East Rim Waterworks Canyon — Thursday, Apr. 2, 2015

Central Washington > Yakima

WTA's website hosts a cover photo entitled, "Big Skies, Early Wildflowers". Today's outing in Waterworks Canyon and beyond was a big hike, with big skies, big wildflowers, Bighorn sheep, big bushwacking and big views! Too Slim and I set out to see wildflowers on Mount Cleman. We did not intend to hike to the top. Rather, we had our eye on a ridge that departs from canyon trail to the west, where we'd seen wildflowers on a bench while looking from the saddle east above the canyon. From the aspen grove in the creek we took the game trail to the left and traveled west and up towards a wall of lava rock stretching up the hillside. We traveled carefully on slippery, dry game trails until we could look up and see a break in the lava rocky spires high above. From there we hiked straight up through the scree shaft and followed the ridge up, up, up. Flowers continued to thicken and we came to an amazing rock garden full of wildflowers. The balsam root and lupin and phlox were absolutely perfect this afternoon! We couldn't contain our excitement at the beauty of this place. The way tops out at a flat spot... my tent would LOVE this! We met two dozen Bighorn sheep and a dozen deer in the bowl just over the crest. At this point the landscape changed from rocky and full-on flowers, to native grasses and swooping hills. This trail is NOT for everyone. It's very strenuous, the trail is more of a trace, it's extraordinarily steep, and there's no easy way down. We ventured east towards the edge of the ridge looking down onto the canyon trail. This spot is directly west of the saddle on the main trail to the summit. We always trust the game, so followed their trail down a very steep and rocky path on dry, sunbaked soil to the canyon trail. From there we continued out to the gate. What a big, big show! Big skies, big flowers, Bighorn sheep and a big day!