In addition to Micheal Hobbes encounter with the lovely White-tailed
Ptarmigans, I have never failed to be surrounded by them on the summit of
Mt. Dickerman, off the Mtn. Loop Highway. My trip to the 5400+ summit
always occur in mid-late September. I have hundreds of nice slides of them
from distances of 10-25'. A remarkable bird who makes bagging a mountain
all the more awesome! Highly recommend this hike, and good luck finding
these birds at the summit area (as well as in a large huckleberry meadow at
about 4200' on the way up).

Cheers,
Alan L. Bauer
Fall City, WA
alan_bauer at msn.com