Alta Lake State Park

Our trip began on June 24th, with a trip up and over Chinook Pass.  The pass had just opened the day before after a record winter snowfall (over 700 inches at nearby Crystal Mountain Ski Resort).  Colton was pretty impressed with the walls of snow, and we had to stop for photos near the top of the pass.  The rest of the trip to Yakima was pretty much uneventful.  We arrived safely at Yakima Sportsman State Park for our stay.  There's not much to say about the park.  No, really, there's not much to say.  We had never stayed there before.  And we probably won't go back.  I mean it was ok if you just need a place to stay.  But there really wasn't much to do in the area.  Colton caught a few fish in the youth only pond, but it wasn't much fun for Mom and Dad.  We did find they have quite a few mosquitoes.  And my escape from my allergies didn't quite work out, as the Cottonwoods were in full release.  It looked like a heavy snow storm a couple of times.  Unfortunately, we stayed there many days.  Alta Lake State Park couldn't come soon enough...

The beach at Alta Lake State Park

And then we arrived at Alta Lake.  Nice and warm, with a breeze.  Colton and I enjoyed the beach and lake several times.  I will not scar you with photos of myself in a swimsuit!  While the park is very nice, I had an ulterior motive.  You see, many, many years ago, when I was a kid, the family camped here many times.  I recall it being Mom's favorite place to camp.  Well one trip, I took Jeff Forgey along.  He and I decided we were going to hike the trail up to the viewpoint.  Well after about only a quarter of a mile, I nearly stepped on a Rattlesnake.  Now, I never liked snakes, and that sealed the deal.  We never made it up the trail after that.  So, my plan was to finally hike up to the viewpoint.  The first spur I tried was fairly overgrown, which didn't ease my concern for snakes.  The second was better and soon I was moving upward on the trail.  I did eventually reach the viewpoint.  And it was indeed a good day.

This viewpoint photo, only 35 years in the making!

My next goal was to get Colton to the Grand Coulee Dam.  I have enjoyed the place many times, and thought he would as well.  We loaded up the car and went to Coulee City.  The dam was bleeding lots of water over the spillways and was quite spectacular.  We took photos from the usual viewpoints and then headed to the third powerhouse area for the tour.  I had somehow avoided this in my prior trips.  It was great.  We passed through security and loaded into little tour buses.  We got to go through the third powerhouse, right at the base of the dam, and then up and across the top.  No one had been allowed up there since 9-11-01.  This summer they opened it back up.  Wow...  It was amazing...

Lots of surplus water this year.

Inside the third powerhouse.

On top of the dam.  Lake Roosevelt to the right.

And over the spillway.

We wanted to see the Laser Show, but didn't want to stay longer that day, so we went back to the motorhome.  But, silly us, went back the next evening.  It's only about an hour and a half each way.  It was fun though.  I mean the show was no LaserFloyd, but it was neat seeing the show on the flowing spillway of the dam.  And on the way back to the park in the dark, lonely stretches of the highway, we pulled out Google Sky Map and showed Colton many constellations.  And the Milky Way!  The next day, we pulled up stakes and headed home.  Next up...  An old favorite, Silver Springs NFS campground!