5/19, Sunday. Wanted to see blooming bitterroot and more desert buckwheat, we headed out east again.
Started from Seattle at 9am, overcast. Rained on the way.
After a gas stop at Cle Elum, we arrived at Manastash Ridge TH, in full sunshine. Parking almost full.
This is the route we did.
Flowers all the way, but better higher as we went, especially the sections I marked in red on this map.
A lot of barestem lomatium and balsamroot at all elevations. However, balsamroot is on its last leg, more withered than in bloom.
A lot of buckbrush in bloom, especially on the lower slope.
We took Westberg trail up, which is most used and most straightforward.
A lot of ookow and quite some lupine.
Showy phlox is better higher. Mostly white.
A lot of Oregon sunshine.
Saw only a few sicklepod rockcress, prairie star, and phacelia.
Not many scarlet paintbrush.
Open baldy areas are covered with desert buckwheat, even next to the roads.
Some of them are also dotted with bitterroot in various shade of pink.
Near to top, we cut east to a wide open bald area full of desert buckwheat and bitterroot in bloom, and quite some cream colored Thompson's paintbrush.
Absolutely lovely.
Had a picnic lunch here, overlooking the snowy peaks of Stuart Range across the valley floor.
The temperature is pleasant, even had to put on my softshell jacket. Not too windy.
Back on the road, took the meadering Cougar Bait trail (not worth it), and reconnect the road and then back on Westburg trail.
There's a summit post. There, the north slope is covered with balsamroot and phlox.
On the way down, we took the ridge to the west. Abundant showy phlox.
Lower, more trees provide shade, mossy, lots of balsamroot in better shape.
Feels completely different from Westberg Trail.
The lower half is similar, with buckbrush and grass.
The bottom section was closed, so had to cut across to Boy Scott Trail to return to the road.
Walk along the road to complete the loop, and back to the car.
I looked for a flower hike nearby, and settled on Naneum Canyon (just ~15 miles north), based on this trip report 4 days ago.
But the flowers are not as abundant.
In fact, more flowers on the open slopes in the private properties than the treed state forest.
Fiddleneck only on the private land.
Phacelia on the rocks when I cut the road on the way back, also on private land.
It's all road walk, good gravel road.
But there's a gate, so we had to park outside, and walk the road.
First 1.5 mile is on private property. Slowly going down to the river.
Near the boundary of the state forest, we started to see rocky mountain iris, but on their dying breath.
Some on the slope away from the river, some near the river.
Maybe a week or 2 earlier, more iris.
Saw some death camas among the iris.
The canyon is just a river valley, the other side is steeper.
After the park boundary (not really signed), the road slowly gains elevation.
Here is where I turned around, where the road splits into two, one goes down close to the river again.
I startled many birds, who flew out from this nice looking meadow.
Saw a bird with peacock-like hairdress, maybe a California Quail.
A few rain drops, not more.
Back to the car, somewhat disappointed. Maybe total of 4.5 miles RT.
Heavy traffic on I-90 between Cle Elum and exit 70. Got dropped off at home ~7pm. An easy day out.
