WTD#12 - Siwash Mountain Hike

We finally found some time for a day-long hike in the Alpine!  Siwash Mountain sits somewhere between Castlegar and Salmo.  We used the Rover Creek Forest Service Road for access. 

On the way to the ridge that climbs towards the mountain there are lush alpine meadows filled with Arnica, Sub-alpine Daisies, Western Pasqueflower, Alpine Buttercups, etc, etc

This is Yellow Columbine, also growing in the little meadows scattered throughout the alpine forest.

More lush meadows with Paintbrush, Indian Hellebore and Lupines, among others

Indian Hellebore leaves

Indian Hellebore flowers

There was lots of Pink Mountain-heather along the whole route

Western Pasqueflower and Alpine Buttercups, with the first peak on the ridge in the background.

Western Pasqueflower seed heads

Alpine Laurel

This Rufous Hummingbird was feeding on the meadow flowers, and here is about to alight on the tip of a Subalpine Fir tree.

Once on the ridge there are great views in all directions.  This is looking northwest toward Siwash Lake, in the headwaters of Glade Creek.  The middle ridge is Mount Sentinel, with the Norns Range in the far distance.

Great view of the Valhallas from up here!

It's a fairly steep ascent to the ridge, but once there it is a lovely, gentle ridge walk up to the peak of Siwash Mountain.  This is looking back eastward.  The meadows where we started hiking are behind the peak on the left.

Dawg is cooling off on one of the few remaining snow patches on the ridge.

I believe this is Sulphur Paintbrush, which I haven't seen around here too often.

Looking south down the Erie Creek drainage, with Penstemon in the foreground.

A pair of Clark's Nutcrackers kept us company for a while

This is the summit of Siwash Mountain, looking northward.

On the very peak of the mountain were hundreds of Ladybugs, in little clusters all over the place.  I have no idea what they were doing there!

There are also three of these bronze plates embedded in the rock on the peak of the mountain.

Lots of insect life on the mountain, including this Western White (I think) butterfly

Also this Fire-rim Tortoiseshell (aka Milbert's Tortoiseshell)

The Bear-grass was blooming spectacularly.

A great day in the high country, don't you think Dawg?

"There's no life like it!"