As we enter June, the mountain forest is alive with birdsong and the welcoming aroma of fresh plant life. Wandering up the Lake Clara Trail for the first time in a couple weeks, I was impressed by the new growth on the lower trails; Â the undergrowth has sprung up into a dense mat of greenery interspersed with varied species of wildflowers en route to these scenic lakes. In the small meadows near the start of the trail, barely 100 yards from the Mission Ridge base area, lupines and the first paintbrushes of the season adorn the sunny hillside.
While these iconic wildflowers haven’t started working their way onto the higher slopes (yet!), there’s no shortage of other interesting flora along the path as you ascend. The beautiful Tweedy’s lewisia is putting on a show in the middle portion of the trail, where it finds its preferred habitat of well-drained soils nestled amongst rock crevices. This species is notable not only for its striking appearance that contrasts with the dark basalt, but also since it is endemic to (only found in) central Washington, particularly in the Wenatchee and Methow mountains (technically that’s a lie, because there’s one isolated spot in British Columbia that’s known to have a few). Anyway, we sure are lucky to have some specimens here at The Ridge!
Approaching the top of the trail, I found that the snow has fully melted off the path, making for easy travel with no slick spots and no mud. The dominant wildflower near the top of the route is the ephemeral glacier lily, which blooms for just a couple weeks in sites where snow patches have recently melted. Come see them this week, because they’ll probably be gone by the next!
Lined with the vibrant greens of fresh tamarack needles, Lakes Clara and Marion are both rewarding destinations, as usual.
The mostly-shaded descent was fast and pleasant. With great weather, spring working its way up the slopes, and the Chair 5 Pub opening up tomorrow (Friday, June 6th), it sure is a great time of year up on The Ridge! This weekend is looking like a fantastic time to come visit, with the pub’s Opening Weekend coinciding with warm, sunny weather, perfect for a hike to these mountain lakes.
Base Area Forecast
Friday 6/6: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 8 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Saturday 6/7: Sunny, with a high near 78. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.
Sunday 6/8: Sunny, with a high near 83.
Chair 5 Pub Schedule
The Summer Grand Opening of the Chair 5 Pub at Mission Ridge is on June 6th! Hours are Fridays from 4pm–9pm, Saturdays from 11am–9pm, and Sundays from 9am–2pm.
No chairlifts will run during the off-season.
Off-Season Access PolicyÂ
During the off-season, public access within the Mission Ridge Special Use Permit area is permitted except where restricted due to maintenance and construction. We love seeing the Mission Ridge community in the mountains and on the trails year-round, but please make sure to check out the full access policy by clicking the link below.
