Comments, relating to the topic, are welcome, add a great deal to a blog, but must be in English, with no profanity, hate-filled insults, or links (unless pre-approved).




Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Return to the High Cascades

Because we had enjoyed ourselves so much when we were in the Cascades, we went back on Saturday for another hike with our friends Parapluie and Fisherman. The hike we made wasn't too long, the day not too hot, and we enjoyed eating our lunch under the shade of a big tree between short hikes.

Although it was the same walk, the scenes had changed as different flowers bloomed, some had grown more impressive.

The walk basically follows a ridge and dips between deep forest, open flower-filled meadows on steep slopes, and interesting rock formations. If someone is so ambitious as to climb to the top, they get a spectacular view-- so I have been told. I have yet to go to the top; and this time, since I had twisted my knee in Arizona and again in our pasture, I wasn't about to risk it as coming down could have sent it back to where it had been. Definitely not on my agenda for a fun summer.

It made me think how much fun it would be to start doing this hike say the first of July and repeating it every week for a month as each time there would doubtless be different vignettes to enjoy.

The birds and insects make the most of this glorious feast also although their motives are more about their own survival than appreciating the beauty although who knows. Maybe they do both.

When I am there I always think how wonderful it is, all of this in one place, the show these flowers put on for themselves, for their survival, but that people built a safe, easy trail to allow someone like me to see it all. The beauty, wonderful array of flowers and colors warrant a poem. Too bad I am not a poet.
The flowers range from those that love the sunshine to those that bloom in the shade. Their colors are everything in the rainbow.

More photos have been added to my Picasa site for those who are fans of mountain wildflowers.

7 comments:

Paul said...

The Cascades can be beautiful...I first encountered them when I lived in Washington in 1987. I could look out of my window and there they were...

Diane Widler Wenzel said...

Rain is a poetic name declaring the poet in you. Sometime in the future you will have poetic lines flowing.

Darlene said...

The flowers are stunning. The Cascades reminds me of trips we took in the Rocky Mountains and many of the flowers are the same. I love being in the mountains on a warm summer day.

My favorite photo is not of a flower, however. It is that incredible shot of the two peaks framed between the trees. Great photography.

mandt said...

Exquisite photos Rain!

Anonymous said...

Such a beautiful place for a hike.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Such glorious pictures, Rain....Nature is Glorious and you captured it all...LOVED the Bird and The Butterfly, and ALL the flowers, too....
Going over to see the rest, tight now!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I cannot get over the incredible variety of Wild Flowers there...So very Beautiful, Rain....Thanks for sharing this Hike with us---I feel as if I was there too, having looked at all your pictures over on Picassa.....!