We did a longer hike in the upper grasslands off the Pennask Lake Road.   The Hamilton Corrals area is a commonage area (publicly owned) with seasonal grazing licenses so access is available, but at appropriate times of the year.   We hiked the hills when there were no cattle on the range, following double tracks, closing gates behind us, and adjusting our route as needed.   We saw many wildflowers along the way.

Sticky geranium (viscosissimum) was just emerging at this elevation (4000 feet).   Hairy leaves and stems have terminal purple veined flowers.

In the upper grasslands we spotted three types of violets.   Stream violets (viola glabella) were present in wet meadows.

Chickweed (cerastium arvense) was abundant in open areas.   The flowers each have 5 white notched petals.

Early blue violet (viola adunca ) was spotted in clusters in dryer open areas.

Canada violets (viola canadensis) were infrequently spotted in glades.

Lupines were starting to bloom at the lower elevations, mostly with blue colors, but we also spotted white ones and multi-colored flowers too.

Baneberry (actaea sp.) was flowering in shaded wet areas.   The flower is beautiful but the plant is poisonous.

In dry open, south-aspect slopes death camas ( zigadenus venosus) was still flowering.  It is so poisonous that even honey bees are killed.

In gullies on the road down the hill there were choke cherries (prunus virginiana)in bloom.   The astringent berries can be harvested in summer and are a favorite of birds.

We ran into a few meadow arnica in bloom near the chokecherries.   They always look more like heliopsis to me.

The drive from Quilchena to Minnie Lake is a scenic drive through grasslands with aspen groves and some open douglas fir forest.   Last year we paddled Minnie Lake and we hope to return again this summer.