When it starts to get hot in the valley and spring blooms begin to fade, we turn to higher elevations for our weekly hikes. With temps threatening to nudge 90ยบ F as early as mid April this year, we thought we could beat the heat on the McClure Trail, which starts at ~2750 feet in elevation. While I am sure it was cooler there than in the valley, it still felt very warm! It always takes a while to acclimate to warmer-weather hiking.
Photo by Don Burk.
Last year, we did this hike in March and noted ~42 species in bloom. This year we hiked it in April, a month later, and found ~70 species in bloom; the time of year makes for quite a difference in blooming season! For trail details, please see the Get Out! article titled McClure Trail, March 22, 2020.
Here is a short slideshow of some of the sights we saw on this hike. As always, all photos are by Don Burk. Enjoy! ~Laurie & Don Burk
