Back in the USFS

Yesterday morning, I celebrated the reopening of national forest trailheads by hiking the Perry Creek trail off the Mountain Loop Highway. That trail is part of the Perry Creek Research Natural Area, which the Forest Service created due to the valley's unique biodiversity (in particular, some rare fern species grow in the area). Although the trail doesn't start out at a particularly high elevation, the talus slopes it traverses have created a surprisingly open environment. Coniferous woods, maple groves, and open or shrubby slopes alternate. Consequently, the trail features excellent views of waterfalls on the other side of the valley, as well as mountains in the distance.

Below is one of those waterfalls. F/14.

Next, a view down the valley, with what I think is Hall Peak in the distance. F/14.

As mentioned, the trail passes through talus and groves of bigleaf maple; here's one such scene. F/16.

Next, a closeup of Hooker's fairy-bells, or drops of gold (Prosartes hookeri, or Disporum hookeri). Since the flowers hang down beneath the leaves, they can be easy to miss, but they were all over the lower reaches of the trail. F/4.5.

Here is a flower that I haven't yet identified with total certainty. It reminds me of Sitka valerian (Valeriana sitchensis), but seemed smaller, and with a more pink inflorescence. Could it be Scouler's valerian (Valeriana scouleri)? F/4.

Finally, another plant that I haven't identified with complete certainty, but I suspect it's parsley fern, or rock brake (Cryptogramma acrostichoides), just opening up for the season. F/5.