Was there ever a time when the Grand Canyon was NOT a major tourist destination? We’ve been there a couple of times and it is awe-ways inspiring. It was also hard to find a parking, the trails were crowded and a camping spot was out of the question; those were reserved 11 months in advance. And therein lies the beauty of Eastern Washington’s channeled scablands. The views are equally incredible, the land rivals the geology of southern Utah and we’re willing to bet most people outside the state have never touristed here.
John Northrup’s old homestead
Looking for a longer hike, we learned Northrup Canyon, named after John Warden Northrup who decided to farm a homestead in a beautiful canyon in the heart of the scablands after a few previous marriages and a few previous careers did not work out. The Northrup clan lived in the canyon for four generations spanning two hundred years until they abandoned in the 1920s. With no Redfin realtor manning the open house, Eric let himself into the fixer upper while Sheri, spooked Blair Witch style, kept her distance and an eye on the fastest route out of the canyon.
We passed on putting in a contract on the old Northrup place and instead continued past on a steep and little used trail behind the old barn where Northrup’s third or fourth wife, Caty, was murdered. You can’t find these kinds of places once it’s Grand-Canyon-famous with the tourists and you certainly can’t go inside. We were outnumbered by wild turkeys and marmot ten to one. The canyon walls provided an aggressive rock-scramble workout all the way to the hidden Northrup lake where we enjoyed some leftover lentils and chips while perched on a serene cliff.
Northrup Lake Lunch
On the hike back we crossed paths with a couple heading up into the canyon toward the lake. Seven miles later we finally arrived back to the trailhead where Boss sat alone in the lot. Considering that the trailhead is a good couple of miles off the main road, where had that couple come from? There was not another car within five miles of the trailhead parking. Could it have been???
Vic Meyers Golf Course
Biking Route 2 earlier in the week, we caught a drone’s eye view of a golf course nestled in a canyon-by-the lake that demanded investigation. A spiraling decent let us to a superfecta hit … walkable, wide-open, picturesque and cheap.
The Vic is a 9×2 (play the same 9 holes twice for 18), 5.5 mile long links-style course built along Sun Lake with dramatic Scablands views. Since we travel with one set of clubs, we like to sharry (share and carry – why cart when you can walk?) The total bag weighs about 10 pounds with 1 driver, irons, 2 putters, 10 balls and a water bottle that Eric wears like a backpack while Sheri paces beside him with her 6 iron walking stick.
Share & Carry
The sharry way works best on a wide-open course so if one of us shanks, we’re not split up, searching in the woods or water or Louisiana clover. Since straightening out our long game while sheltering at Barksdale, we can consistently stay in the fairway when the fairway is expansive pastureland with no hazards.
Every hole has a stunning view with towering cliffs, desert fauna, blue lake and colorful campground activity all for the price of $16 for 9 and $4 for each additional 9. If you rate a course by the views, this one is Pebble Beach fantastic!
