Nature Exploring
In Eastern Washington

And North idaho

In this book

In this book you will learn how Coffeepot Lake got its name. Where to find waterfalls in the desert scablands. The best place to find moose. Where to find the best views of the Palouse. The best places to find wild mushrooms. All this and much more as you go nature exploring with someone who has roamed the back country of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho for the past 30 years.

Available from

The book is available at REI,Hastings, Northwest Map Service, Aunties Bookstore for $10.

Order By Mail

The Nature Exploring book is $12 including tax and postage, it is also available online as a full color eBook PDF file for $15 including tax or you can order a CD for $15.00 which includes tax and postage.

Also available are three hiking books, each $9 including postage and tax:

1. • Spokane Trail Guide #1
   

2. • Spokane Trail Guide #2
   

3. • North Idaho Trail Guide
   

Mail orders to

Rich Leon

5308 N. Oak

Spokane,Washington 99205

Sample Text

Dishman hills

  Located in the city of Spokane Valley, the Dishman Hills is an area of picturesque cliffs and ravines of billion-year-old granite. Several ponds and springs along with a huge variety of wildflowers add variety and beauty. Ponderosa Pines and Douglas Firs are interspersed with grassy slopes with flowering plants and some 70 types of mushrooms as well as many lichens and ferns. Over 200 species of birds and some 50 species of butterflies can be found in the Hills.

As I walk the trail a thin layer of fog blankets the area. The hillsides are carpeted with buttercups and glacier Lilies covered with dewdrops. As the fog burns off, the early morning sun makes the flowers sparkle like little diamonds. Today is a good day to be going for a hike in the Hills and a great day to be a photographer.

A little farther up the trail I hear the cry of a coyote and then another. Looking up into the Hills in the distance I see them and what looks to be a couple of pups. Too far away to get a good photo but still a wonderful sight to see. Not wanting to disturb them I head off on one of the side trails. After a short distance I stop to photograph a Glacier lilly and see many Balsamroot that will soon be in bloom. Not far away I find Shooting Stars; a flower that goes back to Ancient Greek time. As the story goes, it was considered to have such beauty that it was protected by 12 Greek Gods. After reaching a spot overlooking the East Pond it was time for lunch. In the pond below I see a couple of Mallards enjoying a swim on this beautiful spring day. My mind begins to reminiscence about Tom Rogers. Tom not only was a friend but someone I would stay close to whenever he would lead a hike. From him I was able to learn a lot about various wildflowers, mushrooms, birds and other things nature related.

He was one of the original founders of the Dishman Hills Association. Tom passed away in 1999 at the age of 85. The Dishman Hills would not be what it is today without his tireless determination, commitment and dedication to protecting our fragile environment. The Hills don’t seem the same since he has been gone but he will always be with me in spirit. The next time someone tells you to take a hike, head for the hills, the Dishman Hills.

You can get maps of the Dishman Hills showing all the hiking trails at REI or the Northwest Map Service

views since October 2009