above colorful samara on Springtime maple trees
Spring Wildflower Trip 2025 Day 8 Alpine Mountain
Photos are HERE
Kenny got back to Jamestown on Thursday night. I was happy to see him. We planned to get up with Sharon on Friday morning and go riding at Alpine Mountain. The last time we rode Alpine Mountain we were hunting for Bigfoot Overlook. We finally had a man and his son point out to us the turn off for it. He cautioned us that while it wasn't too far out there to the overlook it was a huge mess. All the way from the turn off to the overlook were downed trees. We opted to stay away as we weren't in the mood to spend a day clearing a path to the overlook. We'd have to try it another time. Today was going to be that day. We went prepared mentally that if we found the trail a mess we'd deal with it.
We arrived at Alpine and parked behind the old gymnasium building. I should have reminded Kenny about NO CHASING RABBITS! I just figured things would go to plan. We set off on the trail that leads up the mountain. We had a nice ride up, but I began noticing logging by the trail. One of the best wildflower spots was destroyed by loggers. It was particularly disappointing since it was the spot I found a hybrid prairie trillium. I hoped to look for more, but that wasn't going to happen.
We still saw some pretty patches of deep purple dwarf larkspur. We saw patches of trilliums. I got out and climbed a steep bank to walk among the flowers. Lots of white trilliums. Some aged to pink. I saw a lot of blue cohosh also. I did notice less flowers over all. I think it holds with the pattern of messed up bloom time thanks to screwy weather.
below: southern red trillium
below: dwarf larkspur
We were on our way to the overlook and stopped at The Mule Barn! It was a good resting spot.
Below is Kenny with our RZR
Kenny was heading onward to where Amy instructed him on the overlooks position. The ride there was longer than I expected, but it was pretty. It wasn't terribly confusing, but I felt turned around. Only on looking at the map later at home did I sort out the position of the overlook. It was not facing the direction I imagined. We were thrilled to find that the trail to the overlook was cleared! We caught a break on that. It was rather surreal to finally be standing there at this place we'd long wanted to find.
It was every bit as pretty as we'd hoped. Grandstand view and we found the Big Feet! We were surprised to find other carvings in the stone of the overlook.
Below: dirt track to walk down to the overlook
Once we had enjoyed the overlook view and all the carvings on the rock we headed back down the mountain to other sights. Next we went by the old Alpine school building. It is just a ruin. There are three houses on the mountain. The school ruins, another old house about a mile further out which is also ruins, and lastly way out on the western end is a double wide home someone put there and abandoned! Very odd.
Below: looking into one room of the old school is the fire place
Below: school ruins on Alpine Mountain
We showed Sharon the old building and motored onward to the pond a bit further out.
It was blue today and had plenty water in it. It wasn't as pretty as I have seen it, but it was nice. I did not try to climb down to see the cascade below it today. It wasn't flowing all that well to make it worth doing. Wildflower display up here wasn't great either. The mountain has lots of interesting terrain and rock features.
We did not linger too long at the pond or school, but headed onward. We had seen some beautiful flowers, streams and history in Medlocke Hollow last visit. We hoped to see that again today. Somehow we took a wrong turn and missed all that entirely! We came to what a first thought was a gate while heading that direction. It was really a flattened car frame. We were in one of those spots where the terrain is so steep it looks like you are going to drive off the earth. We didn't of course, but it was a steep, exciting roller coaster ride downward to Puncheon Camp Road. We came out through not Medlocke Hollow, but a lot where stone quarrying is taking place. It was scarred up and ugly. We encountered a fellow running equipment, but he wasn't concerned about us. We moved on to get out of his way. Before we knew it we were down along Puncheon Camp Road in a residential area. We passed a bluff covered in fire pinks and shooting stars. No way to get photos as they were so high over head. We also missed the Vaughn box grave.
We kept going and soon came to Puncheon Creek and few spots with good flowers. We also saw a graveyard with comb graves! Lots of them.
We passed by Shiloh Falls on the way out the road. It is little, but pretty.
Below: some trilliums in the woods out near Puncheon Creek
We got out to the West Obey River and Kenny began some of his aimless wandering. It was then I decided that if there is a NEXT YEAR Spring Wildflower Trip, it will be done differently. I cannot stand aimless wandering that yields little or no results. It bores me to tears and makes me feel so unproductive. I need different even if it bombs out. We enjoyed a few glimpses of the West Obey River, but then headed back to the truck. I was over it. I was hot and tired and frustrated with the lackluster blooms. Time to call it quits.
The next day we got up and had a quick breakfast and packed to head home. Sunday was Easter and we needed to get ready for that. It was a decent trip, but I hold with the needing different. I need to remember this. I played catch up all week long trying to clean and put away stuff. There is always the time when I have to pay the piper and it had arrived. Sometimes the aftermath is such I wonder if it is worth it all!
Below is a video of the West Obey River.
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