Our early Fall weather has been rainy and cloudy, but not terribly cold. Saturday was the first nice day in a long time, so I didn't want to miss the chance. Flattop was showing a bit of color, even though we haven't had any freezing temperatures. Other hikers were also drawn to our favorite local mountain to enjoy the autumn hues and the rare glimpse of the sun. More rain is predicted for the next few days, but we can hope for a clearing next weekend.
Click the photos above, or links below, to see larger
versions:
Jascha and I up on the Flattop Summit, overlooking Powerline
Valley
O'Malley Peak and ridge, across Powerline Valley
The mountain, looming over the trail, sports subtle colors
of fall
A group stops to catch their breath and enjoy the view
Dwarf Dogwood (bunchberries) add their vibrant tint to the
scene
View of Anchorage from a rocky ledge on the summit
There was a little red squirrel in a shady and secluded area of a hemlock tree, very close the the trail, not far from the trailhead. It seemed to feel very safe there, surrounded by the branches. It was eating something (cones?) from the tree. As it finished each one, it would scurry off to pick another, then return to the favored spot. As hikers came along, they would stop and watch the furry critter, amazed at its proximity and cavalier attitude. I was frustrated at all the branches in the way, and the poor lighting, but took this picture anyway: Little red squirrel, enjoying life along the Flattop Trail
