Anchorage has greened up in the past week, but snow remains in the mountains. The Flattop Mountain Trail was full of hikers enjoying the sun and snow. Much of the trail was clear, with only a few sections missing under the snow pack. The scramble to the summit was a bit difficult going up, and harrowing going down, but it's not very long. You take it slow, moving one hand or one foot at a time, and all is well. Many hikers opted not to take the summit (probably wisely), but it was gorgeous up there, worth a few scary moments. The snowfree areas are mostly brown and lifeless, but a closer look reveals signs of spring in small tundra plants. Several species were budding, and one small clump of anemones were in full bloom. There were several Milberts Tortoisehell Butterflies flying, too. We couldn't ask for a more beautiful Mothers' Day.
Click on any of the six small photos to see large screen
versions.
Additional Photos of plants I can't identify, seen on Flattop, May 8th:
Fuzzy pink "Arctic Willow" buds, about one inch long,
found near the trailhead--butterflies were nectaring on them
Extremely
small (2-3mm), reddish pink buds, found at the summit, maybe a lowbush cranberry
or lingonberry
The Windflowers Anemone (collage, above) was near the trailhead
was about 3" tall, flowers under 1", tightly bunched.
Sunset
scene a few days earlier, of Flattop and surrounding mountains, viewed from
Potter Marsh
More
information on the Milbert's Tortoiseshell Butterfly
