Umtanum Creek Canyon — Friday, Apr. 21, 2017

Central Washington > Yakima

The Yakima is still high and fast, and so is Umtanum Creek. We got a couple of miles into the canyon by crossing the railroad tracks and taking the trail to the right, keeping the creek on the left (south). This allowed us to skip #1 of the usual 4-5 creek crossings. However, this northern trail is rougher and makes you watch your feet instead of looking around, so on the return we decided to ford the creek to reach the better trail on the south side. The current was strong and boots got wet, but the crossing is shallow and easy. The second creek crossing, 2 miles in, was deeper and faster, possible for someone with more motivation, but instead we climbed up the canyon wall for lunch. Flowers: still early in the canyon. Serviceberry in peak bloom, thousands of tiny yellow flowers on the hillsides (what are these?), and the balsamroot is just getting started. However, the swaths of new green of maples, aspens, and cottonwoods are breathtaking. Birds: ospreys on the nest near Canyon Road. Harrier, kestrel, spectacular views of a low-flying redtail. Yellow-rumped warblers, violet-green swallows, turkey vultures, and ravens (including one feeding on a deer/elk carcass along the freeway), and the constant calling of canyon wrens. No bighorn sheep, but a half dozen female mule deer on the hillside along Canyon Road. Two gopher snakes, no rattlers. Splendid day, hope to get back before it gets too snaky, ticky, and overgrown. Although spring is late there, summer will come fast.