Colockum Wildlife Recreation Area

Spring is in full swing in Colockum WRA just south and west of Wenatchee in the foothills. Weather was great for a backpack April 11/12. Drove up Colokum Pass Road at first entrance (not the further down entrance off Tarpiscan Rd. mentioned in the book). First part of the ""green dot"" road is in fair conditon, rocky, dusty and bumpy. Up further, 4WD then snow once the hillsides move up into the timber. I parked up Ingelson <sp?> Canyon road. Started up an abondoned road (the ones that WRA signed as no vehicles) which headed straight up onto a long ridgeline with views abound. East to the Columbia River, west to higher and snowy country. This is trailess travel - just followed this ridge west for ~3 miles and wondered and explored. The wildflowers are just about everywhere - prodominant are the yellow arrowleaf balsamroot and lupine. Other species in bloom; shootingstars and a variety of little pink ones (which I don't know their name). Saw a heard of elk which roam freely here. Also one rattlesnake (yes, bring those trekking poles to poke about the sagebrush before stepping). Set up camp among some pines and enjoyed the rest of the sunny 80 degree day and the clear starlit night.

This is a nice area to visit if your goal is plenty of wildflowers (April/May), expansive views, and good chance to see some elk.

Incidently, on my trip back over US2, looks like the meltout is rapid. Could see top of Rock Mtn. on Nason ridge, looked do-able in a few more weeks!