Downton Alpine Wildflowers
The Downton Alpine area is in the Cayoosh Range, west of Lillooet, access by backroads off Highway 99. A trail starts at 1755m (ft) and ascends to a cirque above treeline. Meltwater streams feed tarns and creeks so the area is damp and has a Coast Range climate. We hiked there in the summer so many wildflowers were in bloom.
All photos taken by the author. Click an image for a lightbox view and an ID.
We don’t encounter single delight (Moneses uniflora) very often and it is always in the shade so its hard to get a sharp photo. Other favorites include sickletop lousewort (Pedicularis racemosa), orange agoseris (A. aurantiaca) and northern gentian (Gentianella amarella sp.).
Open and drier areas has phlox, sedum, catchfly, fleabane, and buckwheat.
Wetter areas had leatherleaf saxifrage, bog rosemary, coltsfoot, bog lily, and grass of parnassus. This profusion of wildflowers only extends for 3 – 4 weeks in the alpine so we try to hike up to new spots every summer to witness the exhibits.