We took the Ranger Creek out and back route up to Noble Knob (16 miles, 4300', caltopo link below). Except for the deteriorating switchbacks just below the intersection with the Palisades trail, conditions are great.
Wildflowers: The lower forested area is marked by woodland pinedrops, wintergreen, little prince's pine, and a large number of huge candystick in the first 3 miles (photo 2, this feeds exclusively on Matsutake mushroom mycelium, there are many of foragers on this trail in the fall). The wet portions as the trail approaches the Palisades trail are filled with flowers, yellow and alpine willowherb, sierra larkspur (photo 1), heartleaf spring beauties, and many more. Beyond the Palisades trail, the forest was completely burned by the 2017 Norse Peak fire, there are countless tiny young trees and thick fields of fireweed. I was disappointed to see that it looks like most of the fireweed is dried out and withered and will not bloom this year. There are flowers in this section, mostly pearly everlasting, you'll also see yarrow, Gray's lovage, silver-leaf phacelia, pale bluebell, sierra larkspur (a thick grove in a damp area), a few arnica, tiger lillies, and columbine hanging on, and others. The Dalles Ridge portion doesn't have too many blooms, mostly pearly everlasting, yarrow, harebells, fading silver-leaf phacelia, and a few arnica, tall bluebells, Jacob's ladder, Cascade asters (already fading, the season is really ahead of average here), and some other blooms. Leaving the ridge on the way over to Noble Knob the woods are quite flowery: magenta and scarlet paintbrush, woodland penstemon, arnica, white rhododendron, sitka valerian, and more. There are spotted saxifrage (mostly faded) on one of the rocky areas. The wildflower highlights were on Noble Knob (photo 3). There are thick areas of harebells, stonecrop, yarrow, scarlet paintbrush, Parry's campion, wild buckwheat, Gray's lovage, and more. There is an area with many orange agoseris. There were loads of pollinators (photo 4), especially butterflies.
Comments
Hikeforfun on Dalles Ridge, Little Ranger Peak via Ranger Creek, Noble Knob
I'm also a wildflower enthusiast and loved your descriptions. Many years ago I was fortunate to see the large patch ofcandystick that you described. I've returned many times over the years but not when it was above ground. It's wonderful that it hasn't been destroyed. Hope to hike this route as a thru hike with a second car on the 'Lake George' end of the trail, one day.
Posted by:
Hikeforfun on Aug 06, 2024 08:26 AM
Ken Giesbers on Dalles Ridge, Little Ranger Peak via Ranger Creek, Noble Knob
Thanks for the tip about Candystick, and for the photos!
Posted by:
Ken Giesbers on Aug 08, 2024 10:51 AM
AlpsDayTripper on Dalles Ridge, Little Ranger Peak via Ranger Creek, Noble Knob
You're welcome!
Posted by:
AlpsDayTripper on Aug 08, 2024 09:05 PM