Spring Breaking - Act 2

  I awoke to a surprise gift compliments of one of the kitties.....

 

I am amazed by these resourceful critters..... We always keep the doors closed since there are kitties on board. But it found a way in.   Fatal move little mousey!

After breakfast we visited with our neighbors from the last campsite across the bay.   While enjoying morning coffee and sitting in the sun we watched a bald eagle circling across the bay and landing in a tree..... above where our camp site is.  We shall have to watch closely and see if we can get a better look!

We were invited for a boat ride around Steamboat rock.  We didn't hesitate for a moment.  It was a lovely ride and we went ashore on the other side which had an beach and walked along the shore while he continued to fish.

As we walked along the beach it turned from sand to pebble and rocks. 

Where the bluff joins to the beach (in the shadow of the above picture),  I was fascinated by the rocks layer upon layer in the sand.

The far northern point of Steamboat Rock

 

After our boat ride we said goodbye to our new friends from Cashmere, Washington as they headed back out for more fishing.....And we prepared for our afternoon hike.

 
SteamBoat Rock sits like an island at the north end of Banks Lake,  that fills the upper Grand Coulee.  You can't help but be impressed with the gigantic rock of basalt left behind from volcanic beginnings and violent carving of the landscape from the Missoula Floods.

Today's visitors are often surprised to learn the water surrounding the huge steamship shaped basalt formation has not always been there.  After the Grand Coulee Dam was constructed, water was diverted through huge pumps from the back waters of the Grand Coulee Dam.     

Our hike (3.7 miles) begins near the waters edge in the center of the rock and zig zags up to the top of the bluff. The hike begins with a gentle incline but there is a 800 foot elevation gain so it is a strenuous hike, the steepest area on loose scree (loose basalt rock that falls from the face of the bluff). 

 During this section a loose rock fell as Hailey went up before me, falling and it hit my finger.  Small injury in the scale of possibilities but it swelled bruising my finger and throbbed throughout the rest of the hike. But we hiked on.....

 The sweeping views from the top are beautiful.

t

Looking to the north.  Snow covered mountains off in the horizon were visible with the naked eye but did not show in photos.

 

Part of Steamboat Rock State Park Campground (to the East)

We choose a late afternoon hike as the views to the east had the most interesting rock formations making photos in other directions difficult due to the bright sunlight.  

  

More views from out beach side camp at Jones Bay.

That night in camp we felt a new awe for Steamboat Rock.  As my back condition progresses, I celebrate each victory and this one was sweet. 

 

~ Happy Trails ~