The call from Lisa Porter was similar to the ones of the past three years. She wanted to coordinate a spring hike for the local homeschoolers.

The first hike was to the area where Chief Moses camped in the spring. This was downstream from Highway 17 on Rocky Ford Creek, to the area I call Chief Moses Rock.

The rock can be seen when driving Highway 17 from Moses Lake to Ephrata and heading down hill toward Rocky Ford. Look to the left and on the Ephrata side of the creek, where the power lines begin to climb again, the rock is to the right of the power lines.

The group gathered at the parking lot on the Ephrata side of the creek and hiked the mile or so distance to the rock. Once there, a passage or two from books about the area were read and the students were able to grasp the significance of the local history. They were able to climb all over the trading rock, which was reported to hold a pile of buffalo skins during Indian trading sessions at the site.

The next year we explored the Lake Lenore Caves. This was a challenge for the group, as all 30 plus members climbed the stairs and then hiked the basalt trails to the seven or more caves.

The group stopped at the first cave, which was up hill at a steep angle and not at all suitable for this group to investigate. This was explained to the group as we stopped at the edge of the trail.

I had taken three steps up toward the next cave when Lisa mentioned there was something crawling across the trail to the first cave. It was a large rattlesnake slithering across the path we would have needed to take to reach the first cave.

The rest of the caves were investigated and searched with no other interaction with wildlife.

Last year we walked the mile or so trail to view the Odessa Craters. These are north of Odessa and south of Wilbur. When lava was bubbling up from below, various bubbles would form and burst, leaving a rim and indention.

These were covered up by the blowing soil throughout the thousands of years after this event. However they were uncovered during the ice age floods, which removed the dirt from the rocks underneath. The rimmed craters then became visible.

This year we hiked to the homestead in Northrup Canyon. My friend, Bill Witt, was along, as he and I have made this trip before.

The distance is again just over a mile, but this mile was unusually grueling for the group. When the group assembled at the trailhead, Lisa asked if I had any bug spray.

No I didn’t, but there was sunscreen in my backpack. Everyone had sunscreen, but no one had bug spray. The mosquitoes were vicious with 10 or 20 at a time landing on a person’s head, not to mention the rest of their body.

My thought was to call the whole thing off, but the thought was not voiced. This group of 30 plus was game for the hike, biting insects or not. Off we went, after my usual caution about rattlesnakes, cougars and bears.

The trail was wet in places, but the hikers either sloshed through the water or found a trail around the wet spots.

This group has proven to be an inspirational group to me each year. Students of all ages take part in the hikes. On the cave hike, we had a little one less than 6 months old. This year we had one under 2 years old and a couple in the 3-year-old range.

Some were carried by mothers or fathers from time to time, but a few of the little toddlers, some of the youngest ones, didn’t want to be carried and walked the entire distance.

This was an unusual hike, as the group didn’t seem interested in exploring the old buildings as Bill and I thought. Perhaps my safety speech about rusty nails made them cautious.

As we started back down the trail a slight breeze began to blow, enough to keep most of the mosquitoes from being able to land and bite.

Where will we go next year? Lisa and I discussed this question for a minute or two with no resolution. We will see, but no matter, I’m ready.

These hikes are suitable for most adults, too. If you have a group eager to explore these Columbia Basin wonders, let me know.