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.
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.
