Lookout Mountain Hike

My friend and I hiked up Lookout Mountain, again.
Such a nice, easy hike.
This is the Mother Lode  Mine.

A stunning 360-degree panaramic view awaits you at the top.
Notice those july dogtail widlflowers at the bottom of the photo.

There are several ways to get to the summit.
We circled up from the east of the mine buildings around to the west.
More info on the Mother Lode Mine is here.

Horses earlier in the spring.
Very dry this year. 
Parts of the western trail were very dusty.


Favorite Columbine.
More Wildflowers.

Trail meandering towards the summit amidst stunning sage.

We still don't know what these pods are.
They seem to be attached to the sedum (stonecrop).

Mama & Puppies were bouncing up & around, back & forth, & off-trail all the way up.
By the time we reached the summit, they were knackered.
Bella (mama) in front. Osso (brown) in middle and
Daisydoodle collapsed in the tiny bit of shade.

Scarlett Gilia (Skyrocket)


Puppies, Daisy & Osso

Lilies near the bottom of the trail - near mine buildings on west side.
Summit looking north.



A lovely jumble of widlflowers.

Auger near west trail.

Mushrooms growing from log.

Lovely woodland vista.


Mother Lode Mine Building near west trailhead.

South of the mine buildings, still heading down.

Western Monkshood.



Perry's Larkspur


Towards the summit - all sage and balsam.

Looking west. Three Sisters directly ahead and to the south. Mt. Jefferson to the right (north), Mt. Hood to the far north & Mt. Adams (washington state) even further north. Those dratted blues & greys. Can't make out the snowy mtns. from the camera.

No wildfires.
Yet.
Although while we were eating lunch, one sprang up near the Warm Springs reservation.

Indian Paintbrush

links:
Wildflowers:
Mother Lode Mine.
Lookout Mountain - East of Prineville - ochocos.

Wild Flowers of Lookout Mountain - Crook County

Long post filled with photos of some of the wildflowers on Lookout Mountain - east of Prineville (have to add Crook County because of the close proximity of other Lookout Mountains).

Columbine

Mother Lode Mine

Penstemon

Parry's Larkspur?

Scarlet Gilia (Skyrocket)

All day Trail Ride, aka The Easy Way Up

Deadfall

Near the summit (6926'), sagebrush and balsam (or sunflowers) grow in the meadows

Mountain is made of rocks

Arrowleaf Balsam Root - near the top, nearly done blooming

Our dog meets their dog.
Near the summit, open areas abound, surrounded by Pine Forest and some Firs.

We started our hike wading through endless lakes of Lupine

Bella casually waiting for the slowpoke humans to catch up.

Start of center trail leading directly south to Mother Lode Mine, most direct route to summit.

At the summit, found these crazy colorful pods growing in the protected crevices of rocks.
Woman whom we met said they might be Loco Weed. Two years later - still don't know.

Nestled in the crevice - purplish, spotted pods

Often growing next to the yellow flowering Sedum, the Loco weed pods are intriguing.

One to one & a half foot tall stems with five petaled pink flowers opening up the stem.
Got no idea. Kind of like Clarkia or possibly a Larkspur?

 

Narrowleaf Penstemon

Single lobe on top. Tri-split on bottom lobe. Yellow center.
The jungle of leaves surrounding this pretty pink specimen made it impossible to help in identifying.
Possibly Lowbush Penstemon?

Alpine Strawberries

Not familiar with this short yellow flower either.

Don't know this one. Growing at the lower (6000') elevation.
Similar to Brown-Eyed Susans.

Western Monkshood

Pretty Asters

California Corn Lilies

Bella & Buttercups (?)

Columbine and Forget-me-nots

Forget-me-not

Mystery flower. Dusty sage elongated leaves with orange bloom. Low-growing

Indian Paintbrush

Parry's Larkspur

Bonus

At mine - near head of trail looking northeast

Phenomenal 360 degree view

Looking west towards Cascade Mountains

Looking south

And if, anyone reading this dares to dispute, bring it on.
A very good hike.