Hot Summer Day at the Carty Unit


Mid-July – – – a hot and beautiful summer day. It had all the makings of a fun trip to the Carty Unit in the northern portion of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

After parking at the trailhead, I hiked over an arched foot bridge above a set of railroad tracks. A cedar plankhouse, built in 2005 as a representative of the 14 plankhouses observed by Lewis & Clark in a nearby Indian village, was soon passed.

This was the beginning of the Oaks to Wetlands Trail, a well-marked path passing several lakes. Eventually the Trail emerged on a butte overlooking much of the area.

After returning to the plankhouse, I decided to add a few miles to the outing by hiking another three miles in the open fields along Lake River.

A pleasant outing indeed.

One of several lakes along the trail

One of several lakes along the trail

Bee on a Teasel

Pollen-covered Bee on a Teasel

Queen Anne's Lace

Queen Anne’s Lace

Vetch

Sweet Pea

Spotted Towhee

Spotted Towhee

Orange Balsam

Orange Balsam

Wapato growing in a lake

Wapato (their tubers were used by Indians for food) growing in a lake

Chicory

Chicory

Great Blue Heron on the hunt

Great Blue Heron on the hunt

Teasel

Teasel

Fields to explore in the NWR

Fields to explore in the NWR

 

 

 

Categories: Portland Area HikesTags: , , , ,

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