About this time last year, we really enjoyed a hike through the Albion Basin. Wildflowers in full bloom everywhere! I figured such a site would be hard to beat. I assumed that a place with such wild beauty would remain unmatched. But, a heads-up from a cousin that her recent trip to Tony Grove held wildflowers at the peak of their season, gave enough wind that there was a place that could potentially beat out Albion. Add both the reality that we haven't hiked much this summer and a location I had often driven past but never been to...and I had reasons enough to prompt a drive up North!
The drive up was long. The 20 month old who hates to be buckled in the car. The girls needing pitstops along the way. Ugh. But, once we made the turnoff following the official signs things started to look up. Wildflowers began appearing in patches along the switchbacks. Then a parking lot came into sight! A parking lot to stretch out legs SURROUNDED by wildflowers. Then a lake within walking distance. A beautiful lake SURROUNDED by wildflowers. Then an easy trail - I won't even call it a hiking trail, it was that easy. But a trail non-the-less SURROUNDED by wildflowers!
The picture below does not do justice to the thousands of bitty flowers among the green masses, but it gives a sense of Paige SURROUNDED by wildflowers.
The picture below does not do justice to the thousands of bitty flowers among the green masses, but it gives a sense of Paige SURROUNDED by wildflowers.
We headed off. Following a trail that circled the entire lake, the girls were in hunt of a place to dip their toes in the water. I was making a slower hunt through the flowers. I need to buy me some sort of wildflower identification book...
Occasionally, Tyler would walk my pace and smell the flowers.
Occasionally, they'd wait for me to catch up.
Occasionally, Matt and I would be standing in the same place.
Mostly it was me bringing up the rear. Urged on by Paige's LOUD "Come on, let's just leave the photographer!"
But mostly, it was Matt with the kids several paces ahead. Here they stopped long enough to gather rocks to chuck into the lake below.
Mostly it was me bringing up the rear. Urged on by Paige's LOUD "Come on, let's just leave the photographer!"
I was content to watch the fam from afar and bend down to enjoy what was close. I'd guess the following (overload) represents only a third of the variety that surrounded us! Yep, worth the drive. In my opinion, Albion remains close, but THIS will be the place now annually revisited! The area was breathtaking.
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