When I saw kelkev's
6/29 Coffin Mountain trip report, I wondered if conditions would be similar on nearby Crescent Mountain. I remembered seeing
lots of beargrass during a 2008 visit, so I squeezed it into my schedule early Sunday morning.
En route I was surprised to see the Tombstone Pass parking area completely empty (it would be overflowing with
Cone Peak/Iron Mountain visitors by early afternoon). I was less surprised to be the first car at the Crescent Mountain trailhead when I pulled in just after 8 am.
(NOTE: See nautachris'
6/16 TR for directions and additional trail photos.)
The first 1.3 miles is easy... basically flat down to tiny Maude Creek. Then the climbing begins, with two miles of switchbacks up through the forest. The traditional white flowers were blooming in the forested areas, most notably Bunchberry
(Cornus pumila), Thimbleberry
(Rubus parviflorus), Western White Anemone
(Anemone deltoidea), Queen's Cup
(Clintonia uniflora), and Western Starflower
(Trientalis latifolia).
Just after the 3 mile mark, I entered the meadows and got my first peek at the Three Sisters.
There was a copious amount of Scarlet Gilia
(Ipomopsis aggregata), which is always fun to see.
And then I saw the beargrass carpets ahead...
More!
MORE!
No photographs can possibly convey how much beargrass was (and still is) in bloom. Plus, I had the place all to myself
(I would not encounter another hiker until I was nearly back at the car). It was like my own personal beargrass playground!
Of course there were plenty of other wildflowers in bloom (full report @
OregonWildflowers.org), including Harsh Paintbrush
(Castilleja miniata):
Subalpine mariposa lily
(Calochortus subalpinus):
Orange Agoseris
(Agoseris aurantiaca):
But the beargrass held my attention:
I had a wonderful south-facing view to Echo Mountain and the back side of Cone Peak:
Eventually I managed to tear myself away from the meadow, and completed the last push up to the summit. The beargrass was present almost every step of the way, including several patches at the summit proper. From there I enjoyed views of the Cascade peaks, including Mount Jefferson:
Three Sisters again:
Three Fingered Jack:
Mount Hood (with South Pyramid in the foreground, and Coffin & Bachelor Mountains in the mid-foreground):
On my way back down, I took one more shot of the Three Sisters, with more beargrass in the foreground.
Greg
