In the Trophy Alpine Zone

We hiked from the forest into subalpine meadows, then climbed ridges into the alpine zones of the Trophy Mountains. Along the way I stopped to take photographs of wildflowers, some of which are shared here:

white mountain heather

In addition to the white mountain heather, there was also pink mountain heather and yellow mountain heather. Bees and other pollinators were most busy on the yellow variety.

yellow mountain heather (phyllodoce glanduliflora)

Alpine speedwell was abundant in the high meadows and on rockslopes. The tiny purple-blue flowers are difficult to photograph.

alpine speedwell (Veronica wormskjoldii)

On wet rocky ridges partridgefoot was flowering, standing 10 – 15 cm tall.

partridgefoot (luetkea pectinata)

In this wetter year, long-stalked starwort was flowering in many spots, right up to the summit ridge at 2300 m.

long-stemmed starwort (stellaria longipes)

On wet slopes where the snows lingered, leatherleaf saxifrage was flowering or developing reddish capsules.

leatherleaf saxifrage (leptarrhena pyrolifolia)

Pussytoes formed large mats all through the rocky alpine zone.

woolly pussytoes (antennaria lanata)

The featured cushion plant in the alpine zone is always moss campion, with abundant pink flowers on perennial mats.

moss campion (silene acaulis)

Spotted saxifrage was frequently spotted as we climbed through the upper fellfields.

spotted saxifrage (saxifraga bronchialis)

On the way back down, I looked for opportunities to take photos of some of smaller flowers, like this speedwell. There were some tiny yellow and white drabas spotted too, but afternoon winds and accumulated fatigue made getting sharp shots more difficult.