6/7, Saturday. A hike to Easton Ridge with Washingotn's Native Plant Society (WNPS) Central Puget Sound chapter.
I was picked picked up by the organizer at an I-5 exit.
It's a warm weekend, and east of Cascades is hotter.
We met late-ish. Also one woman arrived 10+ minute late, and then wanted to use the restroom before we leave.
We didn't start hiking until ~10:30am, by then, it was already quite warm. The hike leader is too leniant. Total 8 people 1 dog.
We started very slow. Thankfully, the lower half of the trail is on a west facing slope, and all in trees, so more or less in the shade. I brought my umbrella, but didn't use it until later. We were moving very slowly, spent too much time on species that are common in our own backyard, because the lady who was late doesn't know anything about any plants. After about 1.5 hour of this, I asked permission to go ahead and wait on the ridge. There's a horticulturist in attendance. She and I took off, and a young guy followed us. Both of them drove independantly and waited for us at the TH. I asked the horticulturist questions about plants a couple of times, but she only knows latin names, so I don't remember any.
We reached the end of the trail at some nice looking rocks. The young guy got a message and told us that the slow group was turning around.
We stopped for lunch on the rocks. Two other guys with a dog also arrived.
There is a geo marker, some remnant of a lookout?. Open view to all directions.
Teanaway mountains, most prominently Stuart. Rainier to the SW.
Cle Elum Lake to the east, Kachess Lake to the west.
This year, it's very dry. The blue-eyed Mary that I promised to the group is there, but in far less quantity. Just small patches. Low elevations: snowberry (even on the road, now fragrant - I don't like its smell), thimbleberry, star flower, vanilla leaf.
Mid-high elevation, in the shade: some lupine, some white phacelia (the horticulturist saw some blue ones), sandwort, pussytoe, silver crown, both white and red currant. Near-death trillion. louswort.
Out on the ridge in bald areas: yellow sedum, buckwheat, rock pentemon.
The highlight is Oregon Anemone almost at the end of trail.
Here is a plant list kept on WNPS.
We managed to overtake the slow group on the way down. Went to chill by the creek while waiting for the group. The water is very cold, but feels good to dip my feet in it. When everyone arrived, we walked out together to the cars.
