(See yesterday's report for narrative continuity)In the morning I decided I'd seen enough of this rolling hills type of country, and I headed over the Columbia into coulee country. We saw a large coyote cross the road ahead of us while still on Durr rd. I chose Ancient lake due to my good experience last week at Dusty lake. This is a great hike. Just hike along a short road into the mouth of the coulee, and turn left anywhere. Follow any number of paths, or make your own way, it's all good. Daisy and I started out down the middle, but there were so many pricker bushes getting their evil progeny into my boots and Daisy's paws, that we turned more to the left and climbed up onto a little bench and continued on our way, far fewer of the devilish prickers up there. The lakes basin is great, plenty to see and do. We hiked up to the highest and farthest campsite and took a break there. The cliffs are interesting, with the expected columnar basalt interspersed with other rock types and formations above and below. Some of the lakes were frozen over, others were melted and home to numerous birds. I kept hearing pigeons or doves cooing in then rocks above, until a hawk circled by, then all the doves took flight and harrassed the hawk into moving on, which it did by rising lazily up in ever-expanding cirlces. It was very warm in the sun, and the thermals were great for the hawks, which I saw more of as the day progressed. We had left the car at 11, and now it was 3, so I decided some more exploring was in order, so we made our way around to the waterfall that feeds the farthest lake. The trail over is primitive, and it disappears in the rocks far short of the falls, but some careful scrambling and route-finding got me and the dog safely to the falls. Then we scrambled back, and headed over to the south wall to see another frozen lake over thataway. The trail down the canyon on that side seemed (and was) really interesting, so we went back that way. It winds it's way through some cool rock formations, then we scrambled down a level and finished the way out by just following the contours of the land through some grassy areas, eventually meeting the dirt road back to the trailhead. We got back to the car at 6 pm, a very good 7-hour hike and picnic. But once again my gaiters would have come in handy for the prickers, nasty little multi-pointed SOB's.

Took advantage of the ""spring-like"" begining of March to overnight at Ancient Lakes. I was aiming for a trek with not having to strap snowshoes on thy feet.

Monday started out with the 2.5hr drive over to the Columbia Basin, and through the farmlands. Good thing I opted for Ancient Lakes as my first plan was Yakima Canyon Skyline Ridge - which appeared encrusted in white as I drove down 90 by EBurg. Winters grip on the hills wasn't phased by the warm sunny skies.

So... on to the coulees and the Upper Route out of Quincy. Listed as ~8 miles RT in the books, a short walk = pack the big tent. Being a weekday around 1pm, there was nobody around, this was looking like solitude! Off down the trail I went, temps in the upper 50's. I questioned my timing on this trip. The bad part is still too early for the wildflower photography, but the good weighed in with a few days off from work, sun, fresh air,...and no snakes (yet). Plus great landscape photo ops this side of Utah canyons. Soon I arrived at the upper few lakes with views down the coulee to the west. The trail (if you will) is quite level, with the exception of the steep screep slope one decends at the lower falls. Set up camp between the two lower lakes and explored with camera and tripod till sunset. Almost full moon night, some wind and hoots of an owl up in the cliffs. Morning brought puffy cumulous and blue skies. What more could you ask?

Granted, this is a very short hike/backpack, but if you need a retreat from the snowcamping scene and wait a month more, you'll have fields of wildflowers in Ancient Lake Valley.

I drove to Quincey and hiked to the Ancient Lakes, in Potholes Canyon. I took the lower route, and the first trail to the left, a few minutes from the parking lot. Birds, coyoyes, bats, beaver, flowers. Everything was green, it was sunny, one other person on Friday, 35 on Saturday, but most only stayed an hour or so, three groups spent the night, less than a dozen Sunday. Carry water, the lakes were sprayed with something last fall and the waterfalls might have agricultural reminants. It is not that far to carry a couple gallons. You can climb a cliff to see Dusty Lake. Scramble up past the big waterfall to the second waterfall to visit the beaver. Follow little trails all day, you won't get lost. And no annoying parking fees. Really beautiful, dry and warm. I love looking at rocks and the basalt cliffs are amazing. Good place to bring binoculars. Snakes? I only saw one skin shedded last year.This is a big, wide canyon where you can wander to your heart's content.

Someone new to the Quincy area would never guess as to the treasures awaiting them just miles from the quiet farming community. Lichen-covered basalt cliffs, small lakes and wet lands, complex canyons and coulees, wide open sky views, birdsong, snakes and an assortment of strange plants and flowers.

I had the delight of introducing a small group of Mountaineers to Ancient Lakes. The lower way into the lakes is via an old jeep road and is used by mountain bikes and horses, as well as hikers. In the spring the area doesn't have the solitude as suggested by the 15-year-old prose of the Central Washington hiking guide, but there's still room for the usually mellow groups who choose to camp there.

We camped on the low ridge between two of the lakes and then went for a hike up through the stepped coulee slopes. Various boot beaten trails follow the line of cliffs between Ancient and Dusty Lakes. You can scramble down to Dusty over moderately steep talus and continue on a hike around the upper lakes, tiny hidden valleys and wetlands. It is possible to make some long loops, combining the upper trails and roads past the fishing camps with the trails descending to either Ancient or Dusty Lakes. Territorial views can be had by climbing up around behind some of the cliffs. Just be aware that the rock is a combination of unstable shale and weathered basalt.

We saw a beaver family swimming around in the larger Ancient lake and observed the swooping flight of swallows, raptors, and other birds. The soothing hoots of an owl and the buzzy song of crickets lingered well into the calm night.

On Sunday, there was a rattlesnake near the trail on the way out, who after buzzing a warning, quickly retreated under a rock.

The flower season is advancing into early summer with the advent of Thelypodium, purple sage and an assortment of yellow, white and violet daisies. Arrowleaf balsamroot, larkspur, buckwheat, wild onion, brodiaea, elderberry and alumroot were still blooming in the more protected talus and lithosol soils. The serviceberry was setting fruit and the wild roses were beginning to bloom.

We caught a heavy rainshower on Saturday as a front moved through, but Sunday was warm and pleasant with high thin clouds. The rain had dampened the dust slightly and freshened the air. It was an enjoyable, easy paced trip to begin the backpacking season.

All the water in the lakes and streams comes from the surrounding agricultural area and must be either boiled and/or filtered. There are lots of fish in Dusty Lake for the anglers among us.