#7: [02-Aug-15]

#6: [16-May-12]

#1: [13-May-01]

#2: [09-Aug-05] (incomplete)

12-May-2024 -- As it had been nearly 2 months since my last confluence visit, and as I had no confluence visits within several hundred miles of this location, and as I was in the area for the Intermountain GIS conference, one school visit, one university visit, and one community college visit for the purpose of promoting geotechnologies in education and society, a confluence visit seemed like the perfect beginning point to this week.

Thus after touching down at the Spokane airport around 1:30pm local time, I was soon meandering through some agricultural and forested Lands to the north and northeast of the city of Spokane. This was truly some beautiful terrain, and it was probably the warmest day they had had thus far this year, close to 80° F. I proceeded north and northeast on US 2 and then in an easterly direction on county roads from Milan to Blanchard. After proceeding on these winding beautiful roads, traveling up ridges and down valleys, I turned south and southeast on Blanchard Loop-Poirier Road. This was a dirt road, but it was in fine condition. I paused to take a photograph of a road that marked the Idaho Washington state line. It is always a treat for a geographer to see a political boundary. As I spotted the lake that was my goal off to the right (south), I slowed even farther down and crossed the one lane bridge. Finding nowhere to park, I drove back to the west, and parked on the side of the road with a view to the lake. I gathered supplies and set off on foot. It was midafternoon but as it was only a month before the summer solstice and I was at 48 North, I had plenty of daylight left.

I am pretty sure I was the only one in the area hiking while wearing a tie. In retrospect, I probably should have brought my water bottle. But all was well and I was looking forward to this. Yet I wondered: How difficult would this one actually be? Sometimes these are easier than I thought they will be and sometimes they are more difficult. After crossing the bridge once more on foot, I struck off to the south, keeping to the trail on the east side of the lake. The sign said that swimming was OK and that was pretty tempting due to the hot weather: But then I thought about the movie Stand by Me where those kids in this part of the world have leeches stuck to them after emerging from a swim in a lake, which made me a bit wary. Plus, I was on a mission, so I continued to the southeast corner of the lake. There was much downed and cut timber so the route was slow going with many tripping hazards. This area clearly needed some rain. Due to the large wetland before me which looked deep, I turned to the southeast. While doing so, I headed into the trees, hoping in earnest that the confluence point would occur before I reached the slope of the mountain ahead of me. It was not meant to be; therefore, I started up the slope. Amazingly, I found a very faint trail for part of the way, perhaps only a deer trail, but then I ended up on some extremely steep, perhaps 45° slope, covered with rotting and fallen timber, and some new growth as well. The ground was very soft and covered with all sorts of obstructions and slippery pine cones. About 20 meters north of the confluence point I was amazed to find another faint trail, heading diagonally up the mountain toward the southwest. Once on the trail, I had a fairly good view of the sky and took some photographs, but then in order to try to zero out the unit, headed off the trail straight up the steep slope to the south, making extremely slow progress.

After repeated attempts and almost falling several times, I was able to zero out the unit. It was an amazing view, despite the tree cover, particularly to the north where I could see the lake. This was one of the most beautiful confluence points I have visited recently during my visits to nearly 500 points over 25 years: What an amazing planet.

It has been a long long time since I have been to a confluence point in Idaho: Well over 10 years. It was great to be back. This point was last visited 9 years ago. I have visited a few points in the past along 48° north latitude in Washington, Montana, and North Dakota. I have also stood at 117 west Longitude in the past 25 years, not only here, but also south of here in Idaho, and also in California. As I mentioned, this confluence point is on about a 45° slope, sloping off to the north, and is covered with decayed timber, but also some new growth as well. A mixture of deciduous and coniferous. It was mid afternoon in late spring, temperature around 80° F with very little wind. Clear skies dominated. I took photos and posted a video here of 48 North Latitude, 117 West Longitude. Ah!

While I was attempting to zero out the unit one more time, amazingly, I received a phone call. As I started talking with the person on the phone, I suddenly realized that I was surrounded by a swarm of black flies. I had to ring off and as gingerly and fast as possible get out of there despite the uncertain footing and steep slope. After descending 50 steps, I decided to take the trail which led to the northeast. Thankfully the flies subsided.

I decided to walk on the four-wheel-drive trail that led through a private tree farm/preserve. Once at the gate on the north end, I noticed that the tree farm permitted hikers, which was a very nice touch, and I thank the landowners for this. Once on the main road, even though I thought that this was a fairly remote and rural area, I was amazed to find a golf course and a bunch of condos right there. Sigh! Still, it is a lovely area. I decided to walk along this road and get my steps in for the day to the east, and then U-turning back to the west, and then headed one more loop in the wooded area east of the lake, and then back to my vehicle. I was in the area about two hours total. A few hikers and a family at five were walking as well. The two little ones were crying and carrying on, but I admired the parents for getting everyone out on the landscape--someday I am sure those kids will appreciate these outdoor experiences!

I exited the area via Spirit Lake and then on to Coeur d'Alene. All in all, despite the steep slopes immediately around the confluence point and the flies, I had a wonderful experience here; great views, trees, lake, and sky. Get out there and explore the world!