Sunday Hike #1 – Grizzly Peak Wildflowers, 6/19/2022
The first Sunday Hike of the summer series was a success, celebrating the biodiversity of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument by identifying the abundance of wildflowers in bloom along the trail up to Grizzly Peak. The group of 17 hikers was led by local wildflower enthusiasts, Edward Madson and Susan Roudebush. Their knowledge of the landscape and its botanical splendors was much appreciated on this trek up one of the most popular trails in the Monument!
Thanks to recent rains and cooler temperatures through May and June, the conditions were perfect for witnessing the magic of spring wildflower blooms. We took it slow on the ascent because we spotted so many flowers and stopped to examine, identify, and appreciate them all.
The diverse topography of this region sets the stage for an inspiring assemblage of plant communities within the area. Along the trail, we moved through an old-growth conifer forest of Grand and White Fir trees, a series of wet meadows, and up to a rocky, shrubby grassland atop the plateau, exposed and slowly regenerating from the 2002 Antelope fire. With such a variety of slope, aspect, moisture, light, and elevation, we identified around 50 species of flowering plants, shrubs, and trees on this 5-mile loop!
Some species on the forest floor included yellow Baker violets (Viola bakeri), Calypso orchids (Calypso bulbosa), rosy plectritis (Plectritis congesta), and striped coral-root (Corallorhiza striata). Shrubs in bloom included gooseberry (Ribes cruentum), red flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum), and serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia). Wet meadows were full of Camas (Camassia quamash). At and around the summit we saw lupine (Lupinus spp.), desert parsley (Lomatium spp.), Siskiyou onion (Allium siskiyouense), and so many more. The song of the Lazuli bunting (Passerina amoena) was the soundtrack to our expedition.
I strongly recommend taking a hike up to Grizzly Peak as soon as possible to get a glimpse of biodiversity in action for yourself. What a treat to live among such a gorgeous natural landscape, and to appreciate the beauty of biodiversity with a group of hikers who love the flowers as much as I do!
Photos and words by Interpretive Ranger Sarah Martinez.
