dirt lane but never found Perch or Wall Lake.  However, I think the mileage in my hiking book must be off a bit.  I will look at the area on Google Maps later to see if my turn around spot at a Y was the way to Wall Lake. This would have been a great place to ride my mountain bike instead.

 I saw a smattering of bird life; a pair of ravens, western and eastern kingbirds, rough winged swallows, 100's of western meadowlarks, one great blue heron and a western tanager. 

I only came across one other vehicle that was parked near the falls along Rock Creek.  Two men were fly fishing but left about the time I made it back to my car. 

We Are Lucky to Live Where We Do!

These are from this mornings 4 mile loop walk from our house to the Spokane Arboretum.  Many gossamer threads to pass through!

Mini Hike Along the East Coast of Antigua

Hiking on St. Lucia!

Scabland Ramblings

I had hiked around Fourth of July Lake with the hiking group I belong to but I wanted to explore more of the area.  I scoped out 3 smaller, successive lakes to the SE of the approximate mid point of the lake.  I decided to go for it since this area is only open from the Friday after Thanksgiving until March.  Oh, and I intentionally got lost...

Early morning light over Fourth of July Lake

Cool shaped 2nd unnamed lake I hiked to

Small 'cave' made of basalt

Buck rub

As you can see I love big trees, dead trees ie snags, B&W photos and wide open landscapes!  The desert like environment of the Channeled Scablands is ideal to hike in the winter; no ticks, no rattlesnakes, no heat and, for this day at least, no sun.  The bottom screen shot is my route and the bottom is where I got lost.  When the sun finally peeked out I knew I had succeeded in getting disoriented so I pulled out my compass and 'found' myself.  Truly, a great time all by myself on the first day of the new year!