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!"

WTD#11 - Is it really August?

I'd hoped to post this before going down to the coast for a week or so (last week), but things got too crazy busy and I ran out of time.  So now I'm back-blogged!  These photos are still from June and July rambles with Dawg in our lovely valleys and hillsides.

This is the osprey nest at the junction of Highway 6 and Pass Creek Road at Crescent Valley.  There was at least one nearly grown chick in the nest at the time.

White-flowered Rhododendron on the mid-elevation slopes above Pass Creek.

This is Pink Monkeyflower aka Lewis's Monkeyflower, growing near a stream in the same area.

Arctic Lupines were growing there as well

Back down in the valley bottom near the Kootenay River we found this female Black-headed Grosbeak staying motionless in it's nest while we passed by.  There is a little chick with its mouth wide open, just below the beak of it's mother.

By early July the Soopolallie berries have already ripened,

and the horseflies are on the prowl, searching for fresh meat.

The two bright yellow spots on the belly of this spider give it the appearance of some kind of scary alien.

This is Woody Nightshade, aka Bitterseet or Climbing Nightshade.  It is a vine that climbs quite high on nearby trees and vegetation, and is apparently mildly poisonous.

These Skunk Cabbage "spikes" have matured from the flower stage to seeds (I think)

 Yellow Salsify seed head

This is a European Skipper, perched on a Knapweed bud.  Interestingly, both are "invasive species".  The Skipper was introduced into Ontario in 1910, and has made it's way west in the intervening years.  This photo was taken along the Slocan Valley Rail Trail.

St. John's Wort, also along the rail trail,

as well as Chickory.

I have searched high and low and can't find this butterfly in any of the books or on-line sites I've seen.  It might be a Common Checkered Skipper or a Two-Banded Checkered Skipper, but none of the photos I've seen look quite like this.

I believe this is a Northern Crescent, perched on a daisy along the Slocan Rail Trail

The bud of a Yellow Waterlily on one of the ponds along the Mel Deanna trail near Castlegar

Prince's Pine flowers along the Mel Deanna trail

Nodding Onion flowers - same area

Scene from the Damselfly Kama Sutra.  I have no idea which is the male or female, but it's interesting that the top one seems to be pushing down on the neck of the bottom one in order to give it the leverage it needs for mating. Also they make the shape of a heart - isn't that amazing, Dawg?

"Yeah - cool!"

WTD#10 - Here Comes The Sun! (please)

Whew - here it is July already, just like that  If the forecast is correct, we are finally in for some summer weather.  Yesterday I picked the first few ripe Saskatoons on the Dove Hill trail, where Dawg and I squeezed in a quick walk while the rain held off.  The huckleberries will be next, and then we will be in the hills with our buckets again.  Meanwhile we are enjoying our strolls in the valley, despite the burgeoning bug population that this wet spring has fostered.

These Killdeer were enjoying a temporary pond created by the high level of the Slocan River.  They always look so worried, and their eyes look totally fake, like they were ripped off from a teddy bear.

A Belted Kingfisher was perched on a mullein stem, overlooking the same pond.

A honeybee gathering nectar from a Showy Aster, along the Slocan Rail Trail.

The Slocan River is the backdrop for these Daisies along the rail trail.

This Western Tanager gave me a very brief moment to snap a photo before it flitted off again.  I don't get to see them that often, although they do nest in our area.

Mock Orange (aka Syringa) is in bloom everywhere right now.

The Lorquin's Admiral butterfly is also very common this time of year.  This one is perched on a Mock Orange blossom.

A Common Harebell, along the rail trail.

Side view of a Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, nectaring on Spreading Dogbane flowers.

Looking straight down on the flower head of a Birch-leaved Spirea, with some flowers open and some still in buds.  This was taken on the Elk Cutoff trail (Dove Hill).

Ocean Spray is abundant and in bloom in the Dove Hill area (and elswhere).

These two Elegant Day Moths were mating right on the Dove Hill trail.  I moved the piece of Knapweed they were attached to off to the side so they wouldn't get trampled. 

Another angle.  The wild colours remind me of  '60's tie-dye art.

This little beetle seemed to be gorging on nectar from the Spirea flowers.  No idea what it is, but it has cool markings on its back.

Low elevation Thimbleberry flowers have pretty much run their course and now the fruit is forming.

A Bald-faced Hornet is nectaring on Snowberry flowers

Tentative ID of this butterfly is an Arrowhead Blue, also nectaring on the Snowberry blossoms.  These flowers were just loaded with all kinds of wasps, bumblebees, butterflies and other insects.  Their nectar must be very nourishing, or accessible, or plentiful, to attract so many feeders.

The Tiger Lilies are fading fast now, so I thought it was worth one last look for the season.

A bee working on a Meadow Buttercup blossom.  The Meadow Buttercup is actually an invasive species, albeit long established, from Europe.

I haven't been able to identify this little butterfly resting on the wild rose flower.

There's just nothing like a day out in the natural world to soothe the soul, eh buddy?

"Amen to that!"