Inland nw routes |
|
BLOG |
|
|
BE PREPARED...BE SAFE
As Spring leads into Summer, more of us will be getting out to enjoy Nature. It is our personal responsibility to equip ourselves with all we need to know, like waiting out a storm, deal with an injury, or worse..spend the night out. Below are things we all need to know, and be able to use to help ourselves or others. PLANNING YOUR OUTING Number 1 is to call the Ranger District at least 3 days before your trip. Their phone numbers are listed on every write up. Nothing makes me upset, like driving for hours, to find a road or trail is closed. On our HOME PAGE, scroll down to the Managing Agencies Alerts. Tap on the url, of the area or forest you are planning to visit. Here you can access all the ALERTS. Please understand something. If you go into an area that the USFS has closed, jail time and/or fines may be in your future. 13 ESSENTIALS https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/13-essentials.html Click on this url to learn what EVERY hiker, biker, paddler, scrambler, climber, must have with them. PLEASE, make sure you have what you need to possibly spend the night or deal with any emergency that may arise. Especially blisters. WEATHER, THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHTNING https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/weather-thunderstorms-and-lightning.html Click on the above url to learn how to prepare for all weather conditions. Be sure to check out the NOAA’s Hourly Weather Forecast. This graph will show you, if and when inclement weather will occur. With this detailed information, you can plan your outing to avoid bad weather circumstance. I have found that the timing in this graph is a bit more accurate than the quantity of precipitation. I personally like using an umbrella, more than bundling up and sweating too much. Because it isn’t summer yet, the temperatures can drop to near freezing as soon as the sun goes down. Carry with you, warm clothes, like stocking caps, warm gloves, extra socks, chemical hand warmers, fleece thermo layer, and a waterproof jacket and/or pants. The more comfortable you are, the better the chance of spending a night out. The very first section in WEATHER, THUNDERSTORMS, LIGHTNING, spells out how you can predict smoke plumes, winds, weather patterns, fire closures, and much more. Learn it and be safe. “ COTTON KILLS” Cotton clothes for around town, and in daily life, are a dream to wear. But in the mountains….”COTTON KILLS”. Unlike high tech base layers (polypropylene), that wick the moisture away from your body, cotton absorbs moisture and sweat, and eventually cools the body below safe levels. Once your core temperature drops too low, you will be unable to make good decisions and get warm again. In WEATHER….read about HYPOTHERMIA. HYPOTHERMIA is a silent killer. Know how to deal with it, and how you can save a person suffering from HYPOTHERMIA. David and I have created the following sections to better inform our readers, of what we need to do before, during and after, an outing. MEDICAL INFORMATION https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/medical-information.html TRAIL ETIQUETTE AND SKILLS https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/trail-etiquette-and-skills.html HINTS https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/hints.html Our goal at InlandNWRoutes.com, is not only to show our readers the incredible places to play in our region. We want all readers to be safe, have way toooo much fun in Nature, and return home with pictures, stories, and a BIG grin, from ear to ear. THANK YOU ALL for reading and using our website. Chic David InlandNWRoutes.com
0 Comments
BLOG #61 FAMILY HIKES IN SPOKANE COUNTY
THE SPOKANE COUNTY CONSERVATIONS FUTURES PROPERTIES Thanks to Washington’s voters, back in the mid 90’s, they passed the Spokane County Conservation Futures Tax. Since then your 4 1/2 cents per 1000$ assessed value has bought, open spaces, rural properties, and important lands to preserve. There are currently 17 properties, that are in use every day. And more coming in the near future. Check out the Spokane County Parks website below. https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/spokane-county-conservation-futures.html The coolest thing about these properties, is the county can basically build a parking area with pit toilets, improve trails or create new trails, and remove dangerous structures. If you have young children, of any age, take them to one of these great trails, and share Nature. The more children are exposed to Nature, the more rounded and at peace they will be in life. Thank You for using our website. Chic David InlandNWRoutes.com We are very fortunate to live within 3-4 hours of some incredible hiking.
