Ridged Out After Dinner

Obi and I went to the Helena Ridgeline after dinner this evening. I didn’t really think that was what was going to happen, but….

We started up the Mini-ridge trail to see if any of the species that we saw on Sunday starting to show signs of life had progressed. The trail was pretty sparse from a flower and bird perspective. I went up about 1.2 miles and realized that I was starting to see patches of sun on the forest floor. Sun means flowers this time of year, so….

I went a up a bit further and realized that I was seeing the sun shining over the ridge. That meant that I was basically at the top. Obi seemed game, so we went to the top. About 900 feet of gain.

Right where the Mini-ridge trail meets the Helena Ridge, Emmet’s Trail also terminates. So….

We came down Emmet’s trail. But I digress. At the top, there was a lot of Slender Cinquefoil in bloom. Just before the top, there were a lot of Pasqueflowers. So the south side of Mt. Helena is about 10 days behind the NE and north slopes with regard to Pasque and Shooting Stars.

On the way down Emmet’s I started seeing a lot of Douglasia, and Rockcress. It’s green and damp on Emmet’s and when it all flowers out ina. week or so, it’s going to be amazing.

We were about 3/10th of a mile from the end of the trail and I noticed that a new trail had been cut in. It looked like it wound down a ridgeline to the parking area, so I took it.

It was packed with Rockcress- like thousands of them. It is a really nice addition to the Mt Helena trail system. Parts of the trail were still soft dirt and had no foorprints. The trail was not there on Sunday (we explored the area looking for Lyall’s Rockcress to no avail). I suspect the trail was cut in over the last couple of days.

Anyway- landed just shy of 25,000 steps for the day and hiking miles plus just walking miles equals 11.19. Now I’m sitting on the patio blogging and looking out over the valley. It’s been a good day.