[BarePaw]

Memorial Weekend was an eventful one for me. Saturday, a bunch of my friends piled into my wagon and we took off for Chinook Pass. At the pass, we found fog, fifteen feet of snow on the ground, and more coming down. We played in the snow for a bit, then backtracked to Bear Gap Road. We climbed the road in the Suby until the snow patches became impassable. We then parked and walked up to the snowline. After some snowball fights, etc. we returned to the car. On the way out, we bottomed out a couple of times and I now have a strange rattle coming from the undercarriage.

Hot hiker chicks admiring my wheels

Waterfall

Sunday, my girlfriend and I ditched the group and headed up the Canyon Road along the Yakima River. We stopped at some of the turnouts and walked along the river for a ways. (Note: gravel turnouts are free, BLM lots are $5). It was raining when we left and returned to Selah, but it didn't rain at all in the canyon. That canyon would be so much nicer without the paved BLM lots. There's something about a row of ginormous Winnies and a carpet of beer cans that significantly detracts from the scenery.

Flox

In the Yakima River Canyon between Ellensuburg and Yakima, Washington.

At the River

Monday, I found myself alone and free for the day. I decided to search a little deeper for some better hiking in my new stomping grounds. I drove out Wenas Road to Black Canyon (about 1.5 mi past Wenas Lake). I drove up the rough dirt road to the mouth of the canyon and parked in the turnout. The trail started narrow, but quickly widened into what once must have been a dirt road.

Trail

The trail/road followed a creek up the canyon. After a while, the sagebrush and small shrubs gave way to aspens and grassy meadows. One of the meadows had an abandoned cabin.

Black Canyon Meadow

Black Canyon Cabin

Umtanum Ridge near Yakima, Washington

Inside an abandoned cabin in Black Canyon on Umtanum Ridge near Yakima, Washington

Farther up, the deciduous trees and grass were replaced by pines and wildflowers.

Umtanum Ridge near Yakima, Washington

Flower Mix

Pink Flowers

The road/trail forked several times along the way. I just kept going up. At one point, there was a sort of spring well/trough looking thing.

Mosquito Conservatory

A short while later, the trail leveled out and I looked back at a nice view of Mt. Rainier.

Rainier over Umtanum

As I neared the top, the trail/road steepened a bit more. When I hit the top, I saw a pickup driving on the road that follows the ridgeline. I'm not sure where he accessed it. Anybody know? As I made my way along the ridge to the summit, the trail/road steepened considerably. The wildflowers grew more plentiful and more beautiful as I approached the summit. Once at the top, I had grand views that included the Stuart Range and Ellensburg to the North, Rainier to the West, and the Yakima Valley to the South.

Looking along the ridgeline of Umtanum Ridge at the summit

Stuarts from Umtanum

At the top, I ran into some other hikers. They told me they climbed the North side of the ridge from Umtanum Falls. Does anybody here know where they would have started, or where these falls are? Anyways, that was my weekend. Hope you enjoy the photos. I highly recommend Umtanum Ridge. Do it now while it's still green.

[captain jack]

Sunday was nice on the ridge There was no rain in the canyon You shoulda paid the 5 lousy bones and walked up the Umtanum trail with the g/f. Umtanum falls is about 9 miles up the creek from the confluence with the Yakima river. C.J.

[BarePaw]

[captain jack]

We drove by all those turnouts on our way into Yakima after we hiked. It seemed to me that if you didnt have one of those snazzy fishin boats and an RV, you had no right being there so we didnt even stop. The river was quite high, and it created its own wind coming down the canyon from Ellensburg. If'n you guys had gone up to the bridge at Umtanum creek, and walked back into canyon, the weather was downright balmy without the wind. I dont have anything against the river fishin dudes, but I'm just not a big R.V. guy, my idea of TV. in the wilderness is Cassiopia and Orion strolling across the night sky with a couple of meteor streaks thrown in for commercials, but its nice that we can all recreate together in the canyon. C.J.

[Get Out and Go]

Looks like Black Canyon would be a nice place to explore. I know what you mean about going now. I drove down to Goldendale today and the hills south of Toppenish had green velvet on them...won't be that way for long. The air was fresh everywhere on this Memorial Day.

[Stones]

Nice trip and photos

[Quark]

I've been interested in Black Cyn for a few years, but have yet to make it. How's the road? Nice photos - the colors are so rich! I like the ones of the cabin.

[BarePaw]