north west side of Mt MacDonald

Top of Mt Macdonald in the woods on the north side

 

 

 

Today we hiked up Mt Macdonald from Humpback road and headed to the north west sector where I haven't explored before. Some nice open woods with some deep draws that have some pretty large douglas fir trees.
We stayed up on the top and didn't explore down in the valleys today, maybe some other time.

Satin Flower 

Lots of Satin flowers out on the rock outcrops but still lots more to open in the next few weeks.

We then hiked counter-clockwise around the top to the outcrops where the rare Prairie Lupin grows. This hill top is the only place the Prairie Lupin grows in BC . I found a few plants just emerging .

Prairie Lupin

looking over to the top of Mt Wells with downtown Victoria in the background

There were a few loose flocks of Turkey Vultures migrating over the mountain. They would "Bump" into the south side of the mountain and circle up in a kettle before each breaks off and heads over the top northbound.
On the way down we choose the popular trail down the cliff and discovered the ropes have been replaced in the steep section again..