Life on the High Plains

I had to make an unplanned trip to the summit of Mount Washburn today.  Last week the Park Service announced that they would be closing this trail for maintenance in the next few days for the remainder of the summer.  I missed this hike last year so I didn't want to go another summer without reaching the summit. I did my research and decided to take the route that goes up an old service road rather than the the switchbacks from the main trail head.  That meant I needed to find the parking lot on Chittenden Road.  When I did find that road I was glad to be in my 4-wheel drive truck.  Thank goodness it was only a short drive to the parking lot. Almost immediately upon entering the trail I was treated to views like this.  Trees, meadows, and mountains on all sides. Can you see him in the photo above?  I think it's a sage grouse.  He must not be able to fly, or he's super lazy, because all he did was run ahead of me. Before long ...

My sweet hubbie came up to visit me last week.  I had to work most of the time he was here, but on his final day we were able to get up early and head to a trail. We headed to the Cascade Lake trail head, parked the car and started our journey. We go fully loaded with a can of bear spray each and walking sticks that could also be used defensively if we come across a cranky critter. We were on the right path. Beautiful ponds and meadows along the way. You would think there would be at least one critter out there grazing, but no, we didn't see a thing other than a squirrel. There was evidence that buffalo also use this trail.  Bison patties, fur, and trees that they like to scratch on. It was a beautiful day with bright blue skies.  There were a few water crossings and some really marshy areas to walk through.  Thank goodness for waterproof shoes. Finally, the lake was in sight. We found a log to s...

One of my goals in Yellowstone this summer is to learn about the wildflowers.  While Irv and I were out hiking I photographed the wildflowers we encountered.  Today I spend a couple hours trying to identify them with a book I purchased at the bookstore and the internet. I sure would like a wildflower expert to tell me what I got wrong and to help identify the unknown. Alpine Forget-me-not Alpine Sheep Sorrel American Bistort Is this also an American Bistort? Bigleaf Lupine Bracted Lousewort or Wood Bethony Glacier Lily Green Gentian Little Larkspur(??) and Biscuit Root Manyflowered Phlox Mountain Bluebell Mountain Bluebell #2 Mountain BlueBell #3 Northern Sweetvetch Prairie Groundsel Slender Cinquefoil Subalpine Buttercup Thickleaved Groundsel and ??? Wild Blue Flax or Lewis Flax Wild Buckwheat Woodland Strawberry Common Dandelion What is this?  It looks like ...