Wildflower Wonder- Beckwith Pass (11 July 2015)
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Crested Butte is known for it’s wildflowers. Heck, we even have a wildflower festival. The festival was just this past week. While I didn’t actually participate in the festival activities, I still decided to get in the spirit and go for a good wildflower hike. I’d heard that the wildflowers were in full force near Beckwith Pass. So, I borrowed Eddie the wonderdog to join me, and we headed out for a wildflower hike on the Cliff Creek trail.
The lower aspen forest harbored many wildflowers, like these larkspur.
Sneezeweed.
I don’t see this one too often – Corydalis.
I feel like we have a lot more flax this year compared to other years – such a soft and beautiful flower.
The Aspen Sunflowers were peaking in the Kebler Pass area.
As I emerged from the forest, the meadows were full of color too. Here’s a field of wildflowers with East Beckwith behind.
Paintbrush mixed in with Scarlet Gilia and Lupine.
Fields and fields and fields of Scarlet Gilia.
Eddie among the Scarlet Gilia, slightly frightened by distant thunder.
Columbine were prolific throughout the hike.
It just kept getting more and more beautiful.
Looking northeast toward Ruby and Owen.
One last parting wildflower shot.
Summer is here! Get out and enjoy the amazing scenes and wildflowers before they’re gone! Remember, summer is short here in Crested Butte!
Want to go on a wildflower hike?
Don’t forget that wilflowers are constantly changing based on time of year, altitude, and weather. In the last month, we have watched the field across from our apartment change from green to purple to white to yellow. A wildflower hike that is good one week, may change the next. So, if you want to find where the wildflowers are going to be good, talk to some locals. Pop into a shop or a restaurant and ask. Heck, even ask someone sitting on a bench on Elk Avenue. Crested Buttians love to share their knowledge!
Many thanks to Dara Buchelle-Collins for setting me straight on my wildflower identification 🙂
Want to do this hike yourself?
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