See additional links below for more trip photos. Back again in less than three months since pups and my last visit. In need of a refresher, I signed up to help instruct Mountaineers rock field trip. Instructors spent most of the day observing students and seeing them get the number of lead climbs needed to graduate from the course. I managed to get on a couple of routes in between times. Light morning breeze turned somewhat gusty before noon when clouds slowly crept into the area and brought down the temperature. When 5 o'clock rolled around it became calm again. After the field trip, I took advantage of longer daylight and squeezed in a hike in the north basin. From the gate I hiked northwestward to edge of cliffs north of a dry creek bed overlooking Columbia River. Then I turned around and walked eastward along north basalt rim until my turnaround point before the waterfall. Two hawks swirled overhead and called out incessantly until the minute I turned around. Territorial much? Wildflowers in full bloom, strewed mostly across hillside west of the rim. Gear: none

If you plan on hiking towards the waterfall, take the service road on the right when you are driving on Vantage Road SW. I'm not exactly sure where the road on the left takes you, but I believe it's for people who want to climb. It's an easy grade for the two miles in, and two miles out. With the right shoes, gear, or if you are sure footed and confident, then you'll be able to do a baby scramble towards the base of the falls. Going up was easy, but going down was a little nerve-racking.

Once on trail, I had the length of the coulee to myself on a late afternoon walk to the waterfall and back. Only a few wildflowers but the silence and solitude was enough.

Headed to Frenchman Coulee this morning. Driving down the long road, passes a lot of campers and rock climbers. Once at the bottom of the hill there is a pull out for about 3 cars. Very fun easy trail. Description says 4 miles round trip, but I think that is just to the falls. We hopped across the stream and kept going. All together we did about 6 miles. Pretty chilly this morning, but it felt good. Wanted to do this before the snakes wake up for the season. I imagine there would be a lot there in the warmer months! The rock formations were stunning and the water fall was beautiful. Even on a cloudy day!

This was a Mountaineers basic climbing class SIG trip - I helped as an assistant instructor. I had to lead a few routes, which was fun; we stayed in the low-grade area at the Feathers; the hardest route I lead was probably a 5.8. Despite all the climbing gym training, an intense day at Vantage always kicks my butt, even without doing hard routes; I was quite sore the next day.