Another 3 day weekend brings us to Frenchman Coulee in Vantage, WA known for its plethora of of easy to moderate climbs, quick approaches and distinct routes. It’s a 4.5 hour drive from Tigard on a Friday with no traffic so we were hoping with the distance and climbing, this destination would temporarily fill our void from our beloved Lone Pine. After setting up the trailer at one of the only reputable (and only) paid campgrounds around, we drove the quick 10 minutes to the famous pillars overlooking the Columbia river gorge. After knocking out a few fun and quick evening climbs, it was time to go back to our fully hooked up trailer for dinner and sleep. It’s our first time running off of electricity and water but let me tell you, falling asleep to a Paul Rudd movie with the crisp air conditioning circulating the cabin is definitely the way to camp. Unfortunately, the huge thunderstorm that made its way through on night one made for a sleepless night.

Due to the high temperatures, we climbed in the shade until noon, ate at the only diner in town for lunch, swam in the gorge with Mica and went back out for evening climbs. Trying to free camp here is completely doable and likely something we will try when the highs are in the 60s.