Ancient Lakes

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.