Over memorial day weekend our Boy Scout troop hiked in and camped 3 miles in. We camped just before trail markers indicating that the remainder of the trail was closed until July 15th. We had to cross the creek 5 times - we were able to use make-shift bridges a number of times, but a good portion of the group ended up getting their feet wet on several of the creek crossings. About two miles in the trail became over grown and on some portions we had to crawl under fallen trees or clear through brush. The trail was very busy with day hikers the first mile or so in, and we passed a number of camps sites until about 2 miles in where we only encountered one or two other groups on the way in. We did a day hike up to the top of the Canyon (about 600ft) and enjoyed fantastic views. We encountered a lot of rattle snakes and other snakes both in the canyon and on the hike up to the ridge. It's a great trip, but the trail is a bit difficult at times and camping sites were a little hard to find, but we did eventually find a satisfactory camp for approximately 12-13 tents.

Drizzling rain going in on the hike, rained all night, at 2 A.M. the creek was starting to gain water levels so we checked it every 30 minutes and the creek turned into a flash flood. The flood took out the trails we took in so we packed out of the valley at 4 and walked above it, getting back to the car at a 8:30.

Umtanum Creek Canyon is an enchanting fairytale of a place to frolic and tickle the senses. The scent of sage and cottonwood fills the lungs whilst butterflies, warblers, and hawks fly above and all around in lilting circles. The panoramic views are saturated in shades of umber, rust, gold and green. The wildflowers seem to sprawl and nestle themselves up into the highest rocky crevices and then settle along the banks of the creek, trail, and meadow, though; it is the silvery blue sage that sets the tone, encouraging awareness and reminding us of our deep connection to the earth and spirit. As late morning gave way to afternoon the sun shone brighter and the sky more blue than anywhere we had driven for miles and miles just minutes prior...quite uncanny but most appreciated! As we crisscrossed the creek there was a shady set of rocks near the creek-side to eat lunch and absorb the numerous chirps, coos, and trickles of the cool water rolling past. After lunch we were surprised and a bit frightened to cross paths with a rattle snake soaking up the sun along the edge of the trail. As fate would have it we were spooked by another rattle snake on our return trip! All in all the "meeting" was harmless and educational, but do keep a keen eye out for them and your ears tuned to the subtle shakes. We will be returning soon to hike the ridge top trail.

Goober Canari and I set out for the sunnier, drier, side of the state with a hike along the Yakima Rim. It took us around 2 hours to get from Puget Sound lowlands to Ellensburg. The Umtanum Creek crossing was not difficult w/ my SUV, the water only being a couple of feet deep. We began the ascent up to Umtanum Ridge from there. We saw the only person we would see up there on a motorcycle. We found the north trailhead which is another old road. We chose to continue in the car and drove almost 4 miles on the rough road before parking and setting out on foot. The views are incredible up on the ridge. Mt Rainier and Mt Adams to the west and the Stuart Range to the north. Skies were clear but it was quite windy, enough to keep us in jackets. We walked to the end of the road and a little ways past to the edge of the ridge. From this vantage point we could see the Yakima River with its many twists and bends, as well as the Mahre Ski Pond. The wildflowers are at their spring peak. The most prevalent are the Balsamroot and Lupine. We also found numerous amounts of flowering Simpson's Hedgehog Cactus. There were many other varieties of wildflowers and the hills were still quite green. We also noted many old fenceposts including corner posts weighted down with rocks. Incredible that settlers at one time attempted to scratch out a living up here. We returned to the car - about 5 miles round trip of hiking. We next set out for the Umptanum Creek trailhead off of Highway 821. Quite a few more folks at the parking lot for that trailhead. We crossed the suspension footbridge and ducked under the RR tracks. We hadn't gone but a few paces before we spotted a PNW Rubber Boa slithering away in the grass. These snakes are supposedly not often seen by people but another WTA writer posted a picture of one recently and now our sighting (it was too quick for my camera). We walked about 3 miles or so along the creek. The temps were warmer down here with less wind. We also saw desert marmots and evidence of beavers (but no beavers) and, at our turnaround point, a rattler (No, not Theo Ratliff, a rattlesnake). Goober's fine trail moxie enabled him to see the rattlesnake on the trail (before one of us stepped on it) and we watched it slither into the tall grass. We would also see a garter snake, making 3 types of snakes sighted. We returned to the car having logged about 10 miles on foot and many more in the car. We encountered few bugs and no ticks (and no Tic Douloureaux). We topped off this great day in the sun and nature with a stop at the Tav in Ellensburg for Super Mother Burgers and cold beverages. I hope to return to this area to do more exploring of the Yakima Rim area. Now is a great time to head here with the comfortable temps, sun, wildflowers, and snow free trails/roads. I wouldn't recommend a passenger car for the drive up to the ridge, however.

Shortly after crossing the bridge across the Yakima River we saw a snake sunning itself across the trail. When seeing us, it slithered into its hole to the right of the trail.We hiked a little over 3 miles seeing very few hikers. The 2 creek crossings were easy. Flowers seen were oregon grape, death camas, brodiaea, puccoon, thistle, arrow leaf balsamroot, lupine just beginning to bloom, ballhead waterleaf, purple desert parsley, serviceberry, and quince by the old homestead site. We saw northern harriers, Townsend's warblers, yellow-rumped warblers, yellow warblers,and kestrel. The canyon was very green and beautiful with all the new spring growth. We saw no rattlesnakes and found no ticks. Instead of crossing the creek near the old homestead on our return we continued along to creek to the TH.