Turkey-Dog Mountain - 2019-05-03
Posted: May 3rd, 2019, 8:25 pm
Did an early 7:30am start at the trailhead. It was breezy at the start and already were about 15 cars in the lot.
On the way up the first set of switchbacks, I encountered a number of chocolate lilies. Look in areas on the right side here where there are openings for the sun. They are in bloom right now. Most people seem to hike right by them. When I got to the lower viewpoint, balsam root flowers are starting to bloom here. It is not full bloom yet, but there are a number. Several other flowers are also in bloom right now. When I was on the last wooded section before the open area that heads to the top, there was a turkey on the trail. She was just doing a staring contest with me for a while. So I decided to start walking slowly. She just moved up the trail in front of me for quite a while. I thought she would join me all the way to the top.
But she got tired of the pressure and moved downhill. First turkey I have seen in my hiking for a while. Video Link of the turkey walking with me:
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0o39m2N ... 9sHzCybriQ
When I rounded that last corner to the open area the wind was really whipping. Glad I had a wind breaker and gloves. Was a very clear day and all the mountains were visible. The balsamroot is not yet blooming in the summit meadows. On the way down, loads of people were making their way up, all asking if the flowers were blooming.
By the time I got to the parking lot at 10:20, the lot was full.
On the way up the first set of switchbacks, I encountered a number of chocolate lilies. Look in areas on the right side here where there are openings for the sun. They are in bloom right now. Most people seem to hike right by them. When I got to the lower viewpoint, balsam root flowers are starting to bloom here. It is not full bloom yet, but there are a number. Several other flowers are also in bloom right now. When I was on the last wooded section before the open area that heads to the top, there was a turkey on the trail. She was just doing a staring contest with me for a while. So I decided to start walking slowly. She just moved up the trail in front of me for quite a while. I thought she would join me all the way to the top.
But she got tired of the pressure and moved downhill. First turkey I have seen in my hiking for a while. Video Link of the turkey walking with me:
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0o39m2N ... 9sHzCybriQ
When I rounded that last corner to the open area the wind was really whipping. Glad I had a wind breaker and gloves. Was a very clear day and all the mountains were visible. The balsamroot is not yet blooming in the summit meadows. On the way down, loads of people were making their way up, all asking if the flowers were blooming.
By the time I got to the parking lot at 10:20, the lot was full.