The excuses were, grouse hunting, mushroom picking and just get the heck out of Dodge. It was extremely dry so presumably all the grouse were down in the bottoms in the thick stuff, close to water. At any rate we didn't see any. We did pick about 4.5 lbs, of lobster and chanterelles. We need a rain to really kick off the season. Got some nice pics of Mt. Rainier and wild flowers(a little past their prime). Mountain and Shasta Daisies, Fireweed and a few Indian Paintbrushes. In the deep firs there was a small waterfall over a log and I disturbed a Varying Hare (Snow Shoe Hare) still in summer brown. He sat about 30 ft away for a picture. Not an extremely productive trip as far as meat and mushrooms but very satisfying to the soul!
A correction: What I was calling a Shasta Daisy, is actually an Alpine Aster. This from my Wif who keeps me honest!
Funny, I just recently got some also at a local Farmers Market (mask and all). It is good! I rushed right home and made corn bread to put it on. Some times, up high, near newer burns, we will see an electric fence enclosure with 20 or 30 hive boxes in it. These are growers harvesting high meadow honey, fireweed included. In spite of the electric fences, they still occasionally get hit by bears. They just can't resist the sweets. Like people in that respect I guess except they don't get corn bread with it.
