5/18, Sunday. Another flower trip to the east side of the Cascades, but not too far.
First stop, a buckwheat garden south of Ellensberg on a rocky wind-swept ridge. We came here almost every May. This year maybe 1-2 weeks too early. Bitterroots were still in buds. Saw daggerpot in seeds.
A bit windy today.
2nd stop,
Joe Watt Canyon, closed from
early Dec to May 1st for elk wintering, part of WA state wildlife management areas.
This is my first time here. Very heavy gate with a chained lock.
Large parking lot outside.
Unlock the gate to enter, and lock behind you.
It's a large area. Typical balsamroot, lupine and lomatium. Saw some bones. Saw a small snake. Didn't see any elk.
Did a small loop. The north part, along Hutchins road, is better, has view of the Teanaway mountains.
Cross the small Rattlesnake Canyon. Link to various dirt trails, out on Joe Watt Trail.
The little blue "pond" on the map next to Joe Watt Trail is now just a grassy bowl. No water.
I did come across a small shallow and dirty pond (not on map). Probably will soon disappear.
Less flowers in the trees. More flowers out in the open.
There're gravel roads in the area. Probably hunters come and camp here.
3rd stop,
Roslyn Urban Forest for
chocolate lily, because of a recent trip report.
We started on Slickrock Trail, at the end of a street behind some houses. Elevation ~2400'.
It doesn't look like a TH, but marked as one on Gaia Map.
Interesting formation of rocks shortly after the start.
Then an area with prescribed burn, some piles of dead branches, some fresh cut here and there, indicating that someone has been working on these trails.
This section is quite boring.
Going up hill more or less directly, in trees. Some lupine, arnica.
At around 3200', we started to see chocolate lily.
They are so numerous. I've never seen or even dreamed of seeing this many chocolate lily.
However, because the flower is brown and small, if you don't pay attention, you'll miss them.
Now, count how many blooming lily you see in this photo.
We walked all the way up to the ridge, where a cell tower is. Elevation ~3500'.
Some peekaboo view of the Teanaway mountains.
Walk the road a bit west (not many lilies along the road).
Took a different trail down. Around 3200-3400, there are fields of lilies here and there, and some pockets none at all.
We didn't encounter a single person here. It's a treat.
By the time we returned to the car, it was already 6:50pm.
Going back to Seattle had no traffic.
First stop, a buckwheat garden south of Ellensberg on a rocky wind-swept ridge. We came here almost every May. This year maybe 1-2 weeks too early. Bitterroots were still in buds. Saw daggerpot in seeds.
A bit windy today.
2nd stop, Joe Watt Canyon, closed from early Dec to May 1st for elk wintering, part of WA state wildlife management areas.
This is my first time here. Very heavy gate with a chained lock.
Large parking lot outside.
Unlock the gate to enter, and lock behind you.
It's a large area. Typical balsamroot, lupine and lomatium. Saw some bones. Saw a small snake. Didn't see any elk.
Did a small loop. The north part, along Hutchins road, is better, has view of the Teanaway mountains.
Cross the small Rattlesnake Canyon. Link to various dirt trails, out on Joe Watt Trail.
The little blue "pond" on the map next to Joe Watt Trail is now just a grassy bowl. No water.
I did come across a small shallow and dirty pond (not on map). Probably will soon disappear.
Less flowers in the trees. More flowers out in the open.
There're gravel roads in the area. Probably hunters come and camp here.
3rd stop, Roslyn Urban Forest for chocolate lily, because of a recent trip report.
We started on Slickrock Trail, at the end of a street behind some houses. Elevation ~2400'.
It doesn't look like a TH, but marked as one on Gaia Map.
Interesting formation of rocks shortly after the start.
Then an area with prescribed burn, some piles of dead branches, some fresh cut here and there, indicating that someone has been working on these trails.
This section is quite boring.
Going up hill more or less directly, in trees. Some lupine, arnica.
At around 3200', we started to see chocolate lily.
They are so numerous. I've never seen or even dreamed of seeing this many chocolate lily.
However, because the flower is brown and small, if you don't pay attention, you'll miss them.
Now, count how many blooming lily you see in this photo.
We walked all the way up to the ridge, where a cell tower is. Elevation ~3500'.
Some peekaboo view of the Teanaway mountains.
Walk the road a bit west (not many lilies along the road).
Took a different trail down. Around 3200-3400, there are fields of lilies here and there, and some pockets none at all.
We didn't encounter a single person here. It's a treat.
By the time we returned to the car, it was already 6:50pm.
Going back to Seattle had no traffic.
