Natural History Wanderings

Washington Trails Association has a many new hike reports. Here are some excerpts from some of the recent ones that mention wildflower bloom. Most of wildflower descriptions are pretty sketchy but they might give a rough idea of what is happening on the trails. Here are the excerpts:

Kautz Creek — Aug 10, 2013 — Mt. Rainier — SE – Longmire / Paradise
We saw one 10 ft. patch of snow left, and lots of wildflowers were still out heading towards Indian Henry’s: lupin, tiger lily, scarlet paintbrush.

Sauk Mountain — Aug 09, 2013 — North Cascades — West Slope
Go for the views, flowers, butterflies, marmots and Sooty Grouse, but come prepared for bugs so you can enjoy all the beauty of Sauk Mountain.

Golden Gate, Skyline Trail Loop — Aug 09, 2013 —
The marmots were out and social as ever, providing great delight to the out-of-towners who populated the area today. The wildflowers are near their peak, and the bugs are not so bad!

Little Bandera Mountain — Aug 09, 2013 — Snoqualmie Pass — Snoqualmie Pass
Nice wildflower bloom still in progress. Bugs as always out in impressive numbers. About 7 miles and 2800 feet gain… Hiking poles recommended unless you are a goat. Well worth doing but, bring a friend. Better yet bring two!

Mount Townsend — Aug 09, 2013 — Olympics — East
There were many flowers and a few huckleberries. The bugs were not bad but maybe our Deet kept them away. There were thousands of pollywogs in Windy Lake.

Banshee Peak, Summerland – Panhandle Gap — Aug 08, 2013 —Mt. Rainier — NE – Sunrise / White River
Our first biggest thrill was seeing a bear cross the road in front of us on our way to the trailhead. I count bears, so this one registered #2 on my list for the season.
Our next thrill on the hill was the Monkey Flower blooming brightly along all the streams and rocks at Summerland!! What a show! I haven’t been to the camp during this bloom, but it’s going on my “to-do” list annually! Breathtaking!
Panhandle Gap is particularly gorgeous when there is still plenty of snow to make for dramatic pictures. The cirque before the gap looked lovely, with the turquois glacier water below (and my tootsies sure appreciated the icy soak on our return trip!).
Beyond the Gap and around to the left, Banshee Peak was beckoning! This was surely the day’s ultimate thrill on the hill! The way to the top was entirely blanketed with flowers, some in full bloom, others past and still more to come. We carefully picked our way up on sandy steps to the top and gasped when we looked into the bowl below the Cowlitz Chimneys! What an amazing view! Dramatic all the way around… to Chinook Pass, Tamanos Mtn., Governors Ridge, the Cowlitz Chimneys, Adams, St. Helens, the way to Indian Bar and, of course, majestic Mt. Rainier! And only 7.5 miles to this viewpoint…
We counted dozens of marmots basking in the sunshine (I got whistled at a time or two!) and more than a dozen goats lying in a snowfield, before making our way down the hill.

Heather – Maple Pass Loop — Aug 08, 2013 — North Cascades — North Cascades Highway
Just when you think the views can’t get any more breaktaking, you come around a corner and your heart just about explodes from the beauty. The wildflowers are still in full force.
Biting insects were the only drawback. DEET recommended, as is this hike!

To see full reports for the above and more hike reports go to: Trip Reports — Washington Trails Association.