Barstad - Best Easy Day Hikes Spokane/Coeur dAlene

Best Easy Day Hikes
Spokane/Coeur dAlene

Best Easy Day Hikes Series

Best Easy Day Hikes
Spokane/Coeur dAlene

Second Edition

Fred Barstad

An imprint of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.

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A previous edition of this book was published by Falcon Publishing, Inc. in 2012.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available

ISBN 978-1-4930-2978-5 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-4930-2979-2 (e-book)

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Printed in the United States of America

The author and The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc. assume no liability for accidents happening to, or injuries sustained by, readers who engage in the activities described in this book.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the people from the land management agencies who reviewed portions of my text: Lori Cobb from Riverside State Park, Steve Cristenson from Mount Spokane State Park, Sandy Rancourt from Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, and Brian White from the Bureau of Land Management.

Thanks to Alex Hoppe for joining me while collecting information.

Most of all thanks to my wife, Sue Barstad, for all her computer help.

Introduction

The Spokane House, close to the Little Spokane River, was the earliest nonNative American settlement in the Pacific Northwest. Established in 1810, the little trading post was widely known for its hospitality and is now in Riverside State Park. In 1872 the city of Spokane, currently Washingtons second largest, was established about 10 miles south of the Spokane House next to Spokane Falls on the Spokane River.

In 1878 Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman established an army post at what is now Coeur dAlene, next to the spot where the Spokane River leaves Coeur dAlene Lake. From that beginning the city of Coeur dAlene grew to what it is today, getting a boost in the 1880s by the boom in the Silver Valley Mining District to the east.

If you live in the Spokane/Coeur dAlene area, you have a wide array of hiking opportunities at your doorstep. From the semiarid Columbia Plateau, to the timbered slopes of Mount Coeur dAlene and Mineral Ridge, and higher to the subalpine summit of Mount Spokane, hiking is available nearly year-round. If you are a visitor to the area, take the time to explore the possibilities. This book really just gives the hiker a taste of what is available close to these beautiful cities.

Spokane is at 1,900 feet elevation, near the poorly defined boundary between the grass and sagebrush of the semiarid Palouse Prairie to the southwest and the timbered plateau and well-watered mountains to the north and east. In general, rainfall (and snowfall) increases as you go farther east (toward Coeur dAlene) and/or gain altitude in this part of the Northwest. In Spokane the average January high temperature is 33F and the average low is 22F. The average July high temperature is 82F and the average low is 55F. The city of Coeur dAlene sits at 2,160 feet elevation in the pines next to the beautiful Coeur dAlene Lake. Coeur dAlene is generally slightly cooler and wetter than Spokane.

Deer and elk are common along most of the hikes included in this guide. These are generally docile animals, but both the bucks and the bulls can be somewhat aggressive during the fall rut (breeding season). Some cow elk seem to have a strong dislike for dogs and occasionally cause injuries. Bears and cougars are not often seen but are possible on all the hikes described here. Moose sightings are also possible on many of the hikes. Moose are large animals that should never be closely approached or challenged in any way. Rattlesnakes are possible on all but the highest elevation hikes in this book, and ticks can be a problem in the spring and summer.

Even on the easy hikes, weather conditions can change rapidly. The danger of adverse weather generally increases with elevation and the length of the hike. Always take clothes that are adequate for all possible conditions. Water, food, and a map should be taken along on all but the shortest hikes. A guidebook and GPS receiver are also very handy. Cell phone service can generally be had on at least part of most of the hikes described here.

Following are a few simple things you can do that will improve your chances of staying healthy while you are on your hikes:

First, check the weather report before heading into the mountains. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms are common from spring through early fall and can include heavy rain and hail as well as lightning. If a storm is approaching, get off ridgelines if possible and retreat to your car. Protective clothing is always a good idea.

Know the symptoms of both cold- and heat-related conditions, including hypothermia, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion. The easiest way to avoid these afflictions is to wear proper clothing, dress in layers, and keep adequately fed and hydrated.

On all but the shortest hikes, carry a backpack for your extra clothing and gear. This is much more comfortable than trying to carry this stuff in your hands.

Inform friends or relatives of your plans and when you plan to return.

If you are planning a long or difficult hike, be sure to get into shape ahead of time. This will make your trip much more pleasant as well as safer.

Know the basics of first aid, including how to treat bleeding, bites and stings, and strains or sprains. Always pack a first-aid kit.

One of the most important things to do is to be careful about your drinking water supply. On most of these hikes the best thing to do is to take along all the water you will need from a known safe source. All surface water should be filtered, chemically treated, or boiled before drinking.

If you have children along, keep a close eye on them. A few of the hikes described here have cliffs or steep drop-offs close to the trail. In some places stinging and/or poisonous plants are present, and there is always the chance, even though slim, of meeting a rattler. Children should carry a whistle to use if they are lostand only if they are lost.