Sagebrush Mariposa Lily: Calochortus macrocarpus var. macrocarpus - Numerous on open slopes of the first large bench. Only the basal leaves are present.

Ookow: Dichelostemma congestum

Pale-anther Glacier Lily: Erythronium grandiflorum var. pallidum - In bud under oaks along the crest of the ridge.

* Yellow Bells: Fritillaria pudica - Becoming numerous.

Panicle Deathcamas: Toxicoscordion paniculatum - Numerous leaves on open slopes of the first large bench.

* Grass Widows: Olsynium douglasii var. douglasii - Still not at peak bloom.

Rein Orchid: Platanthera sp. - Basal leaves. Could be one of 4-5 species found in the Gorge.

Heartleaf Buckwheat: Eriogonum compositum var. compositum

Tall Buckwheat: Eriogonum elatum

Strict Buckwheat: Eriogonum strictum var. proliferum

Sheep Sorrel: Rumex acetosella

* Streambank Springbeauty: Claytonia parviflora ?

* Miner's Lettuce: Claytonia perfoliata ssp. intermontana

* Cushion Miner's Lettuce: Claytonia rubra ssp. depressa

* Jagged Chickweed: Holosteum umbellatum

* Common Chickweed: Stellaria media - Fairly numerous.

Upland Larkspur: Delphinium nuttallianum - Lots of leaves. A few plants with flower buds.

* Western Buttercup: Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis - Beginning to bloom.

* Little Western Bittercress: Cardamine oligosperma - Numerous.

* Oak Toothwort: Cardamine nuttallii - Fairly common under the oaks along the upper ridge.

* Narrow Tansymustard: Descurainia longipedicellata

* Spring Whitlow-grass: Draba verna - Nearing its peak bloom.

Thick-leaved Thelypody: Thelypodium laciniatum var. laciniatum - A few young plants seen on basalt cliffs.

* Fringepods: Thysanocarpus curvipes

* Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum

* Small-flowered Prairie Star: Lithophragma parviflorum - Beginning to bloom.

* Northwestern Saxifrage: Saxifraga fragosa - Beginning to bloom.

* Northwestern Saxifrage: Saxifraga integrifolia var. integrifolia

Mock Orange: Philadelphus lewisii

Antelope Bitterbrush: Purshia tridentata - Beginning to leaf out.

Columbia Gorge Lupine: Lupinus latifolius x sericeus (Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius) - Some plants to 4 inches tall.

* Filaree: Erodium cicutarium - Beginning to bloom.

Dove'sfoot Geranium: Geranium molle - Leaves.

Deer Brush: Ceanothus integerrimus

Poison Oak: Toxicodendron diversilobum

Burr Chervil: Anthriscus caucalis ?

* Columbia Desert Parsley: Lomatium columbianum

* Klickitat (Pungent) Desert Parsley: Lomatium klickitatense

Barestem Desert Parsley: Lomatium nudicaule - Leaves.

* Salt and Pepper: Lomatium piperi

Nine-leaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium triternatum var. triternatum - Leaves.

Western Snake Root: Sanicula crassicaulis - Leaves.

Columbian Frasera: Frasera albicaulis var. nitida - Leaves.

Desert Shooting Star: Dodecatheon conjugens - In bud.

* Midget Phlox: Microsteris gracilis (former variety gracilis) - Beginning to bloom.

Dustymaidens: Hydrophyllum capitatum var. thompsonii - Plants fairly large, but only leaves.

Varileaf Phacelia: Phacelia heterophylla - Leaves.

Tarweed Fiddleneck: Amsinckia retrorsa - Leaves.

* Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary: Collinsia parviflora

* Common Monkeyflower: Erythranthe guttata (or one of it's former varieties) - Beginning to bloom.

Cutleaf Penstemon: Penstemon richardsonii var. richardsonii - New leaves visible.

Annual Bedstraw: Galium aparine - Leaves.

* Wild Cucumber: Marah oreganus - Beginning to bloom.

* White Plectritis: Plectritis macrocera - Beginning to bloom.

Yarrow: Achillea millefolium

Carey's Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza careyana (or hybrid with B. deltoidea) - A few plants with 'flower' buds.

Yellow Star-thistle: Centaurea solstitialis

* Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule - Numerous on upper slopes.

Columbia Goldenweed: Ericameria resinosa

Oregon Sunshine: Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum

Scouler's Hawkweed: Hieracium scouleri

Western Groundsel: Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus - Purple-tinged leaves emerging from the ground.

* Common Dandylion: Taraxacum officinale - A few plants in bloom.

Animals Seen During These Hikes:

Immature and mature Bald Eagles

Prairie Falcon (nesting on the cliffs?)

Red-tailed Hawks

Common Ravens

Scrub Jays

Northern Flickers

Western Bluebird

Dark-eyed Juncos

White-breasted Nuthatches

Chickadees (heard, not seen)

Canyon Wren - Several serenaded us with their melodic songs for several hours.

Bullfrogs - A noisy din from 3 ponds along the trail.

Sara's Orange Tip

Honey Bees

Small ticks.

Paul Slichter