Just in case anyone is actually using the PNWNP forum these days and interested in this info, I thought I'd drop all of you a note and say that anyone interested in photographing wildflowers at their summer peak around Rainier, North Cascades, Adams, or pretty much anywhere in Washington between 5200ft - 6400ft (likely similar or the same for Oregon) is going to have to wait another couple weeks this year. The traditional first week of August bloom will probably be occurring in the second and third weeks, and very possibly into September in higher areas.
I spent the last week around Adams and Rainier between 5000 and 6500ft and found nearly 100% snowcover at most peak wildflower areas, often 5 or more feet deep! You can thank that cold, rainy spring for the delay. It could be at least the middle of August or later for Paradise and many other peak areas.
Thanks for the info Marc! I figured that would be the case since everywhere else from Idaho to Northern California was approximately 3 weeks behind. I have the last two weeks of August off...so that will work well for me.
Yeah, Jeff park is usually among the last to melt out in Oregon too. I'm guessing 3rd week based on my observations thus far for that area. Depends if you want stuff on the side of Park Butte and Russell Lake (later) or closer to the peak in the various meadows (earlier) though.
I made reservations back in April, and I'm glad I didn't do the first week of August , but hmmm 11th, 12th, 13th might still be too early for Paradise, eh?
Indeed, late for sure. Lower elevation flowers are a bit on the short side...the foxgloves at one of my fav spots are sparse and short...hopefully higher elevations will have ideal growing conditions as snow melts.
Posted by Jeremy Cram on July 24, 2010 at 11:43 PM
Ah...good to hear Marc, thx. I'm heading to the Sawtooth Mtn. on Wed. for a few days (any word on about there Marc?) and then Rainier on the way home for around a week. Putting off Rainier til the middle/end of Aug actually works better...
I did read on the gov site that Spray park is clear and flowers are blooming as of the 21st.
I was around Paradise on the 23-24th and my observation is that while snow pack is definitely sticking around later this year, its going to be a VERY good year for flowers. The Lupine plants are perking up and are absolutely profuse in the parts of Paradise that are melted out (about 80-90% in the lower areas around the lodge and visitors center), Avalanche Lilies are out in many of the roadside spots and Paintbrush is starting to pop a bit too. Peak will definitely still be a bit late, but the heat over this last couple weeks has really accelerated the process.
Posted by Marc Adamus on July 25, 2010 at 10:44 AM
Jeremy,
Lower Spray park has some Avy Lilies blooming and a couple other snow-flowers. The peak season is still quite a ways off and the upper areas still have quite a lot of snow. The ponds, however, are totally full right now and ripe for shooting along with some early season flowers in sunnier areas. The mosquitoes in Spray Park, are also ripe right now.
Sawtooth area had a VERY surprising amount of snow still around last week. The whole wilderness there had considerable snowcover above 4800ft on the north sides. Should be quite a bit better this week though, with only patchy cover above 5000.
Posted by James Walley on July 25, 2010 at 9:13 PM
I was just up at Sunrise early this morning. In the dawn light, I couldn't tell if the wildflowers (usually just past peak at this time) had already come and gone or hadn't even begun yet. I did see some phlox in bloom and, since that's usually an early flower, figured the latter was probably the case. This was confirmed on the way back down, when I passed a spot off the side of the road where I'd gotten some nice wildflower shots last August 2nd (in other words, the equivalent of next weekend), and found it still under quite a bit of snow. Funny how we could get such a mild winter down in the lowlands, and yet have it apparently be considerably longer than usual at 6,000-foot elevations just a few miles away.
I would add that it is never a good idea to call any of the park personnel to obtain reports on bloom status. Their data has never been accurate, at least the folks I have spoken to.
Rick, I totally agree. Do NOT call park officials. They either have no idea and pretend like they do, don't know how to look out their own window or are intentionally misleading photographers - one of the above. I cannot tell you how many bad reports I've gotten. Hopefully Jeremy didn't take that 'Spray Park is clear and blooming' thing too seriously.... but yeah, anyway, Jon, they are still some amazing peaks with opportunities regardless and it's not as bad as '08 when I had to try to change dates, and instead, eventually, the location of a workshop I was doing due to snow. You just can't predict this stuff!
Thanks for the info, Marc. I made a reservation back in early April for a crosscountry permit in Spray Park for the first weekend in August. Looks like I'll be focusing on tarns and mosquitos ;). Will have to try to make another trip later this summer.
Jon, keep an eye on the Portland Hikers forum for the latest conditions -- most trip reports have photos and flower info, and there are many recent reports from Washington State in the mix. Here are a few mentioned in this thread:
Shriner Peak on July 23: http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5623
Grand Park on July 25: http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5632
Jefferson Park on July 25: http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5659
(sorry, can't remember the embed code here)
You should be able to find flowers on some of the southern exposures or where the snowpack was a bit less -- there are some very nice blooms opening up on the west side of Mount Hood, for example.
Yee Haw… Thanks Marc.
I’m hoping to make it the last week of August. I may get lucky.
I have been staring at the Mt Rainier webcam
http://www.skimountaineer.com/MtnWebCams/Rainier-MtnWebCams.html?size=med
This works for the cloud conditions and snow melt but I don’t know if we can see the bloom from the north facing camera.
Here is a shot from last year at the spot the north facing camera is shooting.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinchflat/4312591353/in/set-72157621488904323/
Discussion
20 repliesJust in case anyone is actually using the PNWNP forum these days and interested in this info, I thought I'd drop all of you a note and say that anyone interested in photographing wildflowers at their summer peak around Rainier, North Cascades, Adams, or pretty much anywhere in Washington between 5200ft - 6400ft (likely similar or the same for Oregon) is going to have to wait another couple weeks this year. The traditional first week of August bloom will probably be occurring in the second and third weeks, and very possibly into September in higher areas.
I spent the last week around Adams and Rainier between 5000 and 6500ft and found nearly 100% snowcover at most peak wildflower areas, often 5 or more feet deep! You can thank that cold, rainy spring for the delay. It could be at least the middle of August or later for Paradise and many other peak areas.
I did read on the gov site that Spray park is clear and flowers are blooming as of the 21st.
Lower Spray park has some Avy Lilies blooming and a couple other snow-flowers. The peak season is still quite a ways off and the upper areas still have quite a lot of snow. The ponds, however, are totally full right now and ripe for shooting along with some early season flowers in sunnier areas. The mosquitoes in Spray Park, are also ripe right now.
Sawtooth area had a VERY surprising amount of snow still around last week. The whole wilderness there had considerable snowcover above 4800ft on the north sides. Should be quite a bit better this week though, with only patchy cover above 5000.
JG
Shriner Peak on July 23: http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5623
Grand Park on July 25: http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5632
Jefferson Park on July 25: http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5659
(sorry, can't remember the embed code here)
You should be able to find flowers on some of the southern exposures or where the snowpack was a bit less -- there are some very nice blooms opening up on the west side of Mount Hood, for example.
Good luck on your trip!
Tom
I’m hoping to make it the last week of August. I may get lucky.
I have been staring at the Mt Rainier webcam
http://www.skimountaineer.com/MtnWebCams/Rainier-MtnWebCams.html?size=med
This works for the cloud conditions and snow melt but I don’t know if we can see the bloom from the north facing camera.
Here is a shot from last year at the spot the north facing camera is shooting.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinchflat/4312591353/in/set-72157621488904323/
Maybe I’ll see one of you up there.