Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area

We drove out to the Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area east of Ellensburg to hike along the closed roads (the open May 1st) and enjoy the wildflowers in bloom. We hiked 7.5 miles round trip with 750 ft of overall gain.

There were lots of lupine in bloom,

along with large headed clover,

phlox, guldenweed,

and balsamroot (mainly Hooker's balsamroot today).

Some views along the road:

We hiked up to the top of this hill for our turn around point.

Views from the top of the hill, to the west

zoom of Mt Adams,

zoom of Cascade foothills and peaks,

zoom of Mt Rainier

View to the southeast and the Columbia River

View to the northeast

We saw lots of snowball cacti that were budding and in bloom: 

views as we returned along the road to the trailhead:

some of the wildflowers we saw in bloom today:

 

 

   

  

 

 

 

 

Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area

I drove out to the Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area on the Vantage Highway between Kittitas and Vantage for a hike this morning. It was very chilly, but the wildflowers were in bloom, making for a nice early Spring hike. My route was 7.5 miles round trip with  800 ft of overall elevation gain. I did not see any other hikers today. The hike follows dirt roads that are closed until May 1st. View looking towards the hill top in the center, my goal for today.

In the morning, the mud puddles had ice on them.

Lupine and balsam root on the hillside

View to the west/southwest, with distant Mt Adams and Mt Rainier

zoom of a cloudy Mt Adams behind a windmill

zoom of a cloudy Mt Rainier

Getting closer to my goal, the hill in the back.

Parsley in bloom along the road, and a very distant Columbia River 

I saw a few cacti, no blossoms yet.

Bright lichen on some rocks

From the top of the hill; view to the west,

view to the east,

and view to the north.

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today: