Ancient Lakes - 4.13.2018
We parked at the end of Ancient Lakes Road.
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We have hiked a short distance to the entrance for Ancient Lakes Coulee... looking at the mesa that separates Ancients Lakes Coulee from Dusty Lake Coulee.
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Looking up Ancient Lakes Coulee.
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We are heading for the west end of the mesa that separates the two coulees... to be more specific, we are heading for the gendarme directly above Tom's left hand.
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Nearing the gendarme on the west end of the mesa.
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Some of our group are already up next to the gendarme on the west end of the mesa.
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Some Class 3 climbing is necessary to get up on top of the mesa.
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We have finished with the Class 3 scrambling... we are high enough to see the Columbia River... with our trailhead in the distance on the far right near the band of dark green trees.
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Continuing east along the mesa... with Dusty Lake and the Dusty Lake Coulee on the right.
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Heading east for the high point (1328') on the mesa... it is the little castle formation above us in the center of the photo.
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On top of the little castle... our high point for the day.
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Looking down on Dusty Lake Coulee... with Dusty Lake up at the head of the coulee... the Evergreen Reservoir is up on the plateau directly above Dusty Lake... then going left from the reservoir are Burke Lake, Quincy Lake and Stan Coffin Lake.
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We can also see most of the Ancient Lakes from our high point.
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Continuing east along the mesa... looking down on Ancient Lake Coulee... with the lakes up at the head of the coulee.
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A pano shot from near our high point on the mesa... showing Ancient Lakes Coulee on the left and Dusty Lake Coulee on the right.
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Looking back down Ancient Lakes Coulee to the little band of dark green trees where we parked the car.
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Continuing east along the mesa... as each step gives a closer look at Ancient Lakes.
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The west end of Dusty Lake from the mesa.
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Need to do a little Class 2/3 down climbing here.
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Giving back a little elevation... but not much.
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Ancient Lakes in the distance as we give back a little elevation along the mesa.
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Still on the mesa... now we will get to regain that elevation we just lost.
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Regaining that elevation we just lost.
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Looking back toward the Columbia River... and where we gave up the elevation a little while ago.
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A nice viewpoint for Ancient Lakes.
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A pano shot showing Ancient Lakes on the left and part of Dusty Lake over on the right.
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We will work our way over to the little gap in the center of the photo... where we will pick up that good path you can see on this side of the gap.
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Some easy Class 2 down climbing is required to get over to the gap that separates the two coulees.
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Working our way down to the gap.
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The gang is hanging out at the gap... Ancient Lakes on the left and Dusty Lake on the right.
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Dusty Lake from the gap that separates Ancient Lakes from Dusty Lake.
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Coming down from the gap and continuing on a good path as we hike east underneath the basalt cliffs.
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Continuing east on the north side of the mesa.
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Nice color on the cliffs.
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Heading for a second gap on the far right.
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Nearing our second gap on good path.
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Dusty Lake from our second gap... this is the gap where a person can find a fairly easy route down to the lake... if you decide to go down to the lake and find yourself on more difficult terrain than easy Class 2, you have not found the easiest route.
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Looking back at the Ancient/Dusty mesa and the crossover gap... we decided to stay on the Ancient Lakes side of the mesa and head down to the lakes.
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Continuing toward the Ancient Lakes and looking back at the mesa.
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A pano shot... looking down toward the entrance to Ancient Lakes Coulee.
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Nice view... still above the lakes.
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Looking down on some of the lakes.
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Still above the lakes.
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Following a good path that leads down to the lakes and the floor of the coulee.
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On the floor of the coulee... horses over on the left... this is the last photo of the day... it started to rain lightly and I put the camera away... a two mile hike from here will get you down to the entrance of the coulee and back to the car... our loop hike was 6 miles, gaining 1085 feet of elevation.
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