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Flora
Enjoying the Sun!



Joined: 25 Mar 2007
Posts: 1035 | TRs | Pics
Location: Land of many waters
Flora
Enjoying the Sun!
PostSun Mar 21, 2010 4:10 pm 
Took a walk in the Wooten Wildlife Area near Dayton, WA on the first day of spring. Flowers seen: early desert parsley, yellow bells, balsamroot, blue-eyed Mary, prairie star. Wildlife seen: wild turkeys on drive up, deer, kingfisher, hawks, and a huge papa trout in the Tucannon River. First try with new camera. Need to work on the close-ups! BTW, the Tucannon River area was the site of the 2004 Schoolhouse Fire. There was plenty of wreckages from the old fire left, but as you can see, the valley is coming back. Some nice Ponderosas and Douglas Firs survived the fire.
Cummings Creek
Cummings Creek
Wildroses are a common sight in creek drainages throughout SE Washington
Wildroses are a common sight in creek drainages throughout SE Washington
Balsamroot and Bee
Balsamroot and Bee
One of the drainages through the Wooten Wildlife Area, off the Tucannon River, Grant County, Washington
One of the drainages through the Wooten Wildlife Area, off the Tucannon River, Grant County, Washington
Ponderosa on Cummings Creek
Ponderosa on Cummings Creek
These Ponderosas survived the huge 2004 School Canyon Fire that hit the Pomeroy District of Umatilla National Forest.
These Ponderosas survived the huge 2004 School Canyon Fire that hit the Pomeroy District of Umatilla National Forest.

Flora
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Kat
Turtle Hiker



Joined: 05 Oct 2003
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Kat
Turtle Hiker
PostSun Mar 21, 2010 4:59 pm 
Nice! Thanks for sharing a more remote corner of WA. We finally made it to the Tucannon last spring ourselves.

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Flora
Enjoying the Sun!



Joined: 25 Mar 2007
Posts: 1035 | TRs | Pics
Location: Land of many waters
Flora
Enjoying the Sun!
PostSun Mar 21, 2010 5:07 pm 
Thanks, Kat. The Tucannon is remote, at least to West Siders, but from the looks of the bow convention, lots of people know of the place. About 5 miles up the road from our nice quiet hike, the verge was a parking lot for vehicles from Idaho, WA and OR. And every camping area was packed to the brim. And all the little lakes (there's about 8 small lake/ponds) strung out along the Tucannon had eager fisherpeople lined up around them. Remote? Not really. Just for the folks of the hinterlands of Puget Sound. We all know the Tucannon over here! Gosh, I'm turning into an Eastsider!

Flora
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Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore



Joined: 15 May 2003
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Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore
PostSun Mar 21, 2010 5:28 pm 
I'd like to return to the Tucannon area. I was there a few years ago, not long after the Schoolhouse fire. I was solo, and started out on a hike (during the week, so it was lonesome out there), and got creeped out for no reason, so returned to my truck and went to the Grande Ronde. Anyway, I would like to see the recovery of the fire.

"...Other than that, the post was more or less accurate." Bernardo, NW Hikers' Bureau Chief of Reporting
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Kat
Turtle Hiker



Joined: 05 Oct 2003
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Kat
Turtle Hiker
PostSun Mar 21, 2010 5:32 pm 
Ha Flora - you have a point. There were a lot of fishermen at those little stocked ponds - I admit I dropped a line in a couple of 'em myself wink.gif Also a lot of camper-vehicles as you mentioned. So yes, just remote to those of us in Pugetopolis!

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Dean
(aka CascadeHiker)



Joined: 02 Mar 2002
Posts: 1967 | TRs | Pics
Location: ex Kennewick, Wa & Lehi Utah
Dean
(aka CascadeHiker)
PostSun Mar 21, 2010 5:39 pm 
Great area overall. Watch for ticks in the spring, they are around. My boy scouts managed to find out where they were hiding. frown.gif

Dean - working in Utah for awhile and feeling like it is a 'paid' vacation. http://www.summitpost.org/user_page.php?user_id=1160
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harrymalamute
Member
Member


Joined: 26 Apr 2008
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Location: Spokane
harrymalamute
Member
PostMon Mar 22, 2010 9:19 am 
thanks for the views, hoping to get my pony down there this next year.

hikes and climbs with malamute
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Flora
Enjoying the Sun!



Joined: 25 Mar 2007
Posts: 1035 | TRs | Pics
Location: Land of many waters
Flora
Enjoying the Sun!
PostMon Mar 22, 2010 5:21 pm 
Yes, Harry, There's lots of good trail riding in the Wenaha-Tucannon area. This particular old road is only open to hikers, horses and bicycles. And Fish & Wildlife trucks as needed. It is an area open to hunting (in season). Prime elk and deer winter grazing area. We didn't see any elk since the snow has moved up so high. The ridge at the end of canyon was lightly coated with a skiff of snow. It's the ridge between Cummings Creek and the Tucannon River, after it splits off at Panjab. There looks to be good cross-country hiking possibilities for exploring. The ridges are relatively gentle if you avoid the occasional basalt cliffs. There are snakes in the area later in the season. And lots more flowers, including yellow lupine. Dean - We didn't notice any ticks yesterday. And we were lying around on the bunchgrass up part way on a ridge basking in the sun....Great day!

