Sandwiched between Lindeman Lake to the west, Flora Lake to the east and a much larger Chilliwack Lake to the south, Flora Peak is fine and easily accessed objective with outstanding 360-degree views. At just 13 kilometers round-trip, most of it on a well-established trail, and about 4600 feet of gain, it can best be described as "low hanging fruit" for the peakbagging set and their four-legged companions alike! Starting from the parking area off Chilliwack Lake Road, the trail climbs up though forest before traversing Flora's south slopes and from where the first views overlooking Chillwack Lake are had. Flora Pass comes a short distance later, where one leaves the main trail for a climber's path that continues off to the left (north). A bit of steeper hiking here, in my case through some lingering snow patches leads to the large summit area.

Great views as mentioned, particularly of Chilliwack Rivery Valley and the Welch-Foley group to the W and NW. The peaks along the east flank of Silverhope Creek from Hope Mountain to Silvertip showing up nicely as well. Of course, the real attraction is the view south and SW of the peaks and valleys both within and bordering the North Cascades National Park. Too many to mention here, so please enjoy the pics and see if you can identify them all!

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Rhododendron Mountain is a sprawling massif just under 6 kilometers as the crow flies from its taller neighbor Mount Ipsoot. The peak first piqued my interest whilst heli-skiing in the area back in 2015. I had another opportunity to be enamoured of Rhododendron's majesty from Sugarloaf Mountain some years later, mesmerised by its sheer North Face complete with hanging ice and glaciers. That same year from the summit of Ipsoot I spied what looked to be a viable approach to the peak from the south, so when reports began surfacing the following year of parties successfully reaching the summit from this side, my ears immediately perked up! The various reports described the approach as a reasonable day trip starting from newer logging branches off the Rutherford FSR, albeit one that is dependent on a decent spring snowpack to help subdue the brush on a still tedious ~4-kilometer-long up n' down traverse. This traverse ends at a prominent saddle just below a subsummit I have informally named Pk. 2260 - a point that marks the beginning of the vast Rhododendron summit plateau.

"Pk. 2260" is also relevant for it's as far as I managed to get on this day. Leg cramps no doubt caused by dehydration and fatigue thanks to several kilometers of plowing through wet cement-like snow with my ancient and altogether far too short snowshoes did me in. Barely made it up the first steep pitch up from the saddle and limped on over to the highpoint while Wes and Finn continued to Rhododendron proper. Views still satisfactory from here particularly of the mighty Ipsoot across the way as well as a large glacier valley stretching away to the north. That'll have to do I s'pose! Decided to slowly start back down on my own without waiting for the others, reversing the damned traverse now across slopes littered with fresh wet slides thanks to the strong afternoon sun. Spent some quality time with my mosquito friends back at the truck waiting for the two to return from their successful summit bid, sunburnt but clearly quite stoked (I've included some shots of theirs from after we parted ways).

All-in-all, I have mixed feelings about this one. Compared to Ipsoot, Rhododendron falls short in several respects. Yes, it is indeed striking from the north, but kinda a bore from the south. Not quite motivated enough yet to go back for the grand slog to the summit proper. Maybe someday, but don't hold your breath...

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Had a concert at The Gorge to attend and decided to tack on a few days at either end to tramp around my former Eastern Washington stompin' grounds! The desert-like expanse immediately east of the Columbia River known as the Channelled Scablands is a geological marvel which never ceases to amaze with its stark contrast to the lush temperate rainforest and glaciated mountain ranges to the west and rolling dunes of loess to the east. This is a tortured, yet uniquely beautiful landscape forged deep in the Earth's mantle by ancient lava flows and subsequent flooding of cataclysmic proportions. From touring the engineering marvel that is the Grand Coulee Dam to rock climbing at Banks Lake and Frenchman's Coulee or kayaking Deep Lake near Dry Falls, there's a lot to see and do here. Sheesh! If those words aren't worthy of a visitor's pamphlet of the type one typically finds in motel lobbies or car rental agencies, I don't know what is!

Our agenda included sightseeing and the requisite wine tasting along the Columbia near the concert venue, hiking at Ancient Lakes, exploring the Potholes Reservoir area and beholding the stunning waterfall and gorge at Palouse Falls. Didn't quite make it as far east as Pullman this trip, so the nostalgia of college-era Sergio will have to wait for another time! Enjoyed our final evening of "van life" along the Snake River before the rain arrived to hasten our long day's drive back home. Go Cougs!

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