The highway climbs gradually but steadily. The southern extremities of the Pend Oreille Highlands and Mount Spokane appear darkly purple. Scabrock vestiges of the lava plain that survived the eroding glacial waters of prehistoric times are visible. The buttes form the eastern end of the Spokane Divide, a small distinct fold in the earth’s crust originating in the Badger Mountains. The highway runs through a barren plain sprinkled with dry grass; snow fences appear at intervals on both sides of the road; scrubby trees dot the landscape. Fairly large farmhouses, red barns, and windmills are seen at infrequent intervals.