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Hike 5/9 Fourth of July Creek
Trailhead on the side of Icicle Creek Road, elevation 2200 feet.
Ceanothus blossom
About a mile up the trail, the gassy hillside was covered with balsamroot and lupine
This species of balsamroot is common in most western mountain states, and is found as far east as the Black Hills
Lupine are always a nice sign the spring is really taking hold
A tuft of phlox complements a nice mountain vista
Balsamroot was a common food source for many native peoples
They grow in B.C. and Alberta, and even in higher elevations in the Mohave Desert
As we climbed higher, the views grew increasingly wider
Resting below a giant ponderosa pine
At higher elevations, some trail sections are plagued by numerous blow-downs. Trail maintenance is rare here
The Stuart Range in view from about 5400 feet
Sun halo, which signifies ice crystals in the upper atmosphere
North side of Mount Stuart
Burned snags form a fram around the ridge skyline
Some of us made it to the 6000-foot level, which was about 3800 feet of elevation gain.
A gallery of the beautiful Tweedys Lewisia. It's a rare find, so always a joy to see it in bloom
There was some nice clusters of Indian Paintbrush in the low elevations too
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