[Wildflower Bloom in the Cascade Mountains of Washington: 2006]

Wildflower Bloom in the Cascade Mts. of Washington

Bird Creek Meadows: Trail #9 and Loop Trail to Hellroaring Overlook

Mt. Adams: Yakama Nation lands

July 16, 2006

Bear Grass: Xerophyllum tenax

2006 is a great year for the bloom of beargrass on Mt. Adams and throughout the Cascades of southern Washington and northern Oregon. The plants seen above were found along the picnic area loop trail at Bird Creek Meadows on July 16, 2006.

As of July 16, 2006, the snow has largely melted below the level of the Round the Mountain Trail #9, with occasional snow drifts to a foot in depth across the trail. Increasing amounts of snow may be found above the Round the Mountain Trail, with much of the route covered from the top of the picnic area loop up to the Hellroaring Overlook. I'd imagine that much of the climbers trail up to the overlook is likewise covered with patches of snow. The photo at the bottom of the page should give a current idea of the amount of snow on Mt. Adams above the overlook.

Parking Passes from the Yakima Nation for Bird Creek Meadows and Bench Lake may be obtained at Mirror Lake (or any of the campgrounds in Tract D) for $5.00 per car. They are evidently good for 5 consecutive days. No season passes are available this year.

* Indicates the wildflower is currently in bloom.

* 1. Willow: Salix sp. -

* 2. Hitchcock's Woodrush: Luzula glabrata ssp. hitchcockiana -

* 3. Subalpine Mariposa Lily: Calochortus subalpinus -

* 4. Glacier Lily: Erythronium grandiflorum - Plants still blooming where the snow has recently melted.

* 5. Beargrass: Xerophyllum tenax -

* 6. Slender Bog Orchid: Platanthera stricta (formerly Habenaria saccata) -

* 7. Alpine Buckwheat: Eriogonum pyrolifolium var. coryphaeum -

* 8. Newberry's Fleeceflower, Davis' Knotweed: Polygonum davisiae (formerly P. newberryi or Aconogonon davisiae var. davisiae) -

* 9. Pussypaws: Cistanthe umbellata var. caudicifera -

* 10. Slender Mt. Sandwort: Arenaria capillaris ssp. americana -

* 11. Howell's Marsh Marigold: Caltha leptosepala ssp. howellii -

* 12. Plantainleaf Buttercup: Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismellus -

* 13. Columbia Gorge Rockcress: Arabis furcata -

* 14. Fan-leaf Cinquefoil: Potentilla flabellifolia -

* 15. Rose Meadowsweet: Spiraea splendens var. splendens -

* 16. Largeleaf Lupine: Lupinus burkei -

* 17. Broadleaf Lupine: Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius -

* 18. Marsh Violet: Viola palustris -

* 19. Martindale's Desert Parsley: Lomatium martindalei -

* 20. Western Moss Heather: Cassiope mertensiana var. mertensiana -

* 21. Whortleberry: Vaccinium myrtillus var. oreophilum -

* 22. Grouse Whortleberry: Vaccinium scoparium -

* 23. Jeffrey's Shooting Star: Dodecatheon jeffreyi -

* 24. Spreading Phlox: Phlox diffusa var. longistylis -

* 25. California Polemonium: Polemonium californicum -

* 26. Common Paintbrush: Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata -

* 27. Magenta Paintbrush: Castilleja parviflora var. oreopola -

* 28. Elephanthead Lousewort: Pedicularis groenlandica -

* 29. Shrubby Penstemon: Penstemon fruticosus -

* 30. Cliff Penstemon: Penstemon rupicola -

* 31. Sitka Valerian: Valeriana sitchensis -

* 32. Woolly Pussytoes: Antennaria lanata -

* 33. Subalpine Daisy: Erigeron peregrinus ssp. callianthemus var. callianthemus -

* 34. Smooth Mountain Dandelion: Nothocalais alpestris (formerly Microseris alpestris) -

Animals Seen Along This Route:

Dark-eyed Juncos

Cassins Finch

American Robins

Red-breasted Nuthatches

Warbling Vireos

Yellow-rumped Warblers

Golden-crowned Kinglets

Pine Siskins

A view towards Mt. Adams from Hellroaring Overlook, accessed via either the climbers trail or picnic area loop trail at Bird Creek Meadows..........July 16, 2006.

A view towards Mt. Adams from Hellroaring Overlook, accessed via either the climbers trail or picnic area loop trail at Bird Creek Meadows..........July 16, 2006.

A view down into Hellroaring Meadows from Hellroaring Overlook, accessed via either the climbers trail or picnic area loop at Bird Creek Meadows. The Ridge of Wonders and the cinder cone of Little Mt. Adams are visible across the valley..........July 16, 2006.

A view down into Hellroaring Meadows from Hellroaring Overlook, accessed via either the climbers trail or picnic area loop at Bird Creek Meadows. The Ridge of Wonders and the cinder cone of Little Mt. Adams are visible across the valley..........July 16, 2006.
Paul Slichter E-mail