Wildflower Bloom in Mt. Adams Country: Yakama Nation lands near Bird Creek Meadows- Island Springs Trail #66........July 1, 2005.

The Island Springs Trail begins at the north side of Bench Lake in the Tract D portion of the Yakama Nation. The trail quickly descends to Hellroaring Creek with a wood foot bridge across the creek. A fairly large wet meadow may be found on the northern side of the the creek, through which the trail winds. Search the interface between the trees along the creek and meadows for interesting plants, then meander the meadows for a different selection of plants. The upland parts of the meadow where the conifer slopes meet the meadow offer a third habitat. Some of the creeks meandering through the meadow are lined with Lewis' monkeyflower and monkshood.

The trail soon ascends the ridge just east of Little Mt. Adams, climbing through dry meadows with numerous quaking aspen, some of large aspen. About 100 meters past Hellroaring Creek, the intersection with the Hellroaring Creek Trail #10 is reached. Trail #10 veers to the right (east) and follows the north bank of Hellroaring Creek before crossing it and returning to the outlet of Bench Lake on its northeastern shore.

Continuing up the Island Springs Trail, one eventually enters open forest about where the trail crosses Island Springs Creek, which seems to run all summer long, although as a trickle. The trail continues to climb gently up the ridge, passing a second wet area. Beyond this point, the trail begins to fade out, and some clambering through brush on a steep sideslope must be undertaken before regaining the trail. Stop to look at the old growth trees in this section of the trail, some of which are very wide diameter. About one mile from Hellroaring Creek, the trail finally reaches the crest of the ridge which is a good picnic spot, or spot to turn around. Unfortunately, this trail offers no views of Mt. Adams, which is hidden behind timber as well as Little Mt. Adams. One can turn left, and hike uphill (partly on trail, partly via heavy bush-whacking) to reach Little Mt. Adams which offers better views of the area. Be aware however, that you should take plenty of water and lunch as this is an all day trek, and potentially could lead one to get lost! One should also refrain from climbing or descending the ridge, straight down, or off the trail, as the slopes are very steep (with a few cliffs) and numerous stands of dense brush, which makes navigation and footing difficult.

GPS coordinates for the Island Springs Trailhead are:

N46 09.077' --- W121 24.052' --- 4910' --- +/-30'

Coordinates for the crest of the Island Springs Trail are:

N46 10.861' --- W121 23.367' --- 4982' --- +/-200'

13. Dagger-leaf Rush: Juncus xiphoides (formerly Juncus ensifolius var. montanus)

* 16. Queen's Cup, Bead Lily: Clintonia uniflora - Good bloom along the trail at Island Springs Creek.

* 18. False Solomon Seal: Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule (Smilacina racemosa) - Fading bloom, good bloom only at the creeks or in shade high on the trail.

* 20. Clasping Twisted Stalk: Streptopus amplexifolius var. amplexifolius - In bloom at Island Springs Creek.

* 22. White Trillium: Trillium ovatum - Fading bloom in the shade near the creek

* 25. Spotted Coralroot Orchid: Corallorhiza maculata - 10 plants seen in bloom along the trail just above Island Springs Creek.

* 26. White Bog Candle: Platanthera dilatata - Along small streams through meadows along Hellroaring Creek.

* 27. Slender Bog Orchid: Platanthera stricta (Habenaria saccata) - In bloom in the meadows to the north of Hellroaring Creek as well as any wet area higher on the trail.

* 32. Heart-leaved Buckwheat: Eriogonum compositum var. compositum - Just beginning to bloom high on the trail.

* 33. Sulfur-flowered Buckwheat: Eriogonum umbellatum var. subalpinum - Just beginning to bloom high on the trail.

* 34. Newberry's Knotweed: Polygonum newberryi - Just beginning to bloom in open, dry areas along the upper trail.

* 36. Broad-leaved Spring Beauty: Claytonia cordifolia - Nice bloom especially in the meadows to the north of Hellroaring Creek.

* 37. Pussypaws: Cistanthe umbellata var. caudicifera (formerly Spraguea umbellata) - In bloom at the trailhead.

