Accidental Discovery: Lake Spokane State Park

I was out exploring looking for a rockhounding site and came across this "park" along Long Lake. Nearly totally undeveloped except for a fenced parking area. You pretty much have to have AWD or 4WD to get in there.

A rock-climbing area I didn't know about!

Concentrated group of Buttercups!

Hike at Ginko Petrified Forest State Park Along the Columbia River

Sagebrush country at the edge of basaltic cliffs. Too bad it wasn't a sunny day but then again the cold kept the rattle snakes in their dens!

Pentsemon

I went cross-country skiing up at Mt. Spokane on a Thursday afternoon. Despite a couple inches of fresh snow there was not a soul around. The parking lot was empty despite the fact that most of the trails had been groomed that morning. I skied a 10km route around Shadow Mountain and back.

The view eastward from Shadow Mountain into Idaho.

Nice view of the Mt. Spokane alpine ski slopes.