Dog Mountain — Sunday, May. 16, 2010

Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA

Chocolate (Checker) Lilies are blooming now, and we saw lots of them! Also Striped Coralroot, Spotted Coralroot, Fairy Slipper, Fringecup, Larkspur, Wood Violets (yellow) and blue violets, as well as many other flowers. Balsamroot is blooming but in the early stages. Also saw a colorful kingsnake with white, red and black stripes. We hiked up the Dog Mountain trail, taking the newer, easier trail to the right at the first junction. It's a nice trail, but steep. Lots of work to get to the top, but worth it for the great views and variety of wildflowers! We came down via the longer Augspurger trail to be easier on the knees - a long day of hiking at a slow pace. Amazing flowers and views are the payoff!