Silver Star via Bluff Mountain 8.1.11

[weathercrazy]

Here are pics from my hike to Silver Star on the 1st. Great wildflower show and the skies were a brilliant blue with just a few puffy cumulus clouds.

12.4 miles total with an elevation gain of just 1,660'.

http://weathercrazy.smugmug.com/Landsca ... 704_Tw3rfS

Go NOW to see the flowers!!

A little bit of a National Geographic moment...

Just a few puffy clouds to add interest to the cobalt blue skies.

Lots of mountains to see.

I did see quite a few hummingbirds, but alas no photos!

By the time I returned toward my truck, there were some impressive storms firing over and east of the Cascades.

For some reason, this hike took me 7 HOURS! Being somewhat allergic to the sun, I lathered on the sunscreen. However, with the somewhat warm weather, it apparently washed away and I looked more like I sprayed on I Can't Believe It's Not Butter instead of sunblock. I think the sun also took a lot of energy out of me and I've been fighting a cough the last week or so. Either way the bugs weren't horrible and the views were amazing!

[geographics]

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[weathercrazy]

Thanks! That would be quite an honor...but there are some great photos out there!

I neglected to mention the following:

Ten years ago I could never figure out everyone's fascination with wildflowers, and...

I really love Mt. Rainier and try to make it up there numerous times a year. The first year I saw the wildflowers up there I was amazed. Honestly, I think the flowers on Silver Star were far more impressive. The variety seems better down here. I can't identify all of the flowers I saw, but saw at least the following:

Indian Paintbrush
Columbine
Tiger Lily
Lupine
Bear Grass
Heather
Queen Anne's Lace
Purple Daisy (I think)

Some dandelion like flower??? May it was a dandelion??? lol

This white flower, which I can't ID.

i'd like to nominate your last photo for the cover of the 2012 calendar

[geographics]

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[Tyc]

In Sullivans "100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington" he has a wildflower section that lists the white flower you posted as Cats Ear (Calochortus subalpinus)

*edit* Geo beat me

[weathercrazy]

Thanks! It's nice to still be able to learn something despite being out of school lol

[ErinL]

Great photos! Argh, I hope I can make it up there before the flowers are done.

[romann]

Great pictures! I need to see Bald Mtn side while flowers last.

Not sure about that white flower name, but used to call it Mariposa Liliy.

[adamschneider]

Queen Anne's Lace
Purple Daisy (I think)

The white stuff, which is widespread up there right now, isn't Queen Anne's lace; it's most likely Gray's lovage (Ligusticum grayi).

The purple daisy-like flowers are alpine aster (Aster alpigenus, a.k.a. Oreostemma alpigenum).

Some dandelion like flower??? May it was a dandelion??? lol

Probably some kind of hawkweed or hawksbeard. Dandelions are short and have soft, tubular, milky stems. The tall yellow flowers you find in the mountains have thin, tough, branching stems.

This white flower, which I can't ID.

Subalpine mariposa lily, a.k.a. cat's ear lily (Calochortus subalpinus).

[weathercrazy]

Awesome! Thanks for the wildflower info! I mistakenly called it queen anne's lace...even though I should know better. I've seen the difference!