Ruby Ridge Scramble on 23-Jul-2025

It's a short approach for Ruby Ridge. After 15 minutes on the Lineham Falls trail, our group of twelve headed up the ridge over ground that while steepish, offered good footholds. We stayed close to a drainage that encouraged good flower growth. It was wetter than previous years, our climb following a pretty creek.

Part way up, a few of us diverted to view a fairly rare wintergreen. Unlike most wintergreens, this species is happy on sunny, dry slopes.

A fairly quick ascent put us at our summit for lunch.

A few flowers were found at the top including native dandelions and the Alpine Townsendia.

Rudy Ridge is in a central position, giving good views of Cameron Lake and Lineham Falls.

The faster members of the group were attracted to the slightly lower secondary peak to the NE. We split into two groups with the one team reaching their summit an hour later.

Meanwhile, the other subgroup took their time going down the SW slopes to the Lineham Falls trail. The terrain was less steep, but with lots of low vegetation.

Many beautiful flowers were found.

In some places, we found that pockets of later snow had delayed the flowering, providing impressive displays of plants that were finished flowering elsewhere.

In the end, the NE group were back at the cars half an hour after the first group.

Thanks to Arnold, Gary, Susan, Jack, John, Jane, Pam, Carolyn, Bob, Margot and Judy for joining me on the trip!