Wildflower Amazement at Tom McCall Preserve

I took off toward Mosier on a Sunday morning following my work shift. It was the first beautiful sunny day in awhile and I needed to climb something so I decided on Mosier Plateau at Tom McCall Preserve.

It was packed as usual on a weekend but the wildflower show rivals any I have seen before.

This little climb is steep but you get to enjoy wildflowers most of the way up.

I took a break to catch my breath as the tip of Mt. Hood came into view.

The paintbrush is one of my favorite flowers that I usually associate with high meadows in Olympic National Park.

Here they were, bright red and huge!

I was happy to be on top of the world!

I spent a little time with the crowd on top gazing at mountains. Mt. Hood was in the distance.

The hills are alive!!!

My soul finds rest and joy in these beautiful flowers and the view of the mountain beyond the Columbia River.

I continued my mountain gazing for awhile.

On the way back down I could focus more on flowers and less on climbing.

The diversity and heartiness of this meadow makes me smile.

Despite all the human visitors, this place remains pretty well preserved.

All the vivid colors were fantastic!

Grateful for what the flowers teach me about resilience coming back in greater number year after year.

Looking across the river to the mountain view.

Back down at the bottom with a sea of yellow.

See you next spring Tom McCall Preserve!

Tom McCall Wildflower Wonder- May 2015

 It was a beautiful, sunny, warm day in May.  Amy needed to stay at home and rest, but Sarah, Analise, and I headed up to one of our favorite destinations in the Gorge, Tom McCall  Point. Analise was still riding in the backpack, making this climb a bit more of a challenge.

The wildflowers were beautiful. I love to see them clinging to the cliff sides.

Analise was not that in tune with her surroundings and was interested in a baby fruit snack.

More wildflowers all over the hillside.

Indian Paintbrush is a favorite of mine.

Mt. Hood loomed large in the distance.

Close up Mt. Hood.

Mt. Adams was visible as well.

Taking a little rest at the summit/ butte.

Analise got to enjoy being free at the top and dancing in the wildflowers.

We took some time to gaze at the mountains.

The gorge was lovely below us.

The combination of flowers and mountains makes this a favorite each year!

Analise wanted to walk a little downhill.

Mt. Hood + flowers were incredible!

Analise stopping to smell and examine the wildflowers.

More beautiful flowers!

We hiked down below to a lily pad pond.

Many more wildflowers greeted us!

What a lovely spring day!

Tom McCall High Meadow- June 25, 2016

On a bright, sunny June day after the peak of wildflower season, we drove to Rowena Crest and hiked up to the Tom McCall Preserve high meadow. Above is a picture of what we climbed. Amy and I were up to the 3.4 mile challenge.

There were a few blue and white wildflowers but we only saw 2 groups of purple ones.

The river was beautiful today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The mountains were out and it was not cloudy.

Me and the mountain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Selfie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A very camouflaged lizard.

Mt. Adams has a belt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Selfie in the shade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My hair, the wind, a pole.

Sophisticated me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mt. Adams is more visible.

Another river picture.

Mom foot picture.

Top picture.

Beautiful fields.

Lake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!