Welcome to John Carr Outdoors!
Please visit the blog and follow. The follow button can be found at the bottom of the page.
If you are seeing this on Facebook, click the link to visit the blog to see all of the photos.
The Dalles Mountain Ranch
Finally, some well appreciated sunshine, at least at the beginning of the hike.
The Columbia Hills were covered in golden balsamroot, red paintbrush and purple lupine. The lyrical and distinctive song of meadowlarks punctuated the silence.
I parked at a gate and began the hike to Stacker Butte in the wide open spaces of the east end of the Columbia River Gorge.
After ascending the maintenance road for 2 1/2 miles, I reached the 3,300-foot summit of Stacker Butte where an FAA tracking site is located.
The 360° views were spectacular, with the Columbia River stretching far to the east and rimrock canyons to the north.
I hiked westerly on the ridge to a microwave site and enjoyed a leisurely lunch overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. Soon it was time to return to the car just as a squall with heavy rain began.
The sun was back out by the time I reached the trailhead. A nice hike indeed.
Wild Turkey
Bitter Root
Summit of Stacker Butte
Salsify
Boisduval Blue Butterfly
Wildflowers near the trail
Basalt formations near the trailhead
Long look down to the Columbia River
Wild Tom Turkeys
Bitter Roots beginning to bloom
Balsamroot
Bitter Root
Lovely wildflowers 💛
Thanks. I don’t often see bitter roots.
These are magnificent. So very colorful and the long look down the Columbia River – breathtaking.
I don’t see bitter roots often.They are a unique little wildflower.
Great view to the river.
Thanks. It’s a fun spring hike.