Saturday I headed east for a wildflower hike up the Westberg Trail near Ellensburg. A WTA work party was building a new section of trail at the steepest section. Wildflowers are coming along nicely. Arrowleaf balsamroot, some lupine, desert parsley, phlox, spring beauty, big head clover, buttercups, sagebrush violets, Hooker's balsamroot, prairie stars, ballhead waterleaf, and shooting stars were in bloom.
I continued on to the UW observatory 3.3 miles farther down the ridge. I saw only two groups of hikers from the time I left the Westberg viewpoint and returned. I had clear views of the Stuart Range much of the way. I came down the Boy Scout Trail for the first time. It was nicely shaded and much easier on the knees than the Westberg Trail.
My full trip report with 53 annotated photos is here: Westberg Report & Photos
Here are a few photos:
Thanks for the report and many photos, Jim! I also did Westberg that day but went up and down via the nice shady Boy Scout Trail--which is better for flowers, I think. I may even do the regular trail again after WTA's work: descending that old trail was a bit much for bad ankle. My photos here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nordique/albums/72157706922398021
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