Umtanum Ridge - 5.10.2009

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Park at the Umtanum Recreation Area... Take exit 110 east of Ellensburg... then exit 3 onto I-82 east... turn right at the stop sign... then left onto State Route 821 and drive 8.5 miles up Yakima Canyon to the parking area.
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Cross the suspension bridge over the Yakima River... walk underneath the railroad tracks... and when the trail forks, turn left and head uphill.
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On the unsigned trail heading for Umtanum Ridge.
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Phlox
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Denali Girl and Anna Purna on the trail to Umtanum Ridge.
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Waterleaf (I think)
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Denali Girl, Anna Purna and larman on the way to Umtanum Ridge.
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Lupine and bunch of little yellow flowers.
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Umtanum Ridge... still some elevation gain left to get there.
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Arrowleaf Balsamroot
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A closeup of some Arrowleaf Balsamroot.
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Looking back on the route that we took from the canyon floor.
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Anna Purna, larman and Denali Girl still working to get to the ridge.
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Denali Girl and larman are almost on the ridge top... Ellensburg is in the distance.
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larman, Denali Girl and Anna Purna on Umtanum Ridge... with The Stuart Range in the distance.
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Hedgehog Cactus
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Large-Head (Big-Head) Clover
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Sagebrush Violets
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Looking across a sea of balsamroot towards The Stuart Range.
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A closeup of The Stuart Range from Umtanum Ridge... this hike was ~6 miles roundtrip, gaining ~2000 feet of elevation.