40. Monkshood: Aconitum columbianum - In bud in the meadows at Hellroaring Creek.

* 41. Red Baneberry: Actaea rubra - A few plants in bloom in shady areas to the north of Hellroaring Creek.

* 43. Little Buttercup: Ranunculus uncinatus var. parviflorus - In bloom in moist meadows along Hellroaring Creek.

* 45. False Bugbane: Trautvettaria caroliniensis - A few in bloom in meadows at Hellroaring Creek.

* 46. Cascade Rockcress: Arabis furcata var. furcata - Numerous along much of the trail.

* 47. Tansymustard: Descurainia richardsonii ? - In bloom in meadows to the north of Hellroaring Creek.

* 62. Sticky Cinquefoil: Potentilla glandulosa var. nevadensis ? - Plants found in moist meadows along Hellroaring Creek.

* 63. Sticky Cinquefoil: Potentilla glandulosa ssp. glabrata - Found in dry open forest high on the trail. Plants appear largely non-glandular. Branches of inflorescence sharply ascending and grouped fairly close together.

* 64. Bittercherry: Prunus emarginata (var. emarginata ?) - Fading out of bloom at the uppermost part of the trail.

70. Subalpine Spiraea: Spiraea splendens var. splendens (S. densiflora) - In bud.

* 73. Few-flowered Pea: Lathyrus pauciflorus var. ??? - Short keel compared to wings. I didn't check to make sure this wasn't american vetch. Found in meadows and open forest to the north of Hellroaring Creek to the top of the ridge.

* 78. Baker's Violet: Viola bakeri - Only a few remain in bloom in dry, open meadows above intersection with Trail #10.

* 87. Cow Parsnip: Heracleum lanatum - Only in bloom high on the trail (at moist spots). Still weeks away from bloom along Hellroaring Creek.

* 88. Gray's Lovage: Ligusticum grayii - Beginning to bloom in the meadows to the north of Hellroaring Creek.

89. Fern-leaved Desert Parsley: Lomatium multifidum - Lots of leaves seen, but no blooms high on the trail.

* 90. Mountain Sweet-cicely: Osmorhiza berteroi - No fruits were seen, so there is a possibility this could be O. purpurea.

104. Ball-head Waterleaf: Hydrophyllum capitatum var. capitatum - Past bloom by several weeks?

* 105. Fendler's Waterleaf: Hydrophyllum fendleri - In bloom under trees along Hellroaring Creek.

* 107. Tall Bluebells: Mertensia paniculata var. borealis - Just beginning to bloom.

* 111. Magenta Paintbrush: Castilleja oreopola (C. parviflora var. oreoplola)

* 113. Suksdorf's Paintbrush: Castilleja suksdorfii - In bloom at the meadows along Hellroaring Creek.

* 118. Bracted Lousewort: Pedicularis bracteosa var. (bracteosa, flavida or latifolia)

* 120. Taper-leaved Penstemon: Penstemon attenuatus var. attenuatus - Found above Island Springs Creek

* 124. Kelloggia: Kelloggia galioidies - In bloom on dry, open slopes high on the trail.

* 129. Yarrow: Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis - A few plants beginning to bloom.

* 131. Orange Agoseris: Agoseris aurantiaca - Both orange- and pink-flowered forms.

* 134. Rydberg's Arnica: Arnica rydbergii - In bud in meadows along Hellroaring Creek.

138. Rough-leaved Aster: Aster radulinus - Young plants seen high on the trail.

* 144. Western Groundsel: Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus - Fading out of bloom from Hellroaring Creek to the top of the Island Springs Trail.

* 145. Streambank Butterweed: Senecio pseudaureus - Just beginning to bloom in the meadows to the north of Hellroaring Creek.

* 146. Arrowleaf Groundsel: Senecio triangularis - Just beginning to bloom in the meadows to the north of Hellroaring Creek.

147. Canada Goldenrod: Solidago canadensis var. salebrosa - Lower leaves only.

148. Common Dandylion: Taraxacum officinale - In bloom in meadows along Hellroaring Creek.

Wildflower Bloom in the Cascade Mts. of Washington

Mt. Adams: Yakama Reservation: Island Springs Trail #66

July 1, 2005