[Wildflower Bloom in the Cascade Mountains of Washington: 2005] [Wildflower Bloom in the Cascade Mts. Prior to 2005]

Wildflower Bloom in the Cascade Mts. of Washington

Mt. Adams: Riley Trail #64

September 25, 2005

This photo shows the western and northwestern slopes of Mt. Adams from meadows along the Riley Trail #64 adjacent to Riley Camp, about one-half mile below the Pacific Crest Trail.........September 25, 2005.

This photo shows the western and northwestern slopes of Mt. Adams from meadows along the Riley Trail #64 adjacent to Riley Camp, about one-half mile below the Pacific Crest Trail.........September 25, 2005. The dust cloud to the right of the mountain peak is the result of rockfall from cliffs immediately east of the White Salmon Glacier. The rumble of rockfall was constantly present from this point upwards on the mountain during this hike.

* indicates the wildflower is currently in bloom.

Trailhead on Road #23: N46 13.034 --- W121 38.046' --- Elevation: 3760'

Mt. Adams Wilderness Boundary: ~ N46 12.621 --- W121 36.837' --- Elevation: 4412' --- +/- 40'

Pacific Crest Trail #2000: ---- Elevation: ~5760

1. Running Club Moss: Lycopodium clavatum - Occasional along lower sections of the trail.

2. Grape Fern: Botrychium multifidum - Seen in moist area about 100 feet outside the wilderness boundary.

3. Deer Fern: Blechnum spicant - In forest in moist area next to trailhead. Spore-bearing fronds fully formed.

4. Bracken Fern: Pteridium aquilinum - Uncommon, found on the lower sections of the trail.

5. Pacific Silver Fir: Abies amabilis -

6. Subalpine Fir: Abies lasiocarpa -

7. Engelmann Spruce: Picea engelmannii -

8. Western White Pine: Pinus monticola -

9. Douglas Fir: Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii -

10. Pacific Yew: Taxus brevifolia - Uncommon.

11. Western Red Cedar: Thuja plicata -

12. Mountain Hemlock: Tsuga mertensiana -

13. Sitka Alder: Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata -

14. Woodrush: Luzula species -

15. Merten's Rush: Juncus mertensianus - Fairly common.

16. Quillwort: Isotes sp. - Seen in several small ponds along the trail.

17. Narrow-leaf Burreed: Sparganium angustifolium - ????? Found in several shallow ponds along the trail.

18. Skunk Cabbage: Lysichiton americanus - In moist area in forest next to trailhead.

19. Bead Lily, Queen's Cup: Clintonia uniflora - Common along lower sections of the trail.

20. Columbia Tiger Lily: Lilium columbianum - Going to seed. Occasional along lower sections of the trail.

21. Rosy Twisted-stalk: Streptopus lanceolatus (formerly Streptopus roseus) - Several seen near the wilderness boundary.

22. Wood Lily, Trillium: Trillium ovatum - Moderately common up to 5000'. Most of the plants seemed to be seedlings or are very young.

23. Green False Hellebore: Veratrum viride -

24. Bear Grass: Xerophyllum tenax -

25. Rattlesnake Plantain: Goodyera oblonifolia - Uncommon, found mostly on lower sections of the trail.

26. Howell's Marsh Marigold: Caltha leptosepala ssp. howellii (formerly Caltha biflora) - Fairly common in moist meadows and moist forest.

27. Vanilla Leaf: Achlys triphylla -

28. Cascade Oregon Grape: Berberis nervosa -

29. Inside-out-flower: Vancouveria hexandra -

30. Five-stamen Mitrewort: Mitella pentandra -

* 31. Foamflower: Tiarella trifoliata var. unifoliata - Several seen in bloom along upper sections of the trail.

32. Partridgefoot: Luetkea pectinata - Fairly common in open areas from the first large lake up to the Pacific Crest Trail.

33. Drummond's Cinquefoil: Potentilla drummondii - Moderately common in meadows up to about 5500'.

* 34. Fan-leaf Cinquefoil: Potentilla flabellifolia - Moderately common in meadows above 5000'. Several seen in bloom at high elevations.

