On a hike from the Trophy Mountain trailhead to the alpine ridges below the summit, there were many wildflowers in bloom.    Keeping a steady pace on the longer hike, I paused to take a few photographs of species in bloom, picking ones that were found in seep zones, stream gullies, wet meadows, and by tarns in subalpine forests and meadows, then in alpine zones in sheltered spots or in snowmelt zones.     There is a balance between hiking efficiently, taking in the views, and enjoying a nature hike.   A few of the photographs taken on the hike are shared here in a Google Photos slideshow:

• bog orchids (Platanthera dilatata)
• white mountain rhododendron (Rhododendrum albiflorum)
• three leaf foamflower (Tiarella trifoliata)
• red berried elder (Sambucus racemosa)
• rosy twisted-stalk (Streptopus lanceolatus)
• Brewer’s mitrewort (Brewerimitella breweri)
• slender bog orchid – (Platanthera stricta)
• western meadow-rue (Thalictrum occidentale)
• Avalanche lily (Erythronium grandiflorum)
• hairy arnica (Arnica mollis)
• marsh marigold (Caltha leptosepala)
• western groundsel (Senecio integerrimus)
• western moss-heather (Cassiope mertensiana)
• pink mountain-heather (Phyllodoce empetriformus)
• western pasqueflower (Anemone occidentalis)
• yellow mountain-heather (Phyllodoce granduliflora)
• moss campion (Silene acaulis)
• creeping sibbaldia (Sibbaldia procumbens)
• valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
• Barclay’s willow (Salix barclayi)
• green false hellebore (Veratrum viride)
• mock azalea (Rhododendron menziesii)

The photo gallery (with captions) can also be seen on Google Photos at this link – Trophy Meadows and Tarns

Notes:

• There were many more species in flower, some of which have been shared before like red columbine, lupines, heart-leaved arnica, violets, and others.
• Soon after snowmelt, the meadows were wet, the streams were running, and there were few dry areas, so the focus was on species that won’t be seen at lower altitudes or in dryer locations.
• Some of these species are very tiny and are hard to photograph.    Small flowers in bloom in shaded locations are even harder to photograph.   If I was doing less hiking, I could set up these shots with flash or additional lighting, but on a four plus hour hike, it is important to keep moving, so mostly I look for the best light available.
• A few images in these locations were just not up to standard so were not included – twisted stalk, mitrewort, five-leaved bramble, and rein orchids.   I will be back to the alpine again to try for these photographs again.
• I was pleased with better images for foamflower, an abundant species on the trails, but harder to photograph.
• Comments are welcome.

The next subalpine and alpine hikes are scheduled over the summer.