Flora
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Dean
(aka CascadeHiker)



Joined: 02 Mar 2002
Posts: 1967 | TRs | Pics
Location: ex Kennewick, Wa & Lehi Utah
Dean
(aka CascadeHiker)
PostTue Mar 23, 2010 6:19 am 
Flora, you didn't have any boy scouts with you. Very smart. wink.gif

Dean - working in Utah for awhile and feeling like it is a 'paid' vacation. http://www.summitpost.org/user_page.php?user_id=1160
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Flora
Enjoying the Sun!



Joined: 25 Mar 2007
Posts: 1035 | TRs | Pics
Location: Land of many waters
Flora
Enjoying the Sun!
PostTue Mar 23, 2010 7:19 pm 
Dean - I'll remember to leave the Boy Scouts at home!
Spring Color
Spring Color
BTW, for you folks not familiar with Eastern Washington...this area is a Transitional Zone. As you drive up the Tucannon from Hwy 12, you start with wheat fields (and very big wind machines) on the ridges above, ranches and orchards. Then into the bunchgrass, with Ponderosa and cottonwoods lining the river. Then the burned out areas starting around Wooten, although it's patchy. Then when you finally get to where the Tucannon River (now a creek) makes a left-hand, easterly turn, it begins to get more heavily wooded, especially in the creek bottoms. However, this area got particularly hit by the big 2004 fire. Above Panjab Camp, the ridge was just scorched. And higher up the Tucannon the forest starts up again. I hiked to the end of the canyon last summer. It's coming back nicely.
Wooten Wildlife Area - Tucannon River Drainage
Wooten Wildlife Area - Tucannon River Drainage
This area takes some getting used if you live on the West Side. It's really open and big sky. And really huge traffic jams, NOT.

Flora
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Flora
Enjoying the Sun!



Joined: 25 Mar 2007
Posts: 1035 | TRs | Pics
Location: Land of many waters
Flora
Enjoying the Sun!
PostSun Jun 06, 2010 11:50 am 
What a difference a wet spring and two months does to an area! We took a walk up to the end of the old dirt road on Cummings Creek, nearly to the edge of the Umatilla National Forest, perhaps 7 to 8 miles RT, 600 foot gain. Lush grasses and wildflowers covered the normally sere rocky ridges with a velvety carpet. Ponderosa pines were putting out foot-long candles of growth and wild flowering shrubs were rivaling their domesticated cousins for flowers and lush foilage. This area is recovering quite well from the effects of the 2004 Schoolhouse Fire.
This billowy plant was very attractive to the local bumblebees.
This billowy plant was very attractive to the local bumblebees.
Brodiacea howellii, Wooten Wildlife Area, near Tucannon River.
Brodiacea howellii, Wooten Wildlife Area, near Tucannon River.
Lupinus sulphureus is one of the few lupines with cream or pale yellow flowers.  It is common in the foothills of the NW Blue Mountains.
Lupinus sulphureus is one of the few lupines with cream or pale yellow flowers. It is common in the foothills of the NW Blue Mountains.
Sulphur lupine on open ridge north near Umatilla National Forest
Sulphur lupine on open ridge north near Umatilla National Forest
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife advertises this area, the Wooten Wildlife Area, as being rich with wildflowers. Quite true. We found three species of lupine, two phacelias, two different roses (Nootka and Barehip), Blanket-flower, Monkey-flower, wild irises, Brodicea, Death Camas, Buckwheat, two types of Penstemon (Showy and Scorched), Pacific ninebark, elderberry, wild raspberry and blackberries, Thimbleberry, Bitter cherry, Choke-cherry, Serviceberry, Clarkia, Sticky geranium, and Buckwheat. And those were the flowers that I could identify! Needless to say this flora-loving fool was quite satisfied and delighted to catch this flower show in this side valley of the Tucannon River drainage. It was easy walking, there was no one else around, lots of birds, deer and cougar sign, sunny skies and mild temperatures and good company.
This lushy blooming shrub, Pacific ninebark grows in stream valleys of the Blue Mountains.
This lushy blooming shrub, Pacific ninebark grows in stream valleys of the Blue Mountains.
These fragrant roses fill the canyons of the Blue Mountains in the late spring.
These fragrant roses fill the canyons of the Blue Mountains in the late spring.
Silver or white-leafed Phacelia
Silver or white-leafed Phacelia
Wooten Wildlife Area - SE Washington, near Dayton, WA.
Wooten Wildlife Area - SE Washington, near Dayton, WA.
Mullein Design
Mullein Design
Part of the flower carpet above Cummings Creek, near the Tucannon River
Part of the flower carpet above Cummings Creek, near the Tucannon River
Narrow-leafed phacelia - Tucannon River
Narrow-leafed phacelia - Tucannon River
Showy penstemon growing above Cummings Creek, SE Washington
Showy penstemon growing above Cummings Creek, SE Washington
Blanket-flower - This annual loves dry meadows in Sagebrush Country.
Blanket-flower - This annual loves dry meadows in Sagebrush Country.
Lupinus holosriceus. This species of Lupine has soft fuzzy leaves and grows in the lower foothills of the Blues.
Lupinus holosriceus. This species of Lupine has soft fuzzy leaves and grows in the lower foothills of the Blues.
A beautiful wild Geranium that inhabits the sagebrush steppe of Eastern Washington.
A beautiful wild Geranium that inhabits the sagebrush steppe of Eastern Washington.
This Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir forest survived the holocaust of the 2004 Schoolhouse Fire in the Umatilla National Forest.
This Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir forest survived the holocaust of the 2004 Schoolhouse Fire in the Umatilla National Forest.
One of many wildflowers found in the Wooten Wildlife Area, Buckwheat prefers open rocky slopes.
One of many wildflowers found in the Wooten Wildlife Area, Buckwheat prefers open rocky slopes.
One of the areas scorched by the 2004 Schoolhouse Fire, Wooten Wildlife Area, north of Umatilla National Forest.
One of the areas scorched by the 2004 Schoolhouse Fire, Wooten Wildlife Area, north of Umatilla National Forest.
For those of you who do not know where Wooten Wildlife Area is located, it is situated in the SE corner of Washington, just north of Umatilla National Forest, on the Tucannon River. It can be reached by driving Hwy 12 past Dayton (from the west) or Pomeroy (from the east), about an 1.5 hour drive east of Walla Walla. Hikers, horseback riding and mountain bikes are approved uses on the old Cummings Road, which takes off from the Tucannon River Road, just north of Spring Lake, one of the first fishing ponds south of the Lost Resort. Numerous campgrounds are available, DFW permits are required for parking, fishing or camping. National Forest campgrounds are available farther up the river.

