August04_2010

Botanical Glossary - Home - References Cited

Photos - More views of McIntyree Lake containing many semi submerged trees in the Monashee Pass beside Highway 6. Blossoms of an Amelanchier Alnifolia (Saskatoon) shrub decorate the lakeside. The growth and reproductive cycle of plants are a little behind those that are in lower elevations. The Saskatoon berries were prized highly by most natives in the Pacific Northwest as easily digested and quite tasty raw or mixed with other berries in dried cakes for later consumption. The interior tribes used the wood for arrows, digging sticks and drying racks. The stems are smooth, dark-gray to reddish in color, flowers are large, white, drooping or erect, in leafy clusters.

Photos - Being both curious and skittish; This small group of Odocoileus Hemionus ( Mule Deer) posed for photos while in mid-scurry up the loose stone embankment beside the road when I stopped the car at Monashee Summit along Highway 6. The Mule Deer has a stocky body and sturdy legs. In summer, the upper body has an overall rusty brown color, in winter, the fur can be grayish. Throat patch, rump patch, inside ears and inside legs are an off white, lower parts creamy white to tan. The ears are large, up to 6 inches in length, and move independently. The males have antlers that are equally branched, each separate beam forking into 2 tines. Antlers can grow with a spread of about 4 feet.

Photos - Moving on to Deep Creek which intersects Highway 6 in a switch back section of the road. Highway 6 through the Monashee Pass - This soon to be 70-year-old highway actually looks it's age in places. It’s narrow and crumbling in many parts and the single-lane Deep Creek bridge near the summit can be a bit unnerving (frame left). A Mule Deer at Monashee Summit stops for a look at the curious human (center frame). A view of Deep Creek as it flows down into the canyon - as seen from the steel frame bridge (frame right).

Click here for more photos of Highway 6 for this day.