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Date:  March 13, 2004

Location  Lyle Cherry Orchard Hike

Where:  Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

 

 This was the opening hike of the Spring Hikes put on by the Friends of the Columbia Gorge. The Cherry Orchard Trail, located on private property but made available to the public by the generosity of its owner, involves a steep hike up through brushy oaks, across striking plateaus to an abandoned cherry orchard.

starting up the trail

looking accross the Columbia to Rowena

lunch break at the orchard looking east to The Dalles

I knew from last year's hike to the orchard that we would be too early for cherry blossoms, but I felt the views would be worth it. What I didn't realize until this hike was that this trail has wildflowers of its own to easily make it more that a worthwhile early season destination. Besides the flowers showcased in the photos below I also saw and photographed Pungent Desert Parsley, Prairie Stars, Lance-leaf Spring Beauty, Toothworts, Spring Whitlow-grass, and Mountain Sandwort.

Grass Widows
Shooting Star
Yellow Bells