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. 

The homeless among us

 My brother and I were walking the rainy streets of Spokane last weekend giving out rain slickers to the homeless that couldn't just go home and get dry. I had one left as I headed for home. I saw this gentleman and his 4 footed companion panhandling along the wet street and stopped to give it to him. He thanked me and I turned and headed back to the car. I glanced back and noticed him pulling it onto his wet friend. I turned back and asked if I might take some pictures. He chose her comfort above his own, a selfless act. See them, say hi to them know that they could just as easily be us, me, but for a lucky break our way.

Liberty Lake Loop trail

 Wether you go the over 8 miles all the way around the loop or up to the Cedar forest and back this walk always is a thrill to all the senses. I go clock wise as it is easier to do the up, up, up with the tinkling stream cheering you on and I like to come up to the falls from this direction. If you decide to push on after the Cedar forest you cross a bridge and encounter the dreaded switch back, steep and seemingly endless you are treated with a view of the distant Liberty Lake as you get toward the top. After he switchback you continue up and along narrow paths on the edge of the mountain. Continue on and you reach Liberty Creek Falls. The falls can be roaring and full of water in the early spring but this time of year there isn't much water and with as hot and dry as it's been even less. Up, up, up some more, steep and windy finally you come to an offshoot path that takes you to the Hughes Cabin. This is more like a metal shed but is open to take shelter in if you need a rest. Now starts the other end going this way it is either down hill or mostly level and the trail is wide and well used. As you reach the bottom section it is once again steep(but this time goin downhill), rutted and narrow. I have tried this in the winter and I say DON"T it is pretty much impossible to go up in the ice and snow. The liberty lake trail is best attempted in late spring to fall. In the early spring it can get very muddy and again hard to navigate. As an added bonus there is a parking area for horsetrailers a little further down the road from the main park entrance. This is great for horseback riding, a challenging course for mountain bikers and hikers alike. Dogs are allowed with their owners on a leash.