I took a walk in Cowiche Canyon on this warm, sunny afternoon. I walked into the canyon from the Scenic Dr trailhead. The fall color is at its peak right now, or maybe even a little past, but it's still spectacular! There were quite a few others out enjoying this beautiful afternoon and I even saw a little wildlife: I climbed off the trail down to the creek at one point and saw a water ouzel, a little later at a different spot I saw an otter swim across the creek and climb up the bank into the brush. And finally, at bridge 8, a great blue heron posed for me for at least 10 minutes and was still there when I left. What a gift!
Comments
AlpsDayTripper on Cowiche Canyon
Nice photos, especially the heron! I'm looking back in history trying to figure out if there will be many blooms this year (on the uplands or in the canyon) at the end of April. From your 2020 reports, I would guess 'yes'. What do you think, if you don't mind my asking? You're lucky to live so close to Cowiche, I'm really enjoying the uplands this spring!
Posted by:
AlpsDayTripper on Mar 21, 2021 04:59 PM
Wildflowers at Cowiche Canyon
AlpsDayTripper - It looks like we're going to have a pretty good flower year this spring, so I would expect there to be good blooms both in the canyon & on the uplands. It should be better than last year, which was abysmal. I've been enjoying your photos, especially the flowers. The little onion you saw at the uplands is Allium scilloides. I know it as the Foothills Onion, though Hitchock calls it Scilla-like Onion. I looked through all my flower books and could not find a Fragile Onion, but that's the problem with common names. Also, I'm not just sure what route you took from the canyon to Rocky Top. There is a trail (unsigned) that goes from the canyon just west of bridge #1 up to Summitview. Once across Sumnmitview there is a path beside Rocky Top Rd, but it isn't maintained right now and is probably full of weeds. Due to the private property and the County gravel pit, right now this is probably the best way to get to Rocky Top from the canyon or uplands. Hope this helps.
Posted by:
mytho-man on Mar 21, 2021 05:30 PM
AlpsDayTripper on Cowiche Canyon
Thanks David, it all helps, especially the wildflower projections! I got that common name for Allium scilloides from the Washington Wildflower App and the UW Burke website (these are both pretty good sources for identifying flowers). To get to Rocky Top I went across the junkyard and then veered left to follow a trail that led to the gravel road that I think is a part of the gravel pit. This took me to the intersection of Summitview and Rocky Top Rd. After passing the business, I cut through some weeds and then walked in the grass along the orchard to get up to the trailhead. When I returned, the gate at the gravel pit was closed. I got around that and then found old 2-tracks that led me to the old Jeep Rd. Thanks for including the much better connector to Rocky Top. Your trip reports are very helpful in identifying the flowers, you're very good; I think you would like the Mountaineers' Naturalist hikes. Rich
Posted by:
AlpsDayTripper on Mar 21, 2021 06:16 PM