Hidden Lakes Peak and Ruby Mountain

August 11th we set out early from Seattle for North Cascades National Park. We arrived mid morning and began our hike up to Hidden Lakes Peak. It was a stunning 4.5 miles to the top with almost 3,000 feet elevation gain. On the peak we observed 54 species and made 20 collections of species difficult to identify in the field. One new find was Micranthes nelsonia. Other notable finds included Erigeron peregrinus var. peregrinus which has only been collected on one other peak throughout the project and Antennaria monocephela which is new to the project. . We then camped overnight in Newhalem and even had the luxury of a bathroom and a sink! 

The view from Hidden Lakes Peak

Micranthes nelsonia

The next day we drove to Ruby Mountain. We met up with Tynan Ramm-Granberg, a vegetation ecologist with the Washington Natural Heritage Program under the Department of Natural Resources. At around 2 pm we began the hottest hike of the season so far, 4 miles backpacking into Fourth of July Camp where we stayed the night before our summit attempt. 

Bright and early on August 13th we began the hike to summit Ruby Mountain on an unmaintained trail, clambering over downed trees and through fire burned areas. It was 4,000 feet of elevation gain and 10.5 miles round trip. Once on the peak we found 88 species and made 42 collections, our most diverse peak of this season so far! Some firsts for the project included Carex atrosquama, Parnassia palustris, Gymnocarpum disjunctum, and Erythranthe microphylla.

Pressing plants at camp

Parnassia palustris