Hiking on Mt. Spokane, Finally

It's been awhile since I have been in the snow on Mt. Spokane.  Mike suggested we get out and do some snowshoeing or hiking.  Great idea for sure.  We went to our usual spot.  It was early afternoon on a Saturday.  The lot was full.  Ah, let's go back a few miles to another area and we did. It was a sunny day and the temperature was perfect.  We missed out on some of the sun because we were on a narrow path lined with trees. Here we go, up and up and up!

The creek that runs along the trail for a short time is down there.  We climbed up and were no longer following the creek. 

Gleasons 

 Obstacle number one.  A tree across the path!  

Holding up the log.  Just trying to help.  Keeping everyone safe!

Obstacle number two, up and over we went. There were more but none the were difficult to navigate. 

There's some sun!  That's Mike on the trail.  Neither one of us used snowshoes.  Most of the trail was packed down. 

More sun!

My coat is off and so is my hat!  You get warm hiking in the snow. 

Mighty Mike!

A snow tunnel created by the trees.  So beautiful. 

And we are done.  2.5 miles in the books.  I was very aware of the fact that I am somewhat out of shape.  There is nothing like being out in what God created for us to enjoy.  Nothing.   We stopped many times to just take it all in and thank God for the beauty around us.  

 

We Made it to the CCC Cabin

Well, here we are, hiking to the CCC cabin.  I took some information about the cabin off the Washington Trails Association's website.

 Pass though both forest and meadow on the way to this heritage site on the aptly named Beauty Mountain within Mount Spokane State Park. During the Great Depression, this was the summer spike camp of Company 949 of the Civilian Conservation Corps, voted the best of the nation's CCC camps. 

Angie challenged us to do 5 things this summer we had never done.  I tried to find the cabin a couple of years ago.  No luck.  We ended up hiking in the wrong place in the rain.  Oh joy!  Everyone had a map this time just in case.  

Ahhh beautiful scenery all around. 

Angie was getting out of the way of the racers on the mountain.  Little did we know that there was a trail run on Mt. Spokane.  

What a view!!! God's wonder!

Huckleberries.  They weren't ripe yet but there will be people picking them soon.  They only grow in the wild. Can't grow them at home!  

Ant, lots of them.  

Look! We made it!!! Not huge signage but there it is!

We thought the cabin was locked.

We sat outside and had a nice person take pictures. 

This was pretty special.  A rainbow above us.  What was God telling us?  

This picture was taken seconds after the rainbow picture in the same position.  No rainbow.  God put it there.  I believe that.  Blessed.  

A family came by and the father asked if the cabin was locked.  We said yes.  I thought maybe the cabin was only open in the winter.  He said he would give the door a try and guess what!  It opened.  Guess we didn't give it a big enough push.  

We prayed over our state when we got to the top.  That was good, so good.  

It was a goal accomplished.  2.5 miles up and the same down of course.  I am thankful Angie and Talena joined me.  Now, will I want to do that same thing in the winter with snowshoes on?  Time will tell.  Thanks for a great hike.

Sunshine and Snow with Mike March 2023

Disappointment turned into happiness.  I was suppose to go snowshoeing with some friends and all of them changed their minds the night before we were supposed to go.  I was super sad because after surgery snowshoeing was really the only thing I could do in the snow.  Mike jumped right in and said he would go with me.  We did go a different day and look what we got.  Sunshine and snow.  

We didn't need snowshoes.  The trail was really packed down.  

Expect the unexpected when you take pictures into the sun. 

Lots of colors that we don't see but the camera caught some of them. I bet there are more. 

Uphill, uphill!  

There was a moose on the trail.  I had read about a moose being in the area and that hikers and snowshoers should be aware.  The moose was there but thankfully we only saw the prints.  

Deep moose tracks. You really can't see how deep or big the tracks were.  

Almost to our turn around. So glorious! Couldn't have been a better day. 

Someone built a snow cave at the cabin. 

Untouched snow, so pure! 

I decided to built a tiny snowman.  Interesting looking.  Looks like there are two heads. 

Mike decided to give it a try.  He put in a lot more effort than I did. 

Hard at work!

And the additional effort shows.  I hope someone enjoys our little snowmen.  So so much fun on this day hiking in the winter wonderland that God created for us to enjoy.  Thanks Mike for getting me our of the house.