BLOG #95 CROWDED HIKES AND OUR NEW RESPONSIBILITIES

Ever since the corona virus affected all of us, many people have turned to the mountains, lakes and trails to satisfy our need to get out.
Altho that’s okay, it has caused some popular destinations to be overcrowded.
Overcrowding will diminish ones hike, and may cause some damage to the areas visited.
Some places we all love, are being loved to death.
​
Below are some of those areas:
Lower & Upper Stevens Lakes
Lone Lake
Scotchmans Peak
Star Peak
​Leigh Lake
Rock Lake
Harrison Lake
Beehive Lake
Hunt Lake
Little Spar Lake
Roman Nose Lakes
Chimney Rock ( both trails)
Pyramid Lakes
Two Mouth Lakes

When considering where to go on your next hike, please look at other options.

Mount Pend Oreille.                                                      Incredible views all around. DO NOT MISS THIS IN THE FALL
Fault Lake.                                                                           You get to walk in a real earth fault
Abercrombie Mountain                                              Views of the Pend Oreille River
Upper Priest Lake Trail #308                                  On the hottest day of the year, cool off here
Hall Mountain.                                                                 High peak with great area views
Blacktail Mountain                                                       The view is of the 35 miles of the American Selkirks & Priest Lake
​Blacktail Overlook                                                        220 degree views of Pend Oreille Lake with PSPW & CMW
Granite-Roosevelt Waterfalls and cedars.     Cool waterfalls and giant Western Red  Cedars
Navigation Trail                                                              A trail to a pristine lake
Red Top Trail #102.                                                       A nice hike near the US & Canadian boarder
Parker Peak                                                                      A great ridge line hike with views
West Fork Lake, Ridge, and lookout                  A most spectacular ridge line to walk. DO NOT MISS THE RIDGE.
Long Canyon                                                                    The largest area in Idaho that has never been logged or mined
Fisher Peak                                                                      A high peak overlooking the Crreston Valley
Burton Peak                                                                    An old lookout cabin with views of the spectacular Purcell Trench
Myrtle Peak                                                                     Great views of the Selkirks
Bottleneck Lakes & Peak                                         The peak offers great views of the American Selkirks
Snow Lake & Peak                                                        Can be looped with Bottleneck Lake & Peak
The Mollies                                                                      The view is south down Priest Lake
Lions Head Group                                                         It has waterfalls, slides, excellent climbing and big bragging rights
The Wigwams                                                                 The very best views of the American Selkirks
Standard Lakes                                                               Tucked away south of  The Wigwams
Cedar Lakes                                                                       Beautiful Lake with towering peak
Little Ibex Lake                                                                Isolation is in this lakes description
Granite Lake                                                                      A rugged, fluted peak above a pristine high country lake
St. Paul Lake                                                                      The lake is cool, but the many waterfalls are unbelievable
Engle Peak                                                                           A nice hike into the CMW, with views all around
Wanless Lakes                                                                   Secluded high country lakes with a waterfalls
Lower & Upper Geiger Lakes & Lost Buck Pass.  Views from Lost Buck Pass of Wanless Lake
Moose Mountain                                                            Views of the PSPW & CMW
Pillick Ridge                                                                        A pleasant hike to Pillick Ridge with outstanding views of the CMW

If by chance you do go to any of the listed hikes, please do all you can to preserve the environment. 
Pick up others trash. Flick branches and twigs off the trails.
Check every fire pit for smoldering campfires.
(Always carry many plastic grocery bags to extinguish fires)
DO NOT EVER CONFRONT LESS THAN CLEAN CAMPERS

I’m afraid that areas like Stevens Lakes or Lone Lake are being overused, and new fire pits are scaring the lakes shore lines.

HUMAN & DOG WASTE
At Stevens Lakes and Lone Lake, their water are used for household purposes in Mullan. Like drinking water.
Please take along many dog bags to gather your and your dogs waste. Then double or triple grocery bags to carry your waste out.

With all the cuts to the USFS, BLM and other agencies, 
WE MUST TAKE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION TO PRESERVE OUR FAVORITE PLACES.

By doing so, you may be responsible for the next hikers, to enjoy their favorite places.

Your help will enhance others outings. And just maybe, you may be the recipient of others work.

There is nothing like doing trail work or cleaning up campsites.
It will, in your heart, make you feel like a steward of our lands.

Thank You for any help you can give our lands.
David and I wold like to Thank You for reading and using our local website.

Chic        David 

InlandNWRoutes.com