Home | About Mark | Work |> Trips <| Travel | Entertainment | Photos | Seattle | Site Map

Photo Links

I have created some entries on Worldisround where you will find pictures from my trip:

Highlights

Eastern Washington

Friday July 22 -

I began a getaway weekend to the Spokane area with a drive east from Seattle to Spokane.  

I began on I-90, which I took until I was just past the town of George, Washington.  Shortly before reaching George, I stopped at the Wild Horses Monument, just east of the Columbia River past Vantage.  On top of a mesa that features a spectacular view of the Columbia River, more than a dozen sculptures have been installed, creating the image of a herd of wild horses running towards the edge of the mesa.  I've stopped here before, but this time I hiked up to the sculptures for some photos.

I left the interstate and made short stop to the town of Soap Lake, your basic small eastern Washington town.  Not a lot to see, but a large banner promises the future installation of a 65-foot tall Lava Lamp, what would be a new tourist draw for the fading spa town.

Further to the north I made a stop at Dry Lake State Park, one of many features in the Pacific Northwest created by massive Ice Age floods.  Glaciers blocked the North Clark Fork River where it flowed into Idaho, backing the water up into a huge lake, Glacial Lake Missoula, which covered a large part of what is now western Montana.  As the glacier ice weakened, the ice dam would break, and all that water would pour out, draining Glacial Lake Missoula in a matter of days as floodwaters scoured what is now eastern Washington, a process that repeated dozens of times.  The eastern Washington scablands are one consequence of this flooding.  Where the water found channels, it scoured them into deep coulees and gorges because of the way the underlying basalt rock breaks along vertical columns.  As the floodwaters poured over the gorge edges here, they created a waterfalls that was much bigger than present day Niagara Falls, both in length and volume of water.  Of course the Ice Age is over and those waterfalls are now dry, although some lakes remain on the gorge floor.  Dry Falls is an unusual geological formation that shows how water can alter the earth's landscape.  Well worth a visit.

From there I headed east on US Highway 2 to Spokane.  I reached the city by 8:30PM, found a hotel and then got a quick dinner.  Nightlife at Dempsey's Brass Rail, a so-so Spokane bar but it usually has a decent weekend crowd.

Back to top

Idaho Panhandle

Saturday July 23 -

This turned out to be a great day, a bit surprising considering that I got lost and never did see the trail I had planned on.

I headed east on I-90 across the Idaho panhandle, stopping in Mullan for a few sightseeing pictures and then back to Wallace.  I had chosen a trail in the mountains north of Wallace, but after picking up some snacks in town, I headed north on the wrong road.  It gradually sank in that it was the wrong road.  When I reached Cooper Pass, I thought about turning around, but it was a beautiful day, and there were a few trailheads there, so I figured I'd just take one of these trails instead.

I ended up on the Old Stateline Trail, following the Idaho-Montana border, passing a old mine and several great views before I eventually reached a side trail down to a couple lakes.  I went as far as Pear Lake, where I cooled off in the water (it's July, but these are mountains in northern Idaho, and there was still snow on the mountain slope just above the water at the opposite end of the lake, so I really cooled off).  I reversed my route to return to the car.  It may not have been the trail I had planned on, but it proved to be a very enjoyable hike, with great scenery, lots of wildflowers in bloom, and an alpine lake to enjoy.  It just goes to show that getting lost isn't necessarily a bad thing.

I worked my way back to Wallace, stopping at a mining ghost town along the way to check out the decaying buildings there.  I explored Wallace a bit - I've stopped here a few times now, and think it is an interesting town, well worth a visit.  I got an early dinner there, and then headed back to Spokane.  I went out for an after dinner walk and then prepared for my Sunday activities before heading back to Dempsey's Brass Rail.  

North Cascades

Sunday July 24 -

I got up early and headed west towards Grand Coulee.  I stopped at the Grand Coulee Dam, a huge dam across the Columbia River that  backs up the river for miles, creating Lake Washington.  Then I continued on to Nespelem, a village on the Colville Indian Reservation.  Buried in the cemetery there is the great Nez Perce leader, Chief Joseph.  I wanted to pay my respects.

My primary destination was North Cascades NP, along the North Cascades Highway.  I made a few scenery stops in the park, at Washington Pass and the Ross Lake Viewpoint, before reaching the trailhead for the Stetattle Creek Trail, a favorite hike from last summer.  I hiked in a few miles and then reversed my route, a pretty, rather easy hike, and one that doesn't seem to draw many hikers.  I didn't encounter anyone along the trail during my hike, which is always nice.

I drove straight home after my hike, wrapping up an excellent weekend getaway.

The contents of MarkWasson.com The Mark Wasson Site are copyrighted by Mark Wasson.  All rights reserved.