Below are in my opinion, the best of the best hikes shown on our website. One of my criteria is hiking in places where there aren’t many, if any other people. To achieve this, we provide OPTIONS. OPTIONS are hikes that take skills and off trail navigation. They should only be done by knowledgeable and capable enthusiasts. Click on the associated url’s to see my write ups on each hike. If you have specific questions about an area here or on our website, please feel free to contact me. At the bottom of every page is my email envelope. But do remember, I am often out doing research or enjoying these wonderful places. Contact me 2-3 days ahead of your hike, or call the Ranger district 3 days before every hike for more info. WASHINGTON SCABS WASHINGTON SCABLANDS. (WS) When the great Glacier Lake Missoula let loose, it scoured over 1,000 feet off the surface of the land. But it also left many beautiful areas to explore. The wildflowers in March thru April are sure to please. This is a desert, so use all mesas, rock formations, and creeks to navigate. If you find yourself misplaced, do back to the last spot you knew where you were at, and consult your map. ESCURE RANCH & TOWELL FALLS https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/escure-ranch.html This old farming road leads to two waterfalls, with one additional early in the season. It’s on an old cattle and sheep ranch. Do not miss walking over to the homestead. The guy who built this ranch, built the building to be around in for hundreds of years. PALOUSE FALLS https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/palouse-falls-state-park-heritage-site.html This State Park offers incredible views of the 198 foot Palouse Falls.There are several viewing areas to see Washington State’s Official Waterfall. BE AWARE…people have died falling off the uncontrolled overlooks. On YouTube search Palouse falls kayaker. HOG CANYON FALLS https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/hog-canyon--falls.html This short walk goes out to a seven step waterfall, carved out of the rock, that is very photographic. Easy walk. NORTHRUP CANYON & STEAMBOAT ROCK https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/northrup-canyon.html Northrup Canyon leads to an old homestead and on to Northrup Lake. It is steeped in history, from the building of the Grand Coulee Dam. Near the start of the road/trail, look to your left for massive amounts of discarded tin cans. Above them was a mess hall for the construction workers. SINCE WE ARE EXPERIENCING SOME GREAT NORTHERN LIGHT, I THOT ID SHOW OUR READERS WHERE THE COLORS ORIGINATE FROM AND MORE. ENJOY Ps....In the mid 80's, I was the President of the Spokane Astronomical Society, as well as the guest speaker for our grade schools convocations and in the field Star Parties. Pss....once, back in 2001, I was rowing Swiftcurrent Lake, and camping along its shorelines. As I paddled I noticed a lot of large critters making noise all along the shoreline. I decided not to sleep on a beach that night, so I set up my cot in the rowboat, and crashed. The critter noise got real loud, so I thru back my boom tarp (think sailboat), and to my amazement, the entire sky from horizon to horizon, was fire engine red. Now I'm not saying a strip or two. I mean the whole sky was bright red. Because there was a breeze, none of my images turned out. Drats! WHAT ARE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS?THE NORTHERN LIGHTS, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE AURORA BOREALIS, ARE THE RESULT OF INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE SUN AND EARTH'S OUTER ATMOSPHERE. THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR LIGHT SHOWS TO WATCH AS VIVID COLORS GLOW IN THE SKY. IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, IT IS CALLED THE AURORA AUSTRALIS.WHAT CAUSES THE AURORAS? MOST AURORAS OCCUR IN RESPONSE TO ENERGETIC PARTICLES FROM A SOLAR STORM, WHICH CAUSE THE GASES OF THE THIN UPPER ATMOSPHERE TO GLOW. THEY TAKE PLACE AT HEIGHTS BETWEEN 50 TO 100 MILES ABOVE THE EARTH. THE AURORA CAN LAST ANYWHERE BETWEEN A FEW MINUTES TO SEVERAL HOURS. AURORAS ARE MOST COMMON IN POLAR REGIONS. THE VARIOUS COLORS, OF WHICH GREEN AND RED PREDOMINATE, ARE THE RESULTS OF VARIOUS LIGHT EMISSIONS FROM OXYGEN AND NITROGEN GASES BEING ENERGIZED BY THE SOLAR PARTICLES. WHAT ARE CREPUSCULAR RAYS?CREPUSCULAR RAYS ARE A BANDS OF SUNLIGHT SHINING THROUGH BREAKS IN CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON.  We are very fortunate to live within 3-4 hours of some incredible hiking. Below are in my opinion, the best of the best hikes shown on our website. One of my criteria is hiking in places where there aren’t many, if any other people. To achieve this, we provide OPTIONS. OPTIONS are hikes that take skills and off trail navigation. They should only be done by knowledgeable and capable enthusiasts. Click on the associated url’s to see my write ups on each hike. If you have specific questions about an area here or on our website, please feel free to contact me. At the bottom of every page is my email envelope. But do remember, I am often out doing research or enjoying these wonderful places. Contact me 2-3 days ahead of your hike, or call the Ranger district 3 days before every hike for more info PROPOSED SCOTCHMEN PEAKS WILDERNESS. (PSPW)
For over 20 years, the Friends of Scotchman Peak, have worked to put this area into the National Wilderness System. This whole area is rough to get to its summits, but so worth every bit of effort. ROSS CREEK CEDARS https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/ross-creek-cedars1.html Altho it isn’t officially in the PSPW, it is a national treasure. Western Red Cedars are 8 feet in diameter and up to 150 feet tall and over 1,000 years old. It’s only a .7 mile loop, but has an extended trail (142) the the west, to get away from the crowds. The extended trail is in a much more primitive area. South Fork Ross Creek Falls is off the extended trail. Look for the elusive Pine Marten, up Trail #142. SCOTCHMANS PEAK https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/scotchmans-peak.html This peak tends to be a test piece for up and coming hikers. The views all around are great. But to the NE is the CMW. To the far west you see the American Selkirks. Be aware of the Mountain Goats? They may be aggressive. STAR PEAK https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/star-peak1.html As you are driving east on Hwy 200, Star Peak sticks out on the southern end of the Proposed Wilderness. Look for the lookout tower on top of the pyramid shaped peak. This hike is 4.72 miles with 3910 feet gain. It’s not easy, but offers rarely seen views. The outhouse for the tower is class A. LITTLE SPAR LAKE & HORSESHOE POND DO NOT MISS THIS HIKE/CHICWACK https://www.inlandnwroutes.com/spar-peak-little-spar-lake--horseshoe-pond.html It’s a moderate hike to L.S.L. but the mile long cliff that the trail follows are spectacular. The lake is lined with cliffs on the NE side. Have a healthy snack here, and hold lunch til at the pond. From the lake, if you chicwack straight up for about .5 miles, the forest opens up. Here you turn left and walk to where you see the pond to the NW. Save your lunch for the peninsula. |
AuthorWe would like to engage our users so we have started this blog so that we can interact with you. Please do not hesitate to comment on our posts if you have questions or things to add. Archives
July 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed