I only went on two hikes in April. My husband and usual hiking partner was away on a photo trip to Patagonia. When he returned, we wanted to get out in the eastern Columbia River Gorge to see the spring wildflowers, especially the balsamroot, before it got too hot!
4/20 – Part 1 – Dalles Mountain Ranch, WA
I did an abbreviated version of this hike, as I was still regaining my stamina. After lunch, I returned to the trailhead via a dirt connecting road, while my hiking partner continued the loop. I saw a slightly different version of the usual views, and then had to climb a fence to get back to the main road – all part of the adventure! (2.6 miles, 220 feet)
Approaching the the Columbia Hills, painted yellow with balsamroot.The classic view of Dalles Mountain Ranch and Mt Hood, with balsamroot.Trail viewBalsamroot all the way down to the river…We stopped for lunch at our favorite oak tree.Oak tree
There were other flowers among the yellow…
Phlox, lupine, and desert parsleyMilk vetchBitter cherry, with Mt HoodBalsamroot closeup
After lunch, I made my way back up the hill along the old road, assuming from my map that it would connect to the Dalles Mountain Road…
Wide view down to the Columbia River, with Mt Hood.And over to the ranch, from the east.My route in blue. It rejoins the road at the gate.The unexpected gate was actually pretty easy to climb, and I was back at the trailhead after a short roadwalk.
4/20 – Part 2 – Bitterroot at Catherine Creek, WA
We stopped on the way home for a short hike up to the Fairy Ponds at Catherine Creek – I thought the bitterroot might be blooming, and I did not want to miss them!
From the trailhead, the wide open meadows are turning brown, with late season flowers – purple tomcat clover and white cluster lilies.The fairy pools under the oak trees are dried up, with monkey flowers and camas blooming in the shade.Buttercups and camasWe found bitterroot blooming on the nearby rocky outcrops.Bitterroot, Catherine Creek Arch in the distance.A large clump of bitterroot.Heading down – eastward view. Westward view, with Mt Hood.
4/28 – Weldon Wagon Road, WA
This is another place we go to see huge swaths of balsamroot in bloom, and once again, it was a beautiful hike, with a side view of Mt Adams from the lunch stop. It is steadily uphill, but never too steep, as it was originally a wagon road. (4 miles, 1100 feet)
The lower slopes are shady oak woodland, with meadows full of buttercups, vetch and other tiny flowers – very colorful!Bicolored lupines and barestem biscuitrootA few clumps of lupine in the shade, and lots of poison oak everywhere off trail.Eventually, the view opens up to the balsamroot slopes…Before continuing, we popped over the ridge on a side trail to our lunch stop – with views to Mt Adams.Mt Adams
After lunch we continued upward along the main trail…
Upward on Weldon Wagon Road – clouds covering Mt Hood.Looking down the slope.In the upper woods, tall western groundsel,Large-head clover, and Pacific waterleafEventually Mt Hood started to emerge from the clouds.Hiking back down, noticing the fern leaf desert parsley among the yellow blooms.Fernleaf desert parsleyAnd back down through the painterly lower meadows and oak trees. Another good visit to this trail.
Margaret Quilts 