To get out of 88-degree heat, today I hiked a 6.6-mile loop near Mission Ridge Ski Area above Wenatchee, WA with four women. It is 20-degrees cooler in the mountains. Most of the trail is in shade. That's I chose this hike.
There was too much snow on the Clara and Marion Lakes trail at 4,600' elevation. So, we took a side trail- still sliding and postholing in snow- and looped down to Beehive Road, then descended to the Pipeline Trail at 4,000' elevation with more wildflowers.
Photos: Mt. Stuart, 9,416', Pacific Trillium, the first Tweedy's Lewisia blooming (my favorite wildflower), Larch, rocks and snow, and pink, snow dwarf primrose flowers. We had fun!
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4 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.When I was younger I used to hike in the North Cascades. Thank you for the pictures, they bring me back. Now I hike in Arizona.
GeorgeRocheleau
Level 8
May 16, 2018
1
I wanna go there!
farmboy2017
Level 7
May 15, 2018
1
It takes an observant eye to spot many wildflowers. I walked right past the Tweedy's Lewisia patch, thinking they don't bloom this early. "Kathleen, look! Tweedy's Lewisia flowers!"
"Where?" I asked. Chris pointed. I feel thrilled each time I see a Tweedy's Lewisia.
Extremely rare, these flower only grow in North Central Washington at certain elevations and exposures. They like rocky cliffs. Karen and I scramble up cliffs to photograph the best flowers, always at the top.
@LiterateHiker my environment is upland desert. A biology student recently discovered a ground dwelling sparrow on my land that I never noticed. I've been on that land for all my life and walked right past that bird, I'm sure!!
@farmboy2017, I have never heard of a ground-dwelling sparrow. Amazing!
Beautiful!
Free_2B_Me
Level 7
May 15, 2018
3
Thank you! While hiking, I'm the only person in my hiking group who carries a camera. After taking photos, I run to catch up with my pack and camera bouncing wildly.
I love how the sun lit up the snow on Mt. Stuart and surrounding mountains. A few minutes later, Mt. Stuart looked dark. When you see a good photo, take it! The light will change.
Have been simplifying the composition of my photos.
The creamy, white Pacific Trillium picture is my favorite. The light was perfect. I left the Douglas Fir branch lying there. The fir needles echo lines in the Trillium flowers and leaves.
Looks and sounds fantastic. Love the photos.
AstralSmoke
Level 8
May 15, 2018
1
AstralSmoke, Thank you!
ronin73, Thank you!