Tweets,

Today I decided to hike to Cascade Pass hoping for rosy-finch and pine
grosbeak following up on Scott Atkinson's report, plus I'd never been there
before. I have seen the hike to Cascade Pass described as easy, but that's
relative. I counted 34 switchbacks before the trail sidehills to the pass.
The elevation gain, however, is not bad, 1800 feet to 5392 at the pass. No
rosy-finches or pine grosbeaks there so I headed up Sahale Arm to the north,
climbing to ca. 7000 feet at the base of Sahale Mt. It seemed perfect
ptarmigan habitat but every ptarmigan I thought I spotted turned into a
hoary marmot. This is marmot city. More marmots than switchbacks. Anyway, as
I was trudging on ever upwards I almost stepped on a male WHITE-TAILED
PTARMIGAN that scuttled out from under foot along the trail. This was quite
a ways up at 6500 feet. I suspect the female was on eggs as the male was
quiet and all alone. Also some fine American Pipit singing and one with food
for young. The heathers (all three common species) put on a fine show though
otherwise the flowers were a bit early.

Gene Hunn
enhunn at home.com