Wednesday, May 8, 2013

May 8th Mountain Home Road Hike:
A small group of us met and then drove from Leavenworth over to the Blewett Pass Highway and took a road off of Mountain Home Road and then took a forest service road up to the top of the hills looking over Leavenworth and out east towards the hills of Cashmere.  It was a warm morning when we started and by the time we made it back it was very warm!!!!  We saw some great mountain flowers in full bloom and the willows were bellowing what looked like cottonwood seeds.  In the mountain breeze it was quite a sight and it was difficult to even breath without getting them up your nose!!!  We walked to the base of a radio tower and a few folks walked clear to the top of the hill that the tower sat on.  This was a three mile walk and we took a road down the other side of the hill that took us directly into the town of Leavenworth.  On that road there is a little private train track system that someone built and uses up in the hills.
Sitting in the shade at the bottom of the hill that went up to the Radio Tower...It was getting pretty warm already!!

Nice soft lavender colored flower

These little flowers stand about 8 inches off of the ground and grew in large clusters.....  some of them had a purple tint to them as well....


These were very fresh blooms!!!  As sharp in color as they come....  in many places there were fields of them....

Old snags have so much personality!!!

Cashmere Mountain

Drury Falls in the distance


Overlooking the town of Leavenworth



Tumwater Canyon Walk:

If you have ever headed down Highway 2 through the Tumwater Canyon you will find this old rusty looking bridge across the river.  The week of May First in fact on May 1st the PLE group started the hike at this bridge and walked up along side the Wenatchee River and enjoyed the sound of the rushing river along with all that nature has to offer from a river habitat including a special sighting of a Osprey nest with a adult bird in it.  It was again a nice bright day for a walk.  This is a great walk if you are ever headed down the canyon, take a break and hike a bit!!!







The Old Rusty walking bridge across the Wenatchee River in the Tumwater Canyon

A feeder stream and it comes down from the snow melt and meets with the  Wenatchee Rier

A nice mix of wild flowers...  one looks like a starfish....  

The ladies along side the river.... 

Adult Osprey in a nest along side the river....  Great Photo Op!!!!



The Old Rusty Bridge with the PLE Gang!!!!  I think we need a gang sign!!!  well maybe not!!!!