This year has been a very poor year. The summer was short. We had a strange winter. The snowpack was low until March. Then it snowed, and snowed on through April. This area did not melt out until June. Summer was cooler and rainier than usual. During the blooming time, it rained and I suspect the bees did not do their pollinating. I had given up, all my usual haunts had only a couple berries per bush. Then I heard about this area.
It requires a hike of about a mile, mostly uphill on a well worn trail. There is no water for the faithful Used Dog, so we carried water, as well as dog and people treats, and some extra clothing because the weather can quickly turn nasty in our mountains.
Most huckleberry patches have good views.
That's Mt. Adams, one of the three volcanoes that we live in the midst of.
Here's a zoom.
A picture of the huckleberry brush. Huckleberries have been harvested by the tribal people for eons. They burned their patches when the trees began encroaching. I believe this area was fried by a forest fire in 1919 and was not replanted. The high elevation and exposure makes it slower to reforest.
The Used Dog and I were becoming annoyed by flies and warm temperatures. I began picking my way back. I looked up and saw white dots on the rock above, and found out we were being watched.
Mountain goats have been increasing their numbers in our area. Here is a blurry picture of a goat family, watching from a scary place.
The berries were not as plentiful as I had hoped. I do not think I made my minimum goal of a gallon. We'll have to make more apple pies for special occasions.
This morning my back is very sore, and The Used Dog has not arisen from his sleep. Lucky guy!
