Blog for July 17, 2016
The trailhead for Flower Springs Lake is 34 miles back along the Alaska Highway, at the south end of Summit Lake. Today was a “free” day so after talking with Dave, owner of the campground who has local knowledge, we settled on the Flower Springs Trail.
We drove back the way we came yesterday, and today there were more Stone sheep along the road.
A mile up the trail we encountered swarms of butterflies, including this grouping of light blue ones (maybe their babies) surrounded by miniature Monarch-looking butterflies. We saw several of these groupings along the trail.
Dotted Blazing Star
Along the trail we met Heather and yes, that is a rifle she is holding. She had just come from Flower Springs Lake and told us there were elk at the lake.
After leaving the fire road we took the trail past a small lake formed by the out-let streams from Flower Springs Lake. It was quite boggy traveling around this little lake and we had to hop from stone to stone to cross the feeder streams.
After three miles we looked back across the high meadow we had just crossed.
Approaching the final ridge before dropping down to Flower Springs Lake.
Meet Rick, Tracy and their small dog Cleo - and Rick’s gun. They told us we had only seven more minutes of hiking before we arrived at the lake. They are from Fort Nelson and actually told us Heather”s name (see above) because they know her from Fort Nelson.
Crossing the final moraine, left by retreating glaciers, to see Flower Springs Lake.
Down by the water looking southwest and…
northwest.
small white flowers
Hiking back across the meadows between the glacial moraines. Notice the bare, conical shaped mountain peaks in the distance.
Looking back to the mountain peaks above Flower Springs Lake.
small yellow flowers
Sidebells Penstemon (purple flowers on a stalk)
Side bells Penstemon and Yellow flowers, one of my favorite color combinations.
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