Northrup Canyon

Janet Putz and I hatched a plan to drive to the coulees. I invited HikerJim Kuresman, who mused aloud, “Hmmmm…it’s probably not going to rain over there…?”

“No. Freezing fog,” I said.

We learned that Dry Falls Interpretive Center is open on weekends this winter as an experiment. We arrived just as the ranger was closing up, but she would love to have folks drop by and pay a visit.

We camped at Steamboat Rock SP – currently under about 6-8 inches of snow. But the restrooms are open (and warm). The temps Friday night dipped to 21 degrees. According to the locals I spoke with (I love the locals here), the temps aren’t uncommon, but the amount of snow is.

Twice during the night, Janet and I heard a pack of coyotes howling. And twice during the night, I heard some live-action frost-wedging going on up at the Rock. A loud, popping CRACK, and then rocks rumbling and tumbling down slope. 2 wedgies within a few minutes of each other. Geomorphology at work. That was really, really cool!

It dawned clear and cold. We went into town to the dam Visitor’s Center, and walked the bridge/museum, we headed to Northrup Cyn (definitely do the bridge walk – there are history readerboards installed on the walkway; very interesting).

Northrup Cyn is gorgeous in winter. Tall sagebrush retains a silvery-green hue and the grasses are golden, the red-osier is beginning to attain its glorious scarlet color.

Eagle-watchers present, but no eagles at Northrup this day, though we did see some at Thompson Lake at Steamboat Rock SP. This is eagle-watching season for the Grand Coulee – there’s an eagle festival next weekend! The freezing fog rolled just as we were leaving Northrup Cyn; a spectacular bank of fog lit up by the orange/pink sunset. Simply amazing.

The fee for camping at Steamboat is $19 per night, and is open year-round