Steamboat Rock — Thursday, May. 12, 2016

Central Washington > Grand Coulee

I began my ascent from the trailhead by the second campground loop. A number of walking sticks were left against the trailhead sign for anyone to use. The meadow below the rock was a riot of wildflowers that were clinging to end of season petals. A water fountain is available just before the steep portion of the ascent/rock scramble. What struck me most about this hike was the wildlife and the solitude. Pausing for a moment during the initial ascent, I spotted a deer calming grazing across a nearby grassy ravine. That was the first of many animal sightings. I saw a dozen deer, two marmot, wild turkeys, warbling birds, and a rabbit along the way. At one point, I cleared fresh scat (coyote?) off the trail to avoid potentially stepping in it on the way back down. I chose a sunset hike to beat the heat, and was rewarded with beautiful views. There was not another soul on the trail, perhaps because it was a weeknight. The borrowed walking stick gave me a lot more stability on the loose rock during my descent.