Set out to hike the Big Sky loop but ended up cutting off a portion by accidentally taking Ginger's End. I was able to regain the Big Sky Loop by taking Arrowleaf ridge trail. Overall the trails I took were clear and mostly well defined. There are many more trails then those pictured on the office map so it is easy to get confused. For example the Arrowleaf ridge trail splits between climbing the ridge or staying in the valley. Also I think there are a few intersections that lost their number. Not too much of an issue if one is in the mood to explore and see where the trail takes you.

For my final Hike-a-Thon 2014 hike, I decided to check out the Pend Oreille County Park trail system. This easy-access hike is one I've driven past for years while on my way to bigger hikes elsewhere. It's hike # 63 for those who have Day Hiking Eastern Washington. My stop was at the end of a 40+ mile weekend of traipsing around the Colville National Forest, including the Salmo Priest Wilderness. I intended to finish up with another wilderness hike, but Sunday rain/snow storms soaked all of my gear, including my hiking shoes, so I was happy to have an option that was a little closer to town, a little farther from predicted storms, and with a little warmer weather in general. The good news is that this is an awesome trail system with over seven miles of trails. The bad news is that the park was hit hard by the freak windstorms earlier this summer, and most of the trails have a significant amount of downfall. In places, I feared I had lost the trail entirely when it disappeared beneath the crossed trunks of big trees fallen one atop the other in a huge pile. I always managed to pick it up again, but this hike shouldn't be considered easy until crews have a chance to clear it. I also noticed that many of the trail markers are missing. I recommend printing a copy of the trail map (linked below) to carry along on the hike, or do what I did, which was to take picture of the trail head map and then refer to my camera at trail intersections. Even so, I ended up a little confused--but maybe I'm just always a little confused! The only other trail users I met today were four women in two groups on horseback. The second group had miniature mules they were training as pack animals! They were the cutest critters ever. The women told me that a well-trained miniature mule would probably not even need a lead rope--they'd just follow a hiker along a trail. I think I need to get one to carry my backpack gear for me! This hike is worthwhile for the forest it crosses through, as well as the view from the high points (try Pentstemon Point off the Big Sky Loop where one can even see the backside of Mount Spokane in the distance). There is camping available during the summer. The gates are locked after Labor Day, so fall and winter visitors need to walk in from the park entrance (which is where I started for this hike--it's easy access with parking for several vehicles). This one might be worthwhile as a snowshoe trip once the snow flies. Like this trip report? Please sponsor me at http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1468&AID=2791&PID=447677