mt spokane

Day trip to Mt. Spokane.  Gorgeous with a dusting of haze from the nearby wildfires in Oregon and Northern California.  We opted for the 4 mile round trip "moderate" loop hike at Kit Carson trail.  Off we go! Marla Truex Jr. in the lead, John second, me in third.  We head down, down, down the mountain side while John and I say out loud "well, at some point we are going to have to go back up eh?!"  Follow trail 130 to 160 and then decide we don't want to go back up to the summit and opt to take 160.  At some point, John becomes more and more concerned that we are heading the wrong way.  We stop, regroup, and decide to head back.  4 miles later we are still  1 mile from base and that last mile is STRAIGHT UP.  I say prayers to the Achilles Gods for a safe journey for John and we head back.  Step by step, up the steady 15-20 degree grade for a mile.  Hurry back and ice that Achilles with Ibuprofen STAT!