While wildflower opportunities are limited at traditional places such as Sunrise and Paradise, there are still some places to view flowers. Among them is the Westside Road, not far from the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park.
According to reports, avalanche lilies can be seen around the parking lot at the end of the road and orange paintbrush are visible up the trail.
In the meantime, much of Paradise is still deeply covered by snow. Snow depth readings showed there were 94 inches on the ground Friday, 855 percent of normal. Typically there is only 11 inches of snow at this time.
COUNTING GOATS
Wildlife biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service are conducting a count of non-native mountain goats in Olympic National Park and adjacent areas of Olympic National Forest.
USGS researchers and park staff members have been counting mountain goats from a low-flying helicopter during early morning hours since Monday and will continue through Thursday. The count is focusing on areas above 4,500 feet.
The helicopter used for the effort will operate from a landing area at Deer Park. Visitors may experience brief traffic delays when the helicopter is landing or taking off, and campers there may be awakened at dawn on days that census flights are scheduled.
Preliminary results of the 2011 census are expected to be available in August.
The last mountain goat census was done in 2004 and estimated the population to contain between 259 and 320 mountain goats. This estimate was statistically no different than previous censuses conducted in 1997, 1994 and 1990.
The 1997 census indicated a mountain goat population between 237-325, whereas the 1994 census indicated a population of between 225-351. The 1990 census resulted in an estimate of between 181-597.
Mountain goats were introduced to the Olympic Mountains in the 1920s, prior to establishment of Olympic National Park.
WORK CLOSES PARK
Possession Point State Park on Whidbey Island has been closed on weekdays so crews can replace the seawall.
The park will be open 6 a.m. to dusk Saturdays and Sundays during the construction.
The work includes removing the plank bulkhead and replacing it with a buried rock trench to allow better long-shore transport of beach materials for improved salmon habitat. Work, which began Monday, is expected to take 60-90 days.
The project will cost approximately $400,000 and is funded by a FEMA Disaster Assistance Grant.
The marine park is located on the east side of the southern tip of Whidbey Island and is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail. The marine park is open to those arriving by wind- or human-powered watercraft only and is popular with scuba divers.
The weekday closure of the state park does not affect the Possession Point Waterfront Park and boat launch, which are owned and operated by the Port of South Whidbey.
Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640
jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
Museum creates guide to Rainier wildflowers
The Burke Museum’s Herbarium has published a new guide to Mount Rainier wildflowers. “Alpine Flowers of Mount Rainier” includes photos and descriptions of 90 wildflower species found above the tree line at Mount Rainier National Park.
The all-weather guide is a collaborative effort between Burke Museum Herbarium Collections Manager David Giblin and University of Washington alum and native plant enthusiast Donovan Tracy. Tracy took all 160 photos in the guide during hikes he has taken throughout the park.
This could be the first in a series of guides for wildflowers around Washington.
The map-style guide folds to 20 inches by 26 inches, is organized by flower color to make identifications easier and is printed on waterproof, tear-resistant EcoStone paper.
The guide is $8.95 plus tax and is available at the Burke Museum shop, Mount Rainier National Park gift shops, Seattle Audobon, Metsker Maps and Third Place Books.
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