hiking | Washington State Hiking Pursuing Balance Thru Adventure

Activity: Nature Walk

3 miles, 194’ elevation gain, 75 min duration, rated Easy

There seems to be some discrepancy regarding the actually spelling. Is it McLoughlin Canyon or McLaughlin? I have seen it spelled both ways in different accounts and even both ways in the same account. The one thing I know is that there is signage near the spot from the Okanogan Historical Society spelling it McLoughlin, but the road in is spelled McLaughlin Canyon Rd.

History tells us that on July 29, 1858 David McLoughlin, (Most accounts I have read spelled his name that way, however I did see one that spelled it the other), brought a group of more than 150 prospectors, most of the men with a US Army background having fought in the war with Mexico, through this area up from the Okanogan River below. This spot with it’s cliffs and bluffs funneled the men into a natural canyon ripe for an ambush. Native Americans Warriors of the Chelan, Okanogan and Columbia tribes had enough of the miners encroaching on their land and attacked from above. Possessing the advantage of the high ground killed 6 men and wounded almost three times that many before the miners group retreated back down and across the Okanogan River. This skirmish along with other such incidents sent fear through out the North West which lead to a Military backlash and ultimately to a treaty being signed later that year.

Today this area is a quick easy jaunt out into nature where you can experience the terrain around Tonasket in North Central Washington.

The hike begins in a canyon bearing a grim reminder of how devastating wildfires are in the west. The large trees are burned, but the area is springing back with green grass, wildflowers, and desert brush.

After the first half mile some firs are back to decorating the canyon area properly and there are scenic cliffs, and a grassy meadow to enjoy. I took an animal trail a bit further to snap a picture of the valley as it stretched out before me with a glimpse of the Okanogan River. If you walk in the meadow, off the trail, you will be picking cheat grass out of your socks for 10 minutes. Yes, I learned that from experience, lol.

To get a photo from above I continued the back country road ‘McLaughlin Canyon Road’ which was a great 4×4 drive through the countryside.

**“The earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth.” -Chief Seattle**

Thanks for joining in this scenic Nature Walk in McLoughlin Canyon a very pleasant way to spend an hour ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’. By the way, I reached out to the Okanogan Historical Society and they sent detailed information that McLoughlin is the correct spelling setting at least this record straight. Please stick around for more adventure by doing some simple tasks: COMMENT, LIKE, FOLLOW and SHARE. The menu above shows hiking areas all over the West and is mostly categorized by location. Each is a separate website and thus needs to be FOLLOWED independently. I invite you to checkout my line of Adventure Wear at SHOP APPAREL it is top quality and carries the PBTA Logo and Mantra.

Happy Trails-

Roger Jenkins

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure

Middle Fork Snoqualmie Natural Resource Conservation Area

Near North Bend

Activity: Day Hike, Peak Bagging

10 miles, Summit 4,679′, 3,537 elevation gain, 6.5 hour duration, rated HARD

My journey began beside the fast moving Snoqualmie River and into a dense forest of thick, tall, dark green fir trees. I was so captivated by the immense natural beauty that all I could do was walked on wide eyed and praying not to awaken from this heavenly dream.

When you challenge yourself to engage a “HARD” rather remote wilderness hike you have to ask yourself, “Do I feel lucky?” Actually Dirty Harry’s Peak is not named after famed actor Clint Eastwood’s portrayal of Inspector Harry Callahan. The peak got it’s name after Harry Gault a relentless and determined logger who would not let anything stop him, even steep, rough terrain. He cleared lumber even in this place which others though impossible.

Actually Dirty Harry’s Peak has nothing to do with a
44 Magnum, the World’s most powerful handgun.

Trekking poles are most helpful for this adventure because above Dirty Harry’s Bench it all gets kicked up a notch. My plan was originally only hiking to the Bench, but while on this journey I found out about the peak and it was just too intriguing for a Peak Bagger not to accept this challenge. Double the pleasure, double the fun, and that goes for the altitude, mileage, duration, and rating. Trekking poles are good not only for the steeper portions, but certainly come in handy for the multiple creek crossing. A bit of the trail is actually a creek.

On the upper portion of the mountain I saw very few people. This allowed me to become fully immersed in my surroundings, enjoying nature and the solitude. I really had the top all to myself.

As I climbed higher and higher there was even quite a bit of snow lasting into the early Summer. The poles, of course, were great for the snow. Maybe I should not have left the micro spikes in the rig… Oh well, I didn’t know there was a peak until I was well into the hike.

I thought that I was once again going to get skunked on the view from the top like I did at Rattlesnake Ledge… when Lo and Behold, with a little breeze the thick moody fog cloud broke a hole open for me to see behind the curtain for about 5 minutes, which was absolutely splendid! The view went from a socked in blank page of white cloud nothingness to a bit of blue sky and super peak-a-boo glimpses of the surrounding mountainsides. I peered down the cliff I was standing on taking in a wonderful little alpine valley below.

From there it was back down through the snow being ever so careful on this icy slip and slide picking my course through the woods, over and around logs, and brush making my way. Knowing all too well I was on my own if anything should go awry. Especially with the snow covering any path that there might be, a downloaded GPS maps is important.

On the way down I was afforded some wonderful views from
Dirty Harry’s Bench.

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Thanks for joining me on this enchanting and exciting journey ‘Pursing Balance Through Adventure’ in this PNW wonderland near North Bend. This particular trek is not for the faint of heart, but a challenging peak to bag especially with a name like “Dirty Harry” even if it has nothing to do with the 44 Magnum the most powerful handgun in the world! Stay with me for more adventures in Washington. Please note that PBTA travels all over this great West of ours and if you go the Menu above you just may gain some insight for contemplating your own journey of Balance. Balance that is so important to our body and soul. Each category in the Menu is a separate website and thus needs to be FOLLOWED independently. Speaking of which, the best way for us to remain connected is simply by these actions: FOLLOW, COMMENT, LIKE, and SHARE. Get your PBTA Merch at SHOP APPAREL.

Happy Trails-

Roger Jenkins

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure