Monthly Archives: June 2026

Ponderosa – Big Pine Nature Hike

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On a warm mid-June day the nature hike was a combination of trails on the west side of Kenna Cartwright Park – out west on the Ponderosa Trail and back on Big Pine Trail, and some connector trails for a loop route.   Spring wildflowers and flowering shrubs bordered the trails and birds and pollinators were active in the open forests and sagebrush grassland slopes.   Spotted along the route and photographed were wax currant (Ribes cereum), giant blazing star (Mentzelia laevicaulis), hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa), horsebrush (Tetradymia cansecens), stoneseed (Lithospermum ruderale), and choke cherry (Prunus virginiana).

The images are embedded here as a Google Photos slideshow with captions.

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Baileys Chute Nature Hike

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At the start of June I journeyed up the Wells Gray Corridor towards Clearwater Lake.    I stopped to hike a loop route which included three waterfalls and a lake.    I hiked past Bailey’s Chute, Marcus Falls, Myanth Falls, then West Lake on a warm day.    Much of the hike was through a wet zone with mists from … Continue reading →

Greenstone Nature Hike

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On a longer hike on trails on the northeast side of Greenstone Mountain, I stopped along the way for some quick photos of flowering plants alongside the trail.    Some areas were open grassland, some were on slopes that had burned in a forest fire and some were in open Douglas fir forests.  Almost all were expected appearances for the … Continue reading →

Lac le Jeune Lookout Nature Hike

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At the end of May, the day’s destination was the viewpoint on the lava cliffs to the northeast of Lac le Jeune, sometimes called the Lac le Jeune Lookout.   A route on cross country ski trails, unmarked routes, and snowshoe trails provides for a loop route to the open lookout and back through forested trails.   The top of the lava … Continue reading →

Thompson’s Paintbrush

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Thompson’s Paintbrush (Castilleja thompsonii) is a perennial which can be found in the dry lower-elevation grasslands in mid-spring.   From a woody base branched stems rise to about 40 cm.   Linear leaves are green on the stem.    The upper leaves are in pairs and are lobed.   The inflorescence has the paintbrush shape with yellow (pale) bracts.    The flowers are … Continue reading →

Buse Hill Nature Hike

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We hiked up Buse Hill in May to enjoy spring wildflowers and the expansive views from the tops of the cliffs.   Along the way we stopped to enjoy nature’s wonders, taking a few photos and including some here.   Shared here are a few – arrow-leaved balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittatus), hillside arnica (Arnica fulgens), old man’s whiskers (Geum triflorum), sticky geranium (Geranium viscosissimum), … Continue reading →

Red Hill Nature Hike

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I have been traveling to the Ashcroft area annually in May for a few years now, coinciding with the bitterroot (Lewisia redviva) bloom.   In most years the bitterroot is at its height with thousands of flowering plants on dry and sunny slopes in the area.   The day was drizzly and cool so the bitterroots were mostly closed and laying low.  … Continue reading →