[Rob]

With a rainy forecast around Seattle it looked like a good weekend to go to eastern WA. On Saturday we hiked a couple of miles up Umtanum Canyon under overcast skies. The wildflowers were past their peak but the landscape was green and lush from a wet winter and many trees and shrubs were in bloom.

Umtanum Canyon

Rob, you told me there were no snakes !

We drove to Vantage to meet some friends and camp. It was cool and quite windy but dry. Sunday we had considered cragging at Vantage but decided not to climb and headed back to Ellensburg to hike Manastash Ridge. Thanks to Brian H for his excellent banana/walnut pancakes that saved us from an instant oatmeal and balance bar breakfast.

Rob, you told me this wouldn't be steep !

Manastash view

Undulating landscape near Manastash Ridge

The weather held dry and on top of the ridge we investigated and photographed many types of desert flowers in bloom.

Back on the freeway westbound we were soon back into pouring rain but glad we had escaped it for awhile.