Most of this evening’s loop hike from the Carlson Road Trailhead on trail 25 and the Centennial trail was a mere walk in the park. Uneventful. Easy hiking. I took the left turn at the fork just beyond the trailhead, to take the lower portion of the Trail 25 loop.

Then there was the moment when I waded across Deep Creek. That was a real attention grabber. It was doable in my Chacos. I did tuck the hem of my skirt into the waistband to keep it dry. The water was almost knee deep in places.  A group of three hikers was attempting the crossing in tennis shoes.  The water was pleasantly cool on a warm evening.  I would recommend hiking upstream from where Trail 25 meets the north side of the creek to find a shallower ford than the one at the base of the trail.There may be one across from where the trail heads uphill on the south side of the canyon. I also recommend bringing at least one trekking pole each to aid in the crossing. 

My feet dried quickly as I hiked south to where Trail 25 meets Seven Mile Road  and the Centennial Trail. I returned to my car at dusk on the paved trail.  

I only saw four other hikers on a weekday evening. A group of cyclists politely passed me as well as one single biker who didn’t even call out as he rode around me on single track trail.

It may have been snowing lightly when I left home, but 20 minutes later, when I reached the parking lot at Bowl and Pitcher, the precipitation had ceased and blue sky was peeking past the clouds. But the time I finished my hike several hours later, there was more sun than cloud in the sky.  Chaco season is upon us again.

After crossing the swinging bridge and admiring the rapids below my feet, I headed upstream, or left, or south on trail 25 which is at the top of the stairs on the far side of the bridge.  I followed the trail along the river, curving away from the water towards the horse corral and horse camp which are still behind a locked gate at the end of March. I crossed the Centennial Trail and climbed toward the bluffs in a series of giant steps, angling up then leveling off, then up again, until I reached the old railroad grade.  By this point, I was hiking north, having followed turns in the trail along the way.  I followed the level grade past an old signal tower foundation, before dropping down a level to a lower section of the bluffs.

After about 4 miles, I passed through the Larch grove which was bare today. There was a tree down across the trail, which I easily stepped over.  There was another one across the old road which is an alternate to trekking through the grove. A bit further along, I turned right on trail 10 which switchbacks down the hill. At the junction with trail 213, which is not signed, I turned left for a few steps until I reached a signed junction with the rest of trail 10.  I followed this until I reached the other side of the trail 25 loop, shortly after crossing the Centennial Trail.

At this point, I turned right, south, and upstream again to complete the loop and return along the river to my car. It is about a 9 mile loop. This afternoon, there were plenty of cars on the parking lot, but few trail users. I met a few other hikers and dogs along the way, but there was plenty of solitude as well, which is a delight so close to town. Sometimes, the rifle range is busy, but today it was relatively quiet. When they are busy shooting, it is much less pleasant to hike downstream of Bowl and Pitcher.

There were a few puddles on the trail, but only one really wet section after the first crossing of the Centennial Trail. That area is wet every spring.  I only encountered one tree across the trail. There is one just downstream of Devil’s Toenail which was cut out a couple of years back which is starting to slide down the hill onto the trail, but it is not blocking hikers yet.  I saw plenty of buttercups and a few grass widows along the way.  Despite snow two days ago, spring may be on the way to Spokane.

Cool and overcast. First wildflower of the season

After the snowstorm yesterday, trail conditions have changed. I headed toward  Bowl and Pitcher this afternoon, hoping that a few other hikers might have stopped down the trail for me. 

The path to the bridge from the lower parking lot and and the bridge were snow free. After crossing the bridge, the snow was well packed at first. I headed right, or upstream on trail 25. At first, the trail was well traveled, but not packed. Shorty after the second overlook, I was plowing snow with my boots. The sky was blue, the sun was warm. I slogged on, following the trail until it met the road which is also the Centennial Trail. I turned right, or uphill, on the road which was well plowed to the top of the hill. After I started downhill, the trail was snow covered again, but with lots of tracks to follow, so I was not plowing as much. 

At the restroom, I turned back toward the bridge on trail 211, as the sun was setting and the air was cooling fast. 

Today was a beautiful day following the fresh snow yesterday. I wore my micro spikes for the whole hike, but I didn’t really need them, I was too lazy to take them off. The trekking pole was helpful in the snow.

It is sandal season again in Eastern Washington. It may not be spring yet, but microspikes stayed in the pack today. I started at Wilber Road Trailhead, and hiked north on trail 25 to Trail 203 to 204 to the other side of the trail 25 Loop.  I followed that north to the Pine Bluff trailhead, dodging ice on 203, but always  finding a path around it. I waded dry creek which was about calf deep. From Pine Bluff, I headed toward the Deep Creek Trailhead, some on the trail, but opting for the bridge instead of wading the creek again.

From the Deep Creek Trailhead, I followed the road to the junction with Trail 25, heading south back to where I started. There were a few remaining ice patches, but nothing I couldn’t walk on or around in my Chacos.