Forum Index > Trip Reports > Potholes Lakes - Babcock Bench Loop (Quincy)
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wildernessed
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PostFri Mar 17, 2017 1:21 pm 
I had often thought about putting together a mega loop involving Potholes Coulee / Lakes, Evergreen Ridge, and Babcock Ridge with a drop down to the Columbia River. I drew it out on TOPO and Steve thought it would be a good early hike. The forecast was for mostly sunny skies, 50's, and we just lost a lot of snow down low so we gave it a shot. From tracing the loop I knew it would be 13 - 14 miles, but that ended up being conservative once we decided to drop down and hike a long the Columbia River. The hike back into, around, and above the small pothole lakes to the plateau and near Evergreen Lake was 3.5 miles, we then angled back East dropping down into a canyon where a waterfall flowed in from the West getting some nice views of Dusty, the Coulee, and the Pothole Lakes terrain. We meandered around the lakes all on fairly good trail before trending SSW through Scab lands with nice old growth Sage Brush and taking a lunch overlooking the South Colockum / Quilomene area and it's drainage's / outflows. Some of this was on old dirt roads, some on trail and we picked our way down to the Gorge Amph. (10.1 mi.) then back North on good trail on upper Babcock Bench. Eventually we came to a trail leading West hoping it led down to the lower bench, and it did through some pretty nice basalt terrain all the way down to the Columbia River. We hiked N along the undulating trail taking in the views stopping for a break on a flat at river level. Pretty Nice ! we continued on this trail until it arced to the East near the mouth of Pothole Coulee enjoying more great scenery. Looked prehistoric. We intersected with the main trail coming from the TH around the middle of Ancient Lakes coulee and headed to the lot to close the loop. It was a perfect day for the trip, first Butter Cups of the year, beautiful varied terrain, and good exercise. We ended up with 16.5 miles, 2500' and I saw some other loop combinations for the future. Good time, great exploring !
Potholes Coulee - Babcock Bench Loop
Potholes Coulee - Babcock Bench Loop
Looking at Dusty Lake from the East.
Looking at Dusty Lake from the East.
There back !
There back !
Cliff Lake above Dusty Lake.
Cliff Lake above Dusty Lake.
Nice old growth Sagebrush as you wind around down in between the many lakes.
Nice old growth Sagebrush as you wind around down in between the many lakes.
A lot of Sagebrush and open country.
A lot of Sagebrush and open country.
Hiking down Babcock Bench to the West towards the Columbia River.
Hiking down Babcock Bench to the West towards the Columbia River.
Potholes Coulee - Babcock Bench Loop_8443_edited-1
Potholes Coulee - Babcock Bench Loop_8443_edited-1
Ancient Lake Area
Ancient Lake Area
Early evening hiking Babcock Bench East towards Ancient Lake Coulee
Early evening hiking Babcock Bench East towards Ancient Lake Coulee
Hiking beside the Columbia River on Babcock Bench
Hiking beside the Columbia River on Babcock Bench
Lake
Lake
Mouth of Quilomeme and Brushy Creek across the Columbia River.
Mouth of Quilomeme and Brushy Creek across the Columbia River.
View from the plateau looking NW
View from the plateau looking NW
Looking at Dusty Lake from the East
Looking at Dusty Lake from the East
Steve looking out at one of the many lakes we hiked around.
Steve looking out at one of the many lakes we hiked around.

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flatsqwerl
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PostFri Mar 17, 2017 1:24 pm 
any ticks yet? Nice report...

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RichP
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PostFri Mar 17, 2017 1:36 pm 
Great looking area, Rob. It's finally starting to look like spring in some places.

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wildernessed
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PostFri Mar 17, 2017 1:49 pm 
Very nice I was surprised at the lack of snow. We got no ticks, saw no snakes, and on Babcock Bench it is all ready dry and dusty. I would not want to be out there on the weekend it's crazy busy.

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HitTheTrail
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PostFri Mar 17, 2017 2:50 pm 
Epic trip! up.gif You said Gorge Amp. Is that the place there Dave Matthews does his mega concerts? If so do you have a pic? I have always wanted to see the place.
wildernessed wrote:
The forecast was for mostly sunny skies, 50's, and we just lost a lot of snow down low......
They lost a lot of snow up high as well. Mission Ridge lost probably half of theirs. It was terrible skiing that day. Bad, bad, bad.

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wildernessed
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PostFri Mar 17, 2017 3:00 pm 
HitTheTrail wrote:
Is that the place there Dave Matthews does his mega concerts? If so do you have a pic? I have always wanted to see the place.
Yes it is, but I couldn't bring myself to take a pic of it. winksmile.gif

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HitTheTrail
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PostFri Mar 17, 2017 3:06 pm 
wildernessed wrote:
Yes it is, but I couldn't bring myself to take a pic of it. winksmile.gif
That renders your beta of little value!

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FiveNines
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PostFri Mar 17, 2017 5:40 pm 
Thanks for report. I took a crappy pic of venue last year. For beta purposes only.
gorge
gorge

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HitTheTrail
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PostFri Mar 17, 2017 6:51 pm 
Whoa, I expected to see a prehistoric looking natural basalt plunge pool from the great flood. You have just burst my bubble. I will never view Dave Matthews the same again. bawl.gif My wife likes live blues music but we prefer smaller venues (read- wineries and easy to visit places in Spokane). Geeze Rob, I hope this isn't thread drift.

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Chico
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PostSat Mar 18, 2017 12:00 am 
If anyone has any clues as to who Babcock was I'd appreciated knowing more. Asked the geologists at Central but they too know nothing.

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wildernessed
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PostSat Mar 18, 2017 8:15 am 
Some geologic history William Babcock * I read an account where someone started on the South terminus of the Babcock Bench trail and it was 24 miles in and out, you could start early and add another 12 miles just adding that making a 26 plus mile trip, especially bikers and trail runners.

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ranger rock
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ranger rock
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PostWed Apr 05, 2017 11:31 am 
Nice, love that area. I want to go back to windmill, upper windmill, upper upper windmill and upper upper upper windmill lake again. We went there a lot when I was a kid due to fishing. Had Easter Egg hunts in the tumble weed, saw the Northern Lights the only time in my life. Not even sure where those places are now.

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