In search of wildflowers, again have a creature encounter

4/25/2025 Sauer Mountain, Leavenworth, WA

A hike can be especially satisfying when it is part of another trip. My brother and I were looking for a hike near Leavenworth that wasn't too long but packed a big payoff. This is peak time for balsamroot blooms, and Sauer Mountain delivered the brilliant colors, with views across the Wenatchee River to Leavenworth and the snow covered Stuart Range. We drove past fields of apple trees with their white blossoms in full bloom. Conditions were summer-like, exchanging the snow gear for shorts, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

The trail and its parking are on private property, so a special thanks goes to the keepers of this wonderful trail, and all others who generously maintain and open up their private lands for the enjoyment of the general public. This is all the more reason to be respective and practice Leave No Trace.

We saw the biggest snake we've ever seen in the wild, about seven feet long. We only got a good look at the last half of the body as he stood still for the longest time. We had sufficient time to study the tail to conclude that it was not a rattlesnake, so I brushed him away with my hiking poles to get him off the trail. This is the second time my brother and I have seen an SOUS (Snake of Unusual Size), with the last one being a rare encounter with a California Kingsnake of Dog Mountain.

We ended the afternoon with pretzels and beer at the Icicle Brewery in Leavenworth and a leisurely stroll along the river. This picturesque Bavarian-style town is one of my favorite places.