Volunteer hike docent, Rick Hosmer, will lead a hike at Antoine Peak on Saturday, February 17th starting at 11am. Rick has been hiking and enjoying the outdoors since his childhood exploring the central Cascade Range with his dad and grandfather. Backpacking trips on his path to becoming an Eagle Scout, led to an interest in mountaineering and rock climbing. He has ascended most of the Cascade volcanoes and scrambled to the tops of many peaks throughout the Pacific Northwest.
This trail provides a good, non-technical hike with a mix of climbs and descents and numerous viewpoints interspersed along forested slopes. It’s a loop hike and will provide a great introduction to the 1,300 acres of the Antoine Peak Conservation Area.
We’ll meet up at the West Trailhead (large gravel parking area with porta potty) and hike the Antoine Summit Trail to where it joins Emerald Necklace. It is likely that the trail could be snowy or icy in February, so take/wear gaiters, microspikes and trekking poles. Depending on the interests and abilities of the group, we could make a side trip to the summit of the peak if people are interested. The loop is 4.6 miles, with 921 feet of elevation gain taking approximately 3 hours… a bit more if we hike to the top.
Dress for the conditions and temperatures, with a warm hat and windproof shell, and carry plenty of water and snacks. Binoculars are nice (not required) for views of Liberty Lake, Mica Peak, Mount Spokane, the Dishman Hills, and even Steptoe Butte, nearly 60 miles away, if it’s not foggy. Sunglasses are good to have if it’s sunny.
On the hike, we can chat about INLC’s involvement in protecting this land, regional wildlife, ice age floods, the Spokane-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, Antoine Plante (a very interesting guy!), and Native cultural history of the area. There is a lot of history to be seen from here.
This is a great hike of a unique area on the north rim of the Spokane Valley.
When: Saturday, February 17th starting at 11am
Where: Antoine Peak
15501 E Brevier Road
Spokane, WA 99212
United States
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