Flora
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostSun Jun 06, 2010 12:42 pm 
Seriously, I was unaware you can be 1.5 hours east of Walla Walla and still be in the state. I will need to visit this area when I am out that way. up.gif

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Flora
Enjoying the Sun!



Joined: 25 Mar 2007
Posts: 1035 | TRs | Pics
Location: Land of many waters
Flora
Enjoying the Sun!
PostSun Jun 06, 2010 12:52 pm 
Magellan, It's 30 miles to Dayton, then to the Tucannon and turn south along the river. Whether or not it's an 1.5 hour drive depends on your speed on Hwy 12. The Tucannon River Road is mostly 50 MPH until you reach the Last Resort, then it's 40 MPH and drops to 35 MPH along the Wooten Wildlife Area stretch (lots of fishing ponds, campgrounds, walkers). It's about two hours drive on Hwy 12 to reach the State border at Clarkston, although only 70 miles (lots of small towns). And we usually stop for a snack in one of the small towns along the way. Dayton has a great bakery across the street from the Columbia County Courthouse.

Flora
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marta
wildflower maven



Joined: 07 May 2003
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marta
wildflower maven
PostSun Jun 06, 2010 1:14 pm 
Beautiful. Thanks for posting the update. It is interesting to see what is blooming now and how the area recovers from the fire.

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Flora
Enjoying the Sun!



Joined: 25 Mar 2007
Posts: 1035 | TRs | Pics
Location: Land of many waters
Flora
Enjoying the Sun!
PostSun Jun 06, 2010 2:19 pm 
Thanks, Marta. The Cummings Creek Canyon receives a lot of sunshine, being mostly southern exposure above the road and then westerly. The open slopes are well drained, sandy with basaltic outcroppings. The canyon floor is well-watered by numerous springs and a lively creek. It makes for a variety of micro-climates for the local plants. For instance, I noted on the north side of a side canyon there was quite a few Sulphur lupine and on the opposite side, a carpet of Buckwheat, enjoying the warmer south-facing slope. I found Ceanothus next to wild roses, elderberry and Ninebark. Any approach to the creek would be severely impeded by the riotous growth of the shrubbery. Methinks the fire enriched the sandy soil quite a bit. It will take a while for the Ponderosas to recover, but there are still some fine specimens standing, as well as some well-grown young trees. Young cottonwoods, willows and alders are also growing up through the rest of the shrubbery. BTW, the upper end of the road elevation was about 2600 feet. There was a log ford of a side creek, but the road did not go on any further. Any travel upstream would have had to be done on the open ridge above.

Flora
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