Umtanum Ridge - 5.10.2009
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.
|
Cross the suspension bridge over the Yakima River... walk underneath the railroad tracks... and when the trail forks, turn left and head uphill.
|
On the unsigned trail heading for Umtanum Ridge.
|
Phlox
|
Denali Girl and Anna Purna on the trail to Umtanum Ridge.
|
Waterleaf (I think)
|
Denali Girl, Anna Purna and larman on the way to Umtanum Ridge.
|
Lupine and bunch of little yellow flowers.
|
Umtanum Ridge... still some elevation gain left to get there.
|
Arrowleaf Balsamroot
|
A closeup of some Arrowleaf Balsamroot.
|
Looking back on the route that we took from the canyon floor.
|
Anna Purna, larman and Denali Girl still working to get to the ridge.
|
Denali Girl and larman are almost on the ridge top... Ellensburg is in the distance.
|
larman, Denali Girl and Anna Purna on Umtanum Ridge... with The Stuart Range in the distance.
|
Hedgehog Cactus
|
Large-Head (Big-Head) Clover
|
Sagebrush Violets
|
Looking across a sea of balsamroot towards The Stuart Range.
|
A closeup of The Stuart Range from Umtanum Ridge... this hike was ~6 miles roundtrip, gaining ~2000 feet of elevation.
|