35. Little Wild Rose: Rosa gymnocarpa - Fairly common. Attractive golden to red foliage at higher elevations.

* 36. Dwarf Bramble: Rubus lasiococcus - Still blooming at higher elevations along the trail.

37. Trailing Blackberry, Dewberry: Rubus ursinus - Fairly common along lower sections of the trail.

38. Rosy Spirea, Subalpine Spirea: Spiraea splendens var. splendens (formerly S. densiflora) - Fairly common at higher elevations on the trail. It may also be along the lower trail, but these plants are difficult to id from just leaves.

39. Broadleaf Lupine: Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius - Common.

40. Early Blue Violet: Viola adunca - Very common in meadows below the Pacific Crest Trail.

41. Stream Violet: Viola glabella - Fairly common.

* 42. Round-leaved Violet: Viola orbiculata - Occasional. Several found in bloom at mid-elevations along the trail.

43. Oregon Boxwood: Pachistima myrsinites -

44. Gray's Lovage: Ligusticum grayii -

45. Sweet-cicely: Osmorhiza species -

46. Bunchberry: Cornus canadensis -

47. Prince's-pine: Chimaphila umbellata -

48. Western Wintergreen: Gaultheria humifusa (possibly G. ovatifolia) - Fairly common on the lower sections of the trail.

49. Pink Heather: Phyllodoce empetriformis -

50.Pink Wintergreen: Pyrola asarifolia (ssp ?) - Fairly common at lower elevations.

51. Sidebells Pyrola: Pyrola secunda - Uncommon.

52. Cascade Azalea, White Rhododendron: Rhododendron albiflorum var. albiflorum - Uncommon. Seen near 5000'.

53. Rainier Blueberry: Vaccinium caespitosum - ???? Common in forest openings below the Pacific Crest Trail. Low growing, with vibrant, deep red foliage.

54. Thinleaf Huckleberry: Vaccinium membranaceum -

55. Red Huckleberry: Vaccinium parvifolium - Uncommon.

56. Grouseberry, Whortleberry: Vaccinium scoparium -

57. Bog Bilberry: Vaccinium uliginosum - ???????? Common in moist forest and forest openings.

* 58. Mountain Bog Gentian, Rainier Pleated Gentian: Gentiana calycosa - A few still in bloom.

59. Tall Mt. Shooting Star: Dodecatheon jeffreyi - Common along the shore at the first large lake encountered, and occasional in moist meadows below the Pacific Crest Trail.

60. Sickletop Lousewort: Pedicularis racemosa ssp. racemosa -

61. Sitka Valerian, Mt. Heliotrope: Valeriana sitchensis -

62. Twinflower: Linnaea borealis -

63. Cascade Aster: Eucephalus ledophyllus var. ledophyllus (formerly Aster ledophyllus) -

* 64. White-flowered Hawkweed: Hieracium albiflorum - Fairly common, a few still in bloom.

* 65. Alpine Aster, Tundra Aster: Oreostemma alpigenum var. alpigenum (formerly Aster alpigenus) - Several still in bloom in meadows below and above Riley Camp.

66. Arrowleaf Groundsel: Senecio triangularis - Occasional in now-dry streambeds.


Animals Seen Along This Route:

Cooper's Hawk - Flew within a couple feet of me when called.

Gray Jays (Camp Robbers)

Clark's Nutcracker

Hermit Thrushes

Golden-crowned Sparrow - Numerous

Dark-eyed Juncos - Numerous

Yellow-rumped Warblers - Fairly common.

Chestnut-backed Chickadees

Mountain Chickadees

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Winter Wrens - Fairly common.

Douglas' Squirrel - Fairly common.

Chipmunks - Fairly common.

Elk - Several cows.

Trout in small lake on north side of trail 1/2-3/4 mile west of Burnt Rock.

Yellowjackets

Large blue Dragonfly at small lake on north side of trail 1/2 -3/4 mile west of Burnt Rock.

Water Striders at numerous small lakes and ponds along the trail.


Paul Slichter