Dusty Lake — Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023

Ethan, Karen, & I took a hike to Dusty Lake on this mostly sunny, mild day.  This was a hike to celebrate my birthday, which is tomorrow.  There were strong winds predicted for the Vantage area, but it was mostly calm up here.  We started from the lower trailhead.  The 2 outhouses were stocked with toilet paper.  We followed the old 2-track across the mouth of the Ancient Lake arm of Potholes  Coulee, around the nose of the rib, and then down the coulee to Dusty Lake where we found a nice spot for lunch.  After lunch we had a little birthday celebration with brownies made by Karen with a couple of candles and some kambucha supplied by Ethan.  We probably stayed an hour-and-a-half before heading back.  Both on the way in and as we sat at the lake we saw & heard  some huge squadrons of geese.  They seemed pretty white & Ethan thought they might have been snow geese.  At the lake their calls echoed off the cliffs.  Other than the geese and coots on the lake, we didn't see any wildlife.  There were lots of cars at the trailhead, but we only saw a few mountain bikers and other hikers.  What a great way to celebrate a birthday!