Ken and I are recently back from a road trip that took us to NE Washington and SE British Columbia. As you might imagine, I made lots of images on this trip. We started at our favorite camping spot – Lost Lake in the Okanogan Highlands. We left home in the midst of a dramatic thunder and lightning storm and were a little nervous about fires, with good reason.
Once a person crosses the Okanogan and heads east into the next mountain range, they are approaching the edge of the Rockies and the habitats – the plants and animals – begin to change from what we observe here on the east flanks of the North Cascades. It’s fun to go a short distance and be in such a different place.
Lost Lake is also like a place that time has forgotten. The campground is an old CCC facility, built in the 40’s. There is no electronic communication. Boats on the lake go slow without high-powered engines. It is one of the few places in Washington where not-so-common Common Loons nest. They will be featured in another post. People walk and ride bikes; they say ‘hi’ and are happy to see you. Well, that’s been our experience. The campground host said that during the previous weekend that was not the case. Good thing we missed that! The Okanogan Highlands Alliance has worked to preserve the wetland at the far end of the lake from development and encroachment of cattle grazing. They have also been creating some interpretive trails near the wetland and in the upland section.
From Lost Lake we headed towards the far northeast corner of Washington – planning to stay near a border crossing so we could get an early start on our trip to BC. We aimed for Sullivan Lake but it was busy and the weather was pretty exciting with strong winds and thunder and lightning. A short drive further north took us to the Millpond campground. It was smaller and quieter and suited us for the night.
Lightning-caused fire near Riverside, above Omak
Lost Lake
We had some rain
And a campfire every night
Homemade pico de gallo with chips for an appetizer
camp coffee
Lily pads
Catching fish
One of several brook trout out of Lost Lake
Old CCC building
Rainy afternoon drive on a road we’d never driven before
Rocky Mountain juniper?
Badger hole?
It went to a tremendous viewpoint above Bonaparte Lake and Creek
Looking down the creek at the next rainy downpour
Don’t you think we ought to go now?
All the makings for spring rolls
Nasturtium spring rolls
Getting the trout ready to cook in the campfire
One of my favorite things to do
Reflection
The real thing
Lost Lake
Lost Lake
Lost Lake
The Okanogan Highlands Alliance has installed some new interpretive signs on their trails
There are a few old docks for the private cabins that line one side of the lake
No ATV’s! That’s a good thing.
Which part is real?
Lost Lake is perfect for people-powered boats
Late season flowers with pollinators
This scary guy was in the truck
Shorebirds on Maryann Creek near Chesaw
Oh yeah, I can’t get enough of this
Common Loon
Crystal Falls, the smallest state park, located east of Colville
Sullivan Creek. It feeds into the Millpond
Fly fishing
In this creek he caught, and released, a brown trout
Millpond at sunset
And a view of it from a trail that goes above the pond
The mouth of Sullivan Creek
My Everyday Photos 