Painting is just another way of keeping a diary ~Pablo Picasso

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Huckleberries

In recent years we've driven up to Indian Heaven Wilderness in Gifford Pinchot to pick huckleberries for a birthday pie. Last year we went up late in August. Picking was slim, but the leaves were starting to turn red. I decided to try a hike up here in the fall to enjoy the color, and we returned mid-October...only to find the entire area under two feet of snow! Huckleberries start growing around 3500-400 ft. so rain at the lower elevations can mean snow in the mountains. This year we hiked in September, trying to beat the rainy season. We did find some lovely shades of red, especially in the clearings. Hurray! I'd love to get up here again this season; with luck I'll make it back before it snows. 

4 comments:

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Pretty place, even if pickings were slim. I think the British equivalent is the Bilberry.

Linda W. said...

I was just hiking up there yesterday and found ripe huckleberries everywhere. You need to go back!

Lady Fi said...

A pretty area.

Sketchbook Wandering said...

Wow, snow! Love the image...love the word "huckleberry" though I've never had one!