Summer day trips: Mt. St. Helens and Horsethief Butte
A few weeks ago Jacob, Matthew and I drove up to Mount St. Helens for a hike and some exploring.
The harsh paintbrush was looking fantastic, even better combined with the mountain or a caterpillar.
We hiked part of the Boundary Trail toward Harry's Ridge from the Johnston Ridge Observatory. We noticed a couple of ants with a tiny caterpillar but could not decide if they were working together or fighting over it.
The wildflowers were looking good along the trail.
Rosy pussytoes (Antennaria rosea)
A few people werestopped at one spot looking at something down in the distance which turned out to be two black bears. My first ones at Mount St. Helens and Matthew's first ones in the wild.
Birding was mild but we did hear then see a couple of Common Nighthawks and later barely heard a booming Sooty Grouse.
After our hike we drove down to Coldwater Lake because I had never been there.
We walked around some of the short trails, marveling at the tent caterpillars that were all over.
…
The harsh paintbrush was looking fantastic, even better combined with the mountain or a caterpillar.
We hiked part of the Boundary Trail toward Harry's Ridge from the Johnston Ridge Observatory. We noticed a couple of ants with a tiny caterpillar but could not decide if they were working together or fighting over it.
The wildflowers were looking good along the trail.
Rosy pussytoes (Antennaria rosea)
A few people werestopped at one spot looking at something down in the distance which turned out to be two black bears. My first ones at Mount St. Helens and Matthew's first ones in the wild.
Birding was mild but we did hear then see a couple of Common Nighthawks and later barely heard a booming Sooty Grouse.
After our hike we drove down to Coldwater Lake because I had never been there.
We walked around some of the short trails, marveling at the tent caterpillars that were all over.
…
