Raymond Path, Huntington Ravine, Alpine Garden, August 8th

[forestgnome]

Here's a nice quiet way up to Huntington Ravine. Take the Old Jackson Road over to Raymond Path.

my kind o' trail...

in a higher elevation swampy area...

This trail is nice and lush and overgrown...

Saw my first people of the day at the junction of the Huntington Ravine Trail. A person who appeared to be leading a group of hikers asked if I was lost as I appeared from the Raymond Path. I jokingly said "that'd be nice!" with a smile. He asked my destination and I said Alpine Garden for alpine flowers to which he authoritatively replied "you're about two months too late". I just smiled and bid them a nice hike.

enjoyable geology in the ravine...

ID help with this butterfly, please. He wouldn't hold still for more than a moment, hard to get a close-up. This was near the base of the headwall.

speedwell(?) near the top of the ravine in a stream...

false hellebore(?) near the top of the headwall (I really need Peterson's guide)

alpine goldenrod near the top of the headwall...

continued...

 

[forestgnome]

I strolled over to Nelson Crag...never been over there...view south from the Crag...

a beautiful day in the Alpine Garden! Harebells were my sort-of goal/highlight and it was uplifting to see them in full bloom. Most clumps had an open bloom and several yet to open.

rattlesnake root...

I remembered the guide's comment about being too late for alpine flowers as I dawdled for hours on a beautiful day in the garden with all the harebells, goldenrod, painted cups, rattlesnake root, cinquefoil, mountain sandwort, mountain avens,etc...

harebells and goldenrod growing together in a stream...

lady bug sunning herself at ~5,500'

painted cups...

happy trails

 

[w7xman]

I love how photographically comprehensive your trip reports are. Everything that I love about the alpine zone this time of year. Especially great shots of the harebells, they are so tough to shoot...as they never stay put!

 

[arghman]

He asked my destination and I said Alpine Garden for alpine flowers to which he authoritatively replied "you're about two months too late". I just smiled and bid them a nice hike.

heh. little do they know...

you got the false hellebore (Veratrum viride) right.

re "speedwell?": that's Epilobium sp., probably E. hornemannii. There's also Epilobium alpinum but it's supposed to be much rarer and the distinguishing features are subtle, something to do with the relative lengths of upper leaves and distances between nodes (where the leaves emerge). I just call it Epilobium hornemannii if it's 3500'+ in wet alpine areas. (leaves with little serrations along the edges, flowers approx 1/4"-3/8", pinkish w/ 4 notched petals)

 

[forestgnome]

Thanks, Jason. I imagined you yelling at me "get the leaves!!!" I'm trying to capture at least one pic of each species with good leave detail, as this has finally sunk into my head.

I was looking at the leaves of the rattlesnake root, trying to find Boott's Rattlesnake Root. I beleive the Boott's has smooth, oval leaves while the other has little horns on the edges of the leaf. Are the flowers of the Boott's whiter?

Thanks for the info on the speedwell...very interesting because this has become one of my very favorite. It's very pretty and it grows in such a wonderful place. I'll look foward to trying to distinguish and hunt for the rare ones.

Thanks much

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Beautiful!

Once again you've captured the place and time! Awesome shot of the Rattlesnake Root! I've never seen it open like that. The flowers are always closed when I find it. What an awesome patch of Painted Cup!

Two months late, indeed!

Butterfly is possibly a Red Admiral?

Have always loved that view from Nelson Crag!

KDT

 

[1HappyHiker]

Patrick, from my very amateur perspective, your photos seem to have it all. They’re consistently well composed, well exposed, tell a story, and they say something about life itself.

You’ve turned in yet another remarkable report! Thank you for sharing your excellent work with us.

 

[arghman]

Thanks, Jason. I imagined you yelling at me "get the leaves!!!"

I was looking at the leaves of the rattlesnake root, trying to find Boott's Rattlesnake Root. I beleive the Boott's has smooth, oval leaves while the other has little horns on the edges of the leaf. Are the flowers of the Boott's whiter?

your rattlesnake-root pics are almost certainly Prenanthes boottii = Nabalus boottii: the white color (vs. yellow for P. nana and P. altissima) and large number (12+) ray flowers per head are key distinguishing features to clinch the ID. Leaves are "sagittate" or arrowhead-shaped, sort of like the old Star Trek communicators:

if they're more divided, it's one of the other species. The Alpine Garden is one of the few places it's not too hard to find P. boottii. It's less common in other similar alpine areas near Mt. Washington: gravelly exposed sites w/ diapensia + 3-toothed cinquefoil + sedges + bearberry willow + other goodies.

---

keep up those pics! I don't think i've ever gotten a very good shot of Geum peckii so i'm impressed.

 

[bobandgeri]

Nothing creative or new to add to this thread, just THANKS ForestGnome for sharing lovely photos and to all for a few lessons along the way.

I've also been saying it's time to buy an identification book so I can learn a few more plants and birds. My most knowledgeable subject (not claiming to be expert at any means) is tropical fish identification. And sadly I do not get much chance to use that skill up in the whites. ... but at least you know someone to reference if you happen to photograph one!

Geri

 

[averagejoe]

Wow, really nice TR, I am quite jealous. Beautiful pictures. What do you shoot with? How far into the Summer does the Alpine Garden bloom?

That butterfly is a "Milbert's Tortoise Shell". Source; National Audubon Society Field Guide To Insects & Spiders.

Joe

 

[Barkingcat]

ID help with this butterfly, please. He wouldn't hold still for more than a moment, hard to get a close-up. This was near the base of the headwall.

Sorry -- coming to this thread a bit late: the butterfly is a Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti).

The caterpillars feed on nettles (including both false nettles and the stinging variety); it's quite challenging collecting these.

Nice picture!

P.S. -- this message was posted before I saw the post by "averagejoe"...!

 

[sapblatt]

Sorry you missed all of the flowers!
Wow - great shots!

 

[forestgnome]

Thanks for all the feedback and ID help!

happy trails

 

[vegematic]

Beautiful! I love fall flowers even more than spring flowers. Too bad that fellow you met is missing out.
-vegematic

 

[Darl58]

Beautifull pics!!! I love the ladybug and I know how hard it is to photograph things that tiny so clearly...damn!!

You don't even need a report....pics tell the trip!!