Amanda also spotted this great spider web 30 feet up in the air:
When we first saw this next wildflower we thought it was some kind of fungus. As it turns out, we were privileged to see the very rare Monotropa uniflora. Commonly known as the corpse plant, ghost plant, or Indian pipe, it has no chlorophyll which leaves it almost white in color. Amazingly, this plant is related to azaleas, rhododendron and blueberries. It apparently gets it’s nutrition by being a parasite of mycorrhizal fungi, which in turn get their nutrition through cooperation with tree roots. As such it can grow in the dark if needed. It also seems to appear and disappear quickly, so it is unusual to spot one:
That’s Tina in the red shirt, and me in the orange one, grinding our way up the hill. We gained 2,354 feet over about 5 miles with an average slope of 8.2% (and as high as 31%), so it was a good hard climb getting up there:
We took a break here at a nice little section of Glacier Creek:
BEAUTIFUL pics!!!! NIce work and walk you guys!
Great pictures of the distant Sisters, trails and creeks! The videos helped me to feel like I was there! I loved loved loved all the wild flowers as well.
Thank you for sharing!