White Bluffs - South Slope - 4.12.2011
From Ellensburg... drive east on I-90 and cross the Columbia River... take Exit 137 and drive WA-26E for 1 mile... turn right onto WA-243S and drive 14.3 miles... turn left onto Road 24 SW and drive 13.8 miles... turn left onto WA-24E and drive 9.5 miles... then see next map.
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Just beyond Mile Post 63 on WA-24E... turn right, drive thru the fancy gate, and drive 8.2 miles to the end of the road.
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rodman's GPS route of our hike on the south slope of the White Bluffs... 7.5 miles roundtrip, gaining 1190 feet of elevation.
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At the end of the 8.2 mile drive there is a nice parking area.
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Looking north from the parking area towards the north slope of the White Bluffs.
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From the parking area we took the road on the right and started downhill... the road on the left probably stays high and goes along the top of the bluffs.
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Looking south as we continue down the paved road.
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Looking north as we continue down the paved road.
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We have left the paved road and hiked over near the river... looking back at the bluffs.
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Looking at the bluffs from near the river.
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Nesting activity along the river... lots of birds.
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A fire hit this area a few years ago.
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Like the one in this photo, there are lots of trails leading up to the top of the bluffs.
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A closeup of the bluffs.
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A pano shot of the river and bluffs.
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Looking south... we will hike back up to the road and continue south for a bit more.
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Two Canadian Geese.
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The same two Canadian Geese in flight.
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Heading back towards the road and bluffs.
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BarbE has found a hat.
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Phlox.
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We have left the road again... now we are on the bluff side of the road and have found this broad valley.
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BarbE and rodman crossing the valley and heading for the bluffs.
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We are looking for a path that will get us up on top of the bluffs.
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It is hot in the valley... time to remove a layer... our path to the top is on the hillside between rodman and BarbE.
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BarbE leads the way to the top of the bluffs.
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Near the top of the bluffs... looking across the valley to the river.
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The balsamroot are starting to bloom.
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Heading north now... BarbE and rodman on top of the bluffs.
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ragman and BarbE on top of the bluffs.
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Looking north from our lunch spot along the top of the bluffs.
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Looking south at the huge valley... from our lunch spot along the top of the bluffs.
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We have hiked down from the top of the bluffs and heading for some pyramid-shaped objects on the left.
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BarbE and rodman on the river-side of the road in interesting terrain.
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Looking north and heading for the pyramid.
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rodman and BarbE exploring what we thought looked like a pyramid from a distance.
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ragman couldn't find a safe way to the top.
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Heading back towards the road now... and looking back at the rock formation.
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Heading uphill back towards the car... looking north.
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Relaxing near the parking area after completing the hike.
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