On the Westberg Trail on top of Manastash ridge the Lewisia-Bitteroots are starting to bloom.
But starting at the beginning. The road access to this trail is easy and convenient, no forest service roads, no potholes. But, there is no portapotty at the trailhead. This is unfortunate and leads to piles of faeces in unexpected places. We backed the car in to the parking spot and then stood at the trunk in the rear, only to discover that we were standing in a free-for-all latrine.
We were quick to recover from this, realizing that folks are inconvenienced. And in no time we forgot all about this unpleasantness and focused on the trail.
Today was cloudy and cool with a light breeze. It was raining in Cle Elum and Ellensburg, but not in Thorpe. It was snowing on Mt Stuart, so we didn't see much of the snowy peaks. We did not see any rattlesnakes. Although the trip report says it's a little used trail we met about 15 people---on a Monday.
We followed the Westberg Trail up. 1800ft in 1.5miles is a steep climb. On June 1st wta is due to have a work party to create some switchbacks in the steepest section of the trail. We came down the Boy Scout trail for its easier descent. The two trails make a nice contrast, the ridge climb is exposed and steep, with sweeping views and profuse wildflowers, and the Boy Scout trail winds through the forest following a moist gulch. We wandered along the ridge enjoying the views to Umtanum Ridge to the south and to the valley to the north. The pink Lewisia-bitteroot are going to be stupendous in a week.
The flowers: On the ridge the big headed clover is finished. The larkspur are stunning. The balsamroot are widespread. White phlox, service berry, penstemon, wild buckwheat, wild hiacynth, paintbrush, small-flowered woodland star, dwarf waterleaf, lupines, false solomon's seal and chokecherry. The bitterbrushes and many and are blooming. Lodgepole Pine cones pricked our hands when we picked them up. Very attractive cones. Douglas Maple on the Boy Scout trail is a wonder for its crimson stems and delicately serrated leaves. The Washington Native Plant Society website makes it easy to identify flowers that you can't quite figure out.
We saw a Golden Eagle. That was special. And Blackheaded Grosbeak, Yellow Rumped Warbler, lots of sparrows, blue birds, and a kestrel. I was hoping for sightings of Meadow Larks, somehow, I didn't see any.
This was a very pleasant hike, the music of birdsong and the canvas of flowers. The view of the path of the Boy Scout trail is especially beautiful from the ridge.
I appreciated recent trip reporters posting their maps. I used my self-made Caltopo map, but it doesn't indicate the trails, just the 4wd roads. The Boy Scout trail is not signed at all, but this is open country and it's a well used trail, and we met a local who confirmed our idea. Our new found friend said the trail still further to the west is the Prater trail, named after Gene Prater who designed snowshoes.
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