Environment, Hikes, Travel Blog

Spokane In Full Fall Splendor

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I am leaving Spokane, Washington this morning after a glorious time exploring the woods of the Pacific Northwest. After coming out for a speech to judges and lawyers in this district, I was able to get in three days of hiking.  Spokane is one of those cities that is a dream for hikers. In literally just 20 minutes, you can find yourself in the hills and mountains of Washington.

After my speech, I was able to get out for a few hours of hiking.  I elected to go on the Iller Creek trail on the edge of Spokane Valley.   This is supposed to be a five-mile loop but I succeeded in extending it by getting lost and going up the wrong mountain for a rather steep mistake.  However, the view was incredible of the entire valley.  One odd moment was coming across a cross that at first seemed to say that “Ugly found dead.” It turns out to be “Pugly” but there is no other hint of what happened to Pugly.

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The next day I hike around the Spokane State Park, including the entire Nordic trail.  The park is jam packed with wild life, including moose and bear.  This is a spectacular park with a high elevation and numerous vistas.

 

Here are a few pictures from the hike.

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On my last day, I hiked the famed Bowl and Pitcher before my flight back to Washington D.C.

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It was an incredible time to see the mountains in the Fall.  This is really an enchanting place that I recommend for everyone interested in a stroll through nature.

11 thoughts on “Spokane In Full Fall Splendor”

  1. Great photos. Just like the photos from your trip to the Pacific islands. In those, the thick jungle vegetation looked to be on the verge of “consuming” the WWII plane that crashed there several decades ago. Now you visit the Pacific northwest and experience the thriving wildlife. In fact, there are now more trees in North America than there were 100 years ago.

    http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/x4995e.htm#P56_2748

    According to one study, the amount of increased vegetation added to Earth since 1980 is equivalent to adding two green continents the size of America to the planet.

    https://www.thegwpf.org/matt-ridley-global-warming-versus-global-greening/

    One estimate is the biosphere is creating 2 billion tons of additional biomass EACH year. Providing more habitat for wildlife to flourish. Lifelong environmentalist and Director of the Human Environment at Rockefeller University, Jesse Ausubel, called this global greening phenomenon “the most important ecological trend on Earth today” in his 2015 speech titled “Nature Rebounds”, delivered to the Long Now Foundation.

    I look forward to your next fear mongering post about how the planet is dying from climate change.

  3. Gorgeous! The only place I’ve been in WA is Bellingham which I fell in love with – the beauty of the water, mountains, an excellent indie bookstore – cool vibe overall. I wanted to move there. But then life happened… Still, I look back to those two weeks with great joy in memories.

  4. I am going to Spokane next August for the USATF Masters track meet, then spending a few days there before taking a river cruise on the Snake and Columbia rivers down to Portland. Your post gives me a few ideas to try and makes my upcoming trip even more exciting.

  6. (music to the tune of High On Cocaine…)

    High On Spokane!
    High on Spokane!
    When you get your mojo..
    Watch your speed.
    Trouble ahead. Trouble behind.
    Once you re in motion you will lose your mind.

    O

  7. Bigfoot lives there. Sorry, you missed him/her/it. A new picture by a nationally known attorney would carry some weight. Glad you enjoyed the hiking. Thanks for the beautiful pics.

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