Wildflowers on the Monroe-Eisenhower Loop, Route Question

[Driver8]

Planning a hike for this weekend with a friend, up Ammo, over Monroe, on to Ike and down Edmands to Car #2. We want to take in the best wildflower experience available on this route, such as that might be.

My thought is to go up and back down Monroe then wend around it on the Crawford Path, in order to see the wildflowers on that route. A bit of backtracking and some added elevation, but it seems worthwhile, as I hear the area along Monroe's southern plateau is extra special when it comes to wildflowers. Is that so, or would continuing on the Monroe Loop across Little M and Franklin make for ample flower viewing, such that we wouldn't be missing much?

 

[Driver8]

(Unless, of course, you're determined to use the Ammo Ravine Trail.)

This. My partner hasn't done the Ammo, and I love that trail. And the car spot isn't an issue. She's up for a day, and I'm up for two or three.

Given that, does it make sense to do the there-and-back on Monroe and then loop around on Crawford? The 4000-Footers book says Monroe's south plateau is a special place for alpine plants.

 

[thegibba]

The monroe Plateau is certainly spectacular. Last July I dropped my gear off at LOC hut and went up Monroe. Looked over at franklin and saw a bunch of brown and boulders.

I went over Monroe and rock hopped to the crawford trail On Monroe's Southern side for a walk back to LOC.

Without spoiling anything Monroe looked like this from the East

The trail glistened with the mica reflecting off the sun, endorphins running high, I just started jogging taking in everything. It was quite the marvel. There were a few AMC members undertaking some sort of research up there on the plant life.

Your trip sounds fine to me, Barkingcat's option is quite valid. However, I find the Ammo to be much more of an interesting trail than Edmunds. A loop around Monroe/Franklin via Edmunds or Ammo to Crawford would be a chimerical day. No need for a car spot.

 

[Driver8]

Your trip sounds fine to me, Barkingcat's option is quite valid. However, I find the Ammo to be much more of an interesting trail than Edmunds. A loop around Monroe/Franklin via Edmunds or Ammo to Crawford would be a chimerical day. No need for a car spot.

Thanks, gibba. Love your pics! Probably gonna do the route I plan, since I want to bag both peaks, we want to take in the flowers, and she wants to do Ammo, which is a rare one she's missed. Looking forward to it and hoping the weather forecast for this weekend holds.