Blue Mountain Recreation Area

Blue Mountain Recreation Area, Lolo National Forest, Montana

After days of rain I headed out in search of springtime flowers. Boy did I find some. Still lots of moisture hanging around so I couldn't see too far up the slopes but flowers were close by and not impacted by the lack of far off views.

The most common one this time of the year is the Arrowleaf Balsamroot. They are covering the lower slopes of Blue Mountain. Most were pretty beat up by the rain storms but the yellow was easily seen.

Lots of Ninebark in bloom right around the 4,000 foot in elevation area. Bushes are a pain most of the summer but when they are blooming they look nice. Didn't know till this week that they are in the rose family. Glad they don't have all the thorns.

One of my favorite trees on the way up this side of Blue Mountain. Every time I go by it I think it looks like an elk rump. Elk rump roast tastes a whole lot better than trees though.

Another plant flowering in profusion were these wonderful looking creamy white Death Camas. While they look like little Beargrass I just love the name. Sounds so sinister.

Found a few good sized patches of Field Chickweed. Really pretty when all the white flowers are blooming together. Often I see bees around these, but not today. They must have been hiding from the weather.

While I am at war with the dandelions in my yard, this Salsify from the same family sure looks a whole lot prettier. When looking straight down at the flower it has a very symmetrical look that I like.

Quite a few Prairie Smoke interlaced with the other flowers. I like these because of the transformation they will make soon. They turn into punk rockers with spike hair. Its like they know the weekend is coming and they want to party. Last year I went on a hike with a botanist, he had another name for this plant but I like the Montana name of Prairie Smoke better. If nothing else it is descriptive.

The Blue Penstemon were all looking a little rough from the rainstorms. Still pretty with the water dripping from them.

Lots of Silky Lupine around. But more distance between each plant along this side of the mountain. I know further up and to the west they are thick.

This flower from a Low Larkspur almost looks like an invading alien in a space suit. Maybe I spend to much time looking at the flowers. Anyhow it's pretty.

Seeing different versions of Paintbrush all summer long I have become a little picky about the colors I like them to be anymore. Lots of red and a few white ones today but these had a hue I found really eye catching.

The sun peaked out for a bit, just as I checked up on some Bitterroot plants I know of. These were the focus of my flower search today. Not quite opened up yet but they are getting there. I will be back in 2 days to check on them. About a dozen or so budding flowers in a west facing rocky area on the top of one of the ridges. Such petty flowers when they are blooming, helps that the valley is named for them and it's the Montana state flower.

Palisade Mountain Summit

Sapphire Mountains, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

Found directions to a new trailhead in the Bitterroot Valley, but this time it is on the east side of the valley in the Sapphire Mountains. Although early in the year for a hike in trail runners up to a summit, I gave it a shot anyhow. Once at the Willow Creek trailhead (really a wide spot in the road) I started uphill on the trail. The information board at the trailhead had nothing on it. That's unusual but does show how little this site is used. Low in the valley along the creek the flowers were getting into their glory. Saw more Fairy Slipper Orchids in 100 yards than I have ever seen before.

Once past the Orchids it was time for the Trillium's. Lots of them in all of there color variations from white to purple. While I was taking this picture a mature Bald Eagle lifted off from a nearby tree a turned lazy circles in the sky. I wonder if it has a nest in the area.

After about the mile and a half I started getting into snow. Patches at first then full coverage. It was still firm enough early in the day that I didn't have problems staying on top of it.

Along the creek the melt had made some clearing. But it was a wet soggy mess. Lots of water was moving downhill. Spring melt is on.

The valley made a turn and widened out a little. My reward was some small south facing snow free areas. This one was where a squirrel has been enjoying its meals as there was quite a pile of pine cone remains. A good spot for me to have lunch as well. I contemplated how much further I was going to go because the snow was getting slushy and the postholing was starting.

When I broke through and there was running water underneath I knew things were getting rougher.

Finding a series of openings that looked like meadows I stayed with the uphill...

 ...and finally ran out of snow at the summit block. Scree and talus replaced the snow.

Spent a little time at the summit thawing out my feet and having a bit more to eat. Heard then saw a Pika scooting around in the rocks. First one I have seen this year. I always like these critters.

Found the benchmark. Wasn't sure there was one so it was a nice surprise. There are also foundation remnants of an old fire lookout on top as well. Then it was time to go down to the trailhead.

Because of the snow once off the summit block I created a slightly shorter way back. Don't think it would have worked as well if the snow was all gone. Had to be careful because there was a lot of breaking through the snow. I can tell you with absolute certainty much of the snowpack was thigh to waist deep. I saw no one on the trail and in the snow covered sections mine were the only human tracks to be found.