- Started: Hamilton, MT
- Finished: Wanapum Lake/Columbia River, WA
- Miles Driven: ~385.0
- Drive Time: ~6 1/2 Hours
Summary:
Woke up to it being even possibly smokier. Drove into Missoula, MT for the morning. Did some work at a local park in town where it just so happened to be there was a competitive Men’s Softball tournament going on. Once I hit the road again it was westbound once more, and in no time I was crossing back into Idaho. This was the panhandle of Idaho, the skinny part of the state to the north. This was the smokiest place I’ve seen thus far!
I soon was passing through Coeur d’Alene and noticed a big difference in smoke, way less here. Then I was crossing into Washington State and Spokane! I had set on camping just west of Spokane, but after getting there, realizing I was now in the Pacific Time Zone, and the spot not being all that special, I decided since it was early in the day I’d just hop back on the road and make more progress west.
Around 5pm I reached the Columbia River, also known as Wanapum Lake in this central Washington area. After driving through the eastern Washington flats, this change in landscape was quite cool. Found a spot to settle in for the night at a nearby climbing area, the rocks here were pretty neat (see the featured image above).
Tip of the Day:
Leave a place nicer than you found it. Whether it be a trail, backcountry campsite, or car camping site, pick up a little trash if there is any. If we all do just a little of this, our favorite outdoor spaces will remain clean and beautiful.
