The first Saturday of spring was a beautiful and sunny day in the Columbia River Gorge.

While  parking at the Bonneville Hot Springs, I silently thanked the owners again for their generosity to hikers.

North of Carpenter’s Meadow I was surprised and pleased to see many fresh elk tracks.  They are clearly expanding into the Columbia River Gorge area.

After crossing the Pacific Crest Trail I hiked to a large talus slope roughly 1,800 feet directly below the summit of Table Mountain.

Soon the double waterfalls of Greenleaf Falls were reached, one of the few spectacular waterfalls on the north side of the Gorge. 

Upon returning to the Meadow I took a detour to top of Aldrich Butte, one of the best viewpoints in the Gorge.

Trillium, one of the showiest of the early-blooming wild lilies, delicate snow queens and yellow violets lined the trail on the return to the Hot Springs.

Another great day on the old ball of mud.