Flower Update 5/3/08

Well, don't wait, get out there and shoot it up!

The road to the Rowena Overlook is looking real nice. There are not fields and fields but nice clumps of Balsamroot, Oaks and some Lupine thrown in (there will be more Lupine in the next week).
The main area in Rowena is not that great but it you hike up the ridge to the south you'll find Lupine, Balsamroot, Oaks and Paintbrush. Some flowers are old and dying and some are just budding so look around. The Poison Oak is also nice and red and everywhere so watch out!
On the far side of the Overlook, around the curves, the flowers are good, the Lupine may be better on that side but the Poison Oak is even more prevalent.

I haven't been out to the Dalles Hills so I can't say about that.

The Blossoms in the Lower Hood River Valley are starting to go out but the Upper Valley might be good. I haven't been up there either.
All in all, don't wait for someone to yell "Peak"! I'd get out there soon and often till you see for yourself that it's all dead and gone.

Perfect time for an update !! Heading out there this afternoon.

Thanks, Mark.

And as for the CRG Scenic Highway........its very very green with beautiful little blue, white and purple flowers..........if there is a morning with heavy fog...I would suggest you get out there and shoot it....

the Gorge is stunning green today.......I have photos to prove it, from places you have not been.....

Don't waste the gas money to visit the Dalles Mountain Road. A very disappointing year again it looks like. One hill had a decent number of balsamroot and lupine but the flowers were all pretty small and scrawny compared to the Rowena Crest and Tom McCall area that looked pretty good. I only did scouting since sunset was a bust and wife wanted to go out with some friends. Will try to get in a sunrise this week. It's worth another 35.00 in gas to do it.

First time I've ever filled up my Isuzu and the bill for the tank was 71.25. I'm in shock and to think the &*%^& Oil companies made 3+ billion dollars in the last 3 months. It is just not fair.

No John, actually Exxon posted 10 billion in profits but did not meet the quarterly forecasts.....

no worries...my mutual funds are still doing great because of the oil company......I filled up my car last week....29.00......pretty cool!!!!!

Thanks for the updates, Mark. I hope to get up that way in the next few days. Have you seen or heard how the flowers are doing at Dog Mountain and Catherine Creek on the Washington side of the Gorge?

I looked at Dog Mountain from the Starvation Ridge trail yesterday (across the river) and it looked pretty barren on the upper slopes. Judging by the mob of cars that I could see at the trailhead (also from across the trailhead), there were a lot of disappointed hikers, too.

Adding to the flower report, there are beautiful drifts of larkspur in bloom along the scenic highway between Wahkeena Falls and the Angels Rest trailhead -- and also along the Angels Rest trail in the vicinity of Coopey Creek. Some of the most spectacular larkspur in the Gorge grow in this area.

Darren,

$29 for a fill up??? What on earth do you drive? Maybe I need to switch to a Prius or Civic instead of getting a 4x4 for my next car.

I'll verify The Dalles Mountain Road report. We were up there Saturday. lots of balsam root, but it all looked like it had been through a hard freeze or something. Lots of Lupine too but small clumps. no blankets of it.

John, I got ya beat on the fill-up bill. I filled my truck up last Monday for an even $100.

Thanks for the additional reports. I've been spending too much time in front of a computer and not enough behind a camera, so may make the trip even if there aren't big expanses of flowers.

Thanks for your updates.. and yours, too, Tom - I was just thinking about Angel's Rest and wondered how things were up there.. is it early for the Columbines yet?