A tough group of Mountaineers did a half marathon plus, quite rocky and rooty, hike south on the PCT from Snoqualmie Pass, over and up to Mt. Catherine, and back the way we came. There was no snow along the route. About 5 blowdowns along the PCT and 2 on the Mt. Catherine trail, none of these were too difficult to get over, under, or around.
The carnivorous round-leaf sundew plants, in boggy areas at the northern end of Ollalie Meadow, are amazing (pictures 1 and 2). Watch your step, some of them are very small. At the meadow there are also a lot of bog/alpine laurel (photo 3), white marsh marigolds, shooting stars, and many more. The ski slopes are colored with crimson paintbrush and rosy spiraea (picture 4). Other flowers that caught my fancy: baneberry, the first pink mountain heather I have seen this year, thick bunchberry, strawberry bramble. and lots of butterflies and views on Mt. Catherine. A link to the Burke info for the sundew plant is attached.
The carnivorous round-leaf sundew plants, in boggy areas at the northern end of Ollalie Meadow, are amazing (pictures 1 and 2). Watch your step, some of them are very small. At the meadow there are also a lot of bog/alpine laurel (photo 3), white marsh marigolds, shooting stars, and many more. The ski slopes are colored with crimson paintbrush and rosy spiraea (picture 4). Other flowers that caught my fancy: baneberry, the first pink mountain heather I have seen this year, thick bunchberry, strawberry bramble. and lots of butterflies and views on Mt. Catherine. A link to the Burke info for the sundew plant is attached.
Comments
That Sundew plant is really cool and interesting! I appreciate your botanical knowledge and your willingness to share it.
Posted by:
Maddy on Jun 28, 2023 06:41 AM
Thanks Maddy! You, and so many other trip reporters, epitomize sharing, which is part of what makes WTA so wonderful!
Posted by:
AlpsDayTripper on Jun 28, 2023 06:50 AM
Oh wow never seen those plant before the sundew. Not the strong hiker though how far in are they?
Posted by:
Terrierpup on Jun 28, 2023 03:02 PM
From Snoqualmie Pass, about 4.8 miles one way. From the road that also goes to the Mt Catherine trailhead, it's less than a half a mile.
Posted by:
AlpsDayTripper on Jun 28, 2023 07:10 PM
We’ve seen sundews up at Pyramid lake off Hwy 20 - not too hard or long of a hike.
Posted by:
Frankly on Jun 28, 2023 06:00 PM
It's good to know that, thanks!
Posted by:
AlpsDayTripper on Jun 28, 2023 07:11 PM
Where you saw the sundew in Ollalie Meadows is a very fragile location. If hikers go to this spot I hope they respect the ground that they might tread on to see these interesting and beautiful plants.
Posted by:
Lucy on Jun 28, 2023 07:33 PM
Spot on, thanks!
Posted by:
AlpsDayTripper on Jun 29, 2023 03:31 AM
Wow!! Thanks for the report and pictures!!
Posted by:
hikingwithlittledogs on Jun 28, 2023 08:50 PM
You're welcome!
Posted by:
AlpsDayTripper on Jun 29, 2023 03:30 AM
Cool thanks!
Posted by:
Terrierpup on Jun 29, 2023 09:24 AM
How’s the road up to Mt Catherine?
Posted by:
Terrierpup on Jun 29, 2023 09:28 AM
I don't know, we parked by the ski area at Snoqualmie Pass. The 1/4 mile we walked on was quite rocky.
Posted by:
AlpsDayTripper on Jun 30, 2023 05:36 AM