Volunteer hike docent, Rick Hosmer, will lead a hike at Liberty Lake on Saturday, May 18 starting at 10 am. 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 is a wonderful, somewhat challenging springtime hike along Liberty Lake, Liberty Creek, through the Cedar Grove Conservation Area, and up to Liberty Creek Falls. It’s about 6 miles round trip, with switchbacks past the cedar grove to a beautiful view of Liberty Lake and Mount Spokane before reaching the falls.
It’s a bit of a climb to get to the waterfall, so be prepared. The trail gains about 800 feet in elevation, much of it past the cedars. We’ll take it easy, resting as needed, and meet up at the falls if people want to hike ahead.
Liberty Creek is beautiful, the various tree and shrub species are interesting, and there is a lot of wildlife to potentially see (beaver, deer, elk, moose, black bear, cougar, and bobcat call this area home — though it’s likely they’ll flee from us way before we see them). Native wildflowers should be starting to bloom by now.
On the hike and at breaks, we’ll chat about INLC’s involvement in the land, the Native and pioneer history of the area (including Saltese Lake, which was once bigger than Liberty Lake), the Cedar Grove Conservation area, the Spokane-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer; what makes Liberty, Newman, and Hauser Lakes unique; and local wildlife.
Dress for the weather and temperature, and bring plenty of water and snacks for the trail and a break at the cedar grove and waterfall. Bug spray and sunscreen may be appreciated.
Read the passage linked below to take part in the guided discussion as you walk along the trail. This hike will serve as the student’s “community engagement” credit in their course.
Click here to access the reading for this hike: Thinking like a Mountain
When: Saturday, May 18th starting at 10 am
Where:
Idaho Road parking area, on the right past the Zephyr Road County Park entrance (also sometimes referred to as the “equestrian trailhead”). This is NOT the “ORV” (Off Road Vehicle) parking which is also up Idaho Road and looks like a Trailhead, but is on the opposite side of the road.