It was a bit early for wildflowers, but Club President Jerry lead a dozen optimistic hikers out to the Badlands this past Saturday, April 23rd , hoping that the Sand Lily Trail might live up to its name. Here’s Jerry’s report:
After several days of unsettled and kind of chilly weather Saturday, April 23rd , dawned sunny and warm. Conditions were was perfect for CONC members to meet and wander around in the desert.
We met at the parking lot by one of the local establishments on the east side [editorial hints: a brewery with good pizza, greenhouses for growing herbs, and a telescope tower] and caravanned east to the trailhead for the Larry Chitwood* Trail (formerly the Obernolte Trail) in the Oregon Badlands wilderness.
We headed out in that direction hoping to find some find some sand lilies and phlox in bloom. We did find some of those species here and there, but precious few. Another week and the wildflower hunting should be better. We could not have asked for a nicer day to wander around the Chitwood, Mazama, and Sand Lilly trails. The company was excellent, and we kept up the conversations for the entire 8 miles (give or take) of spring desert hiking.
* The trail was named for long-time US Forest Service geologist Larry Chitwood, who died in January 2008 on a winter hike up Pilot Butte. https://accessgenealogy.com/california/chitwood-lawrence-allan-obituary.htm
Can anyone identify the yellow flowers (maybe buckwheat?) or the pink one?
