[RichP]

Fields Spring is located in Asotin County in the southeast corner of the state flanked by the Grande Ronde River Canyon on the east and the Blue Mtns on the west. The centerpiece of the park is 4500' Puffer Butte which is surrounded by miles of groomed ski trails and un groomed snowshoe/hiking trails. I have never done much skiing but decided to give it a second chance after just one outing many years ago at Cabin Ck in the Cascades. I brought snowshoes along in case the activity didn't strike my fancy. Group lodging is available in the park in several historic structures and one small cabin, (Tamarack) can be rented at a very reasonable rate per night. It was quite tight for our group of 4 but we were mostly out and about on the trails during this long weekend.

Snowshoe/hiking trail to Puffer Butte.

A warming hut is located atop Puffer Butte where a wood stove can be stoked and up to 4 people can spend the night for a modest fee if so desired. We snowshoed the mile up late one afternoon and cooked our dinner on the wood stove while we waited for the lunar eclipse. Unfortunately, dark clouds obscured most of the viewing but we still saw the first half of it.

Puffer Butte warming hut.

We got a roaring fire going.

Our first trip hike up was with snowshoes.

Andi, Rufus and Andrea on Puffer Butte.

In the morning we all put on skis and made the ascent in fresh snow via the longer roads which are normally groomed though the groomer hadn't been out yet on this day.

Skiing.

My second time skiing went well with only a few tumbles.

On Puffer Butte which we visited 4 times over the weekend.

Puffer below.

The lower point named "Puffer" was calling so we snowshoed out there to get a view down to the Grande Ronde 3000' below.

Andi and the canyon of the Grande Ronde below.

On the way to Puffer.

Mt Wilson (L) which I tried to summit a couple of weeks ago and was stopped due to ice.

Mt Wilson.

The Grande Ronde River 3000' below.

Benchmark on Puffer.

Looking back up to Puffer Butte.

Puffer.

On the last day we circled around Puffer Butte on the 6-mile Grande Ronde Loop which was very nice and convinced me that cross country skiing is definitely an activity I will do more of. I must admit that my body is quite sore after the trip and learned that hiking doesn't necessarily condition one for skiing.

Out skiing on our last day.

Looking south while skiing.

Andrea surveying the Grande Ronde.

Some sunshine on our last ski of the trip.

The trails are mostly easy to moderate and this was a good re introduction to cross-country skiing for a novice like me. https://parks.state.wa.us/503/Fields-Spring

Winter ski and snowshoe trails.

[glenoid]

👍 were the Wallowas out? Great view from the top! Glad you had some snow

[RichP]

Far off views were limited but we did see some sun yesterday before leaving.

[Nancyann]

This looks like a very fun weekend! Glad the skiing went well for you! Nice photos of the Grande Ronde Canyon and surrounding mountains. How cold did it get at night?

[RichP]

I would say it was in the upper 20's at night at 4000.' It's been pretty mild over on this side of the state.