DUSTY LAKE HIKE

Memorial Day weekend brought good friends to Moses Lake and the gift of two llamas. Camping, hiking, and backpacking are all activities mutually enjoyed by both our family and our friends. Thus, a hike to Dusty Lake occurred Memorial Day weekend with the llamas. Dusty Lake is one of several lakes in the hidden basin outside Quincy, Washington, sitting at the bottom of the this volcanic cliff lined basin. The trail offers rugged and steep hiking over an uneven trail with an elevation drop of approximately 300 feet within a 1.5 mile decline. A beautiful little creek fed by a waterfall as a backdrop accompanies hikers the majority of their trip. Experience is not required to hike this trail, but stamina and physical condition highly contribute to the ease at which a person hikes this trail. A dip in the lake offers refreshment and quiet coves offer peace and rest for the soul. Camping is allowed in this area provided a person desires to pack in their tent and gear. The trail does continue towards Ancient Lakes to a spectacular waterfall at which point a person can return to Dusty Lake, or if transportation awaits at the Ancient Lakes trail head, a hiker can complete their desert hike experience at this destination.

ANCIENT LAKES

Ancient Lakes is located outside the small town of Quincy, Washington hidden among farmland, ranches, and flat desert landscape. Plant life abounds due to the rich soil which comes from six inches of ash that fell when Mt. St. Helens erupted. The plant life, the two lakes, and the waterfalls provide plenty of substance for wildlife to consider this area to be home. Deer, coyotes, rattlesnakes, birds, and elk happen to be just a few animal species a person might find hidden away in the safety of the basin outlined with volcanic basalt formations. The trail back to Ancient Lakes leads the hiker three miles to a spectacular waterfall cascading over the cliffs fed by the upper resevoirs of the Coulee Basin. Lush green vegetation around this waterfall provides the onlooker with a picturesque panorama of contrast against the desert landscape. After a refreshing stop the trail continues around for another three miles for a six mile round trip hike. If a person wanted to continue hiking, the trail does continue for another two miles to Dusty Lake at which point one can return by way of the Ancient Lakes trail, totaling 14 miles round trip, or continue up to the Dusty Lake trail head, offering a good desert hike of 8.5 miles. A car could be parked at the Ancient Lakes trail head and another one at Dusty Lake trail head if one preferred not to hike the loop. This trail is great for hikers, horseback riders, or even to train animals like llamas. The trail is a flat dusty trail until it nears the waterfall. The best time of year to enjoy this hike would be spring and early summer when the wild flowers dress the basin in their brilliant colors and the desert offers cooler temperatures.

ANTHONY LAKE

August 2003 included a backpack/camping trip to Anthony Lake in the Elk Horn mountains near the historical town of Baker City, Oregon. The Lance family and the Staub family joined together to spend a week in this glorious country. Four members of our party made a 26 mile backpack trip while Pam and I stayed at camp with the kids. Cold lakes, warm sunshine, mountains, hiking, and good fellowship encompassed the whole experience. While the other members were on their backpack adventure, Pam and I hiked with the kids to various locations around Anthony Lake each day. It will be another experience that will carry fond memories of another time spent building and deepening friendships that come along only a few times within a person's life.