Stevens Creek trail in fall

 The hike up the Stevens Creek trail works your thighs, glutes and lungs. It is up, up up. To the top of the world looking out over Valleyford. At the top is "Big Rock" and it is huge, standing as a citadel protecting the valley below. The fall colors are magical, the weather perfect autumn sunshine and temp perfect for the exertion. I met a nice group of folks with their 2 wonderful dogs on top and had a nice chat. If you want to go you'll need to before the snow flies as it is just to steep to go with any ice or snow on it. 

Fishtrap Lake Trail & Folsom Farm

 Went walking at the BLM owned Fishtrap Lake Trail. The trailhead is off of Fishtrap Lake Road, there is a parking lot. The trail goes through the buttes and scrub brush and then wanders along Fishtrap Lake. The trail I took today is a very steep and very narrow one that runs along the side of the hill above the water. This one is dangerous even if you are sure footed so if you aren't feeling really confident stay to the top of the hill until you see the sign for the south and north loop trail and you can get closer down to the water when the shore widens out. The trees are vibrant with fall color and stand in stark contrast to the remnants of the burned old growth trees from the fire a few years ago. The trail back winds up over the buttes, past a pond, that is now dry, and then back across the scrub grasses. Out and back is about 4 miles ad depending on how you go one way can be very hard miles. After I was done I thought I'd go down the road that said "Folsom's Farm". Another BLM property I was surprised by what I found. A parking lot with an outhouse, information signs and even some picnic tables. The old barn, shed and fences are really neat to see. One of the information signs tells you that the house was destroyed in the fire of a few years ago. The wetland that sits out in front would be beautiful in the spring, I would imagine teaming with birds. There are trails that run in different directions over the property and I will have to go back and explore some more.

A visit to the MAC (NW Museum of Arts and Culture) & Campbell House

 I haven't been to the museum in ages but decided to go on Sunday. The exhibits were nicely curated, well displayed and lit. The showing of work by Louis Comfort Tiffany is beautiful. Always interesting seeing how many different mediums he worked in and his mastery of all of them. An exhibit of canoes from the annual Columbia River Canoe trips by the United Tribes of the Upper Columbia tells one of the many stories of the original inhabitants of our area. The permanent art collections of artwork introduced me to some artists I had not heard of but really liked. The Campbell house is maintained as it would have looked at the turn of the 20th century. The displays of furniture and artifacts allows you to experience it first hand. Period clothing and furs show you what the original inhabitants would have been wearing during that time. The museum is for everyone, a place where you can be introduced to your history, understand where you came from. If you've not gone, go and learn what helped form what we are now.

 

Mt Spokane summit, Vista House

 Went walking up Mt Spokane's Summit road. You can drive the road to the top but I wanted to be at ground level to enjoy the view of the back side of the main alpine course, lodge, ski lifts etc. The about 2.25 mile road travels right along the edge and the view is stunning! It is a paved road starting at the switchback parking lot and then going up, up, up to the top of the world. At least our world. At the top are TV towers and the wonderful Vista House. The Vista House is a natural stone chalet type house built right on the edge of the top. Built in 1933/34 it was used as a fire lookout. There were gobs of bicyclists using the trails and road the day I was there. Coming back down you can take trail 140 which will meet up with the Mt Kit Carson loop road at the parking lot or travel back down the road. I took the trail for a little bit but switched back over to the road as I was short on time. Cooks Cabin and woodshed, neat, very early buildings, are at the bottom just before you reach the parking lot. To give some perspective to where I was the first picture is taken from highway 206, the road you take to get to the mountain. This is about 18 miles from the Vista House, which is at that bare spot at the tippy top.

Lilac City Comicon & Riverfront Park

 Went walkin in Riverfront Park today past the Convention Center where they are holding the 2021 Lilac City Comicon. It is always so fun to see all the costumes and everyone always seems to be having so much fun with it. Stopped to take some pictures of a really great street musician and singer, Christopher Brown. Riverfront Park never lets you down it is beautiful in all seasons. Can't wait to get some shots of it when all the leaves turn. Went down to Huntington Park near Spokane City Hall to get some shots of the Gondolas as they pass over the falls.