It has been about six years since we visited Table Mountain. The last time we visited the region was in 2010. In 2012, lightening struck the area and started a fire that burned form June until the wet cold of winter finally snuffed out the flames. It was time again for a visit.

Saturday’s forecast was for warm sunny day in Central Washington. It had been a dark cool rainy June week in the Seattle area and we were ready for some sun. We left by 8am for the 2 hour drive. The road to Table Mountain starts just west of Ellenburg. We turned off at Cle Elum and drove through Swauk Meadows to the eastern foothills of the Cascades before heading back west up Reecer Creek.

The narrow paved road start climbing immediately with views down over the Ellensburg valley and the Manastash Ridge. We noticed right off that the flowers were already past. Our last trip in 2010 was on July 4th and here on June 25th, many of the plants were already drying up.

The road climbs 4000 ft in just 15 miles so as we drove another mile we went back in time to earlier in Spring and started to see more flowers. We found wonderful large patches of pink onion blossoms and the fields were red white and blue with scarlet gilia, yarrow and lupine, delphinium.

We continued climbing up the road and came to the burnt blackened forest. It was sad and beautiful. The views at Lion Rock were beautiful.

We headed back to Seattle stopping for a burger in Ellensburg and a couple of beers at Dru Bru at Snoqualmie Pass. Fun day.

Red White and Blue for the season