The gate was open.
That meant we could keep on driving rather than hiking a long ways to get to where we could enjoy spectacular views.
We have walked that stretch of road just past the horse corrals on Trail Creek Road several times over the past few years, mainly in May.
It's a steady but gradual climb for hiking, and we've usually walked at least a couple of miles.
Twas a lot easier yesterday when we could remain in the pickup and keep climbing in the open country east of Naples where the North Fork of Grouse creek flows through the area.
I considered yesterday's open gate a gift, especially as we ascended and, with each switchback, saw even better, more complete views of the Selkirk Mountains to our west.
As we drove, I kept asking Bill to stop the pickup when I'd see hillsides dotted with yellow violets and various colors of trilliums.
Turns out when we decided that our part of the road had ended and we pulled out our hiking poles for a nice walk in the vast openness, the wildflower population matched all those spots where we had stopped below.
I loved the walk, which was ended up about a mile from the pickup. Each step taken was rewarded by 360-degree views, both outward and closeup where the wildflowers and the mini streams cascaded or formed little waterfalls.
As one who does not delight in straight up and straight down, I judged this walk as perfect.
All along the way, we could hear birds singing happily and even a woodpecker working a hole into a snag. It was snag heaven up there, and Bill suggested that even the woodpeckers were probably pretty happy yesterday.
When we arrived back at the pickup, I heard a bird which sounded like a hawk. Then, I looked toward a snag and discovered this bird was a blue jay.
Like crows, they can make a variety of sounds. Turned out we saw three jays flitting from limb to limb on the snags and trees around our pickup.
We even offered some potato chips, but these jays were content to continue their aerial antics.
Yesterday's Trail Creek/Grouse Creek experience topped the charts for me with perfect weather, astounding mountain views---one of which even into Canada---signing birds and gorgeous wildflowers.
And, on this holiday weekend, we had the entire area all to ourselves. We saw no humans once we passed through that open gate.
Loved every minute of our adventure.
One more heads up item for today.
My brother Mike and his daughter Maureen participated in some filming last week featuring "Wear Blue: Run to Remember" chapter in DuPont, Wash.
Mike, a 1966 West Point graduate and veteran of two Vietnam tours, has participated for several years in the group which gets together weekly to run and remember the fallen.
With each Saturday event, Mike dedicates his run his military colleagues and others who have been lost in battle. His family members have also participated.
It's possible there may be a Mike and Maureen sighting tonight as part of an "NBC Nightly News" segment featuring the DuPont chapter of "Run to Remember."
Then, again, they may not show up, but if they do, I'm giving you a heads-up to check it out.
You can read more about, donate and maybe even decide to participate yourself in "Wear Blue: Run to Remember" and in the link below.
Happy Sunday.
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