Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Backcountry — Sunday, Jun. 2, 2024

Ethan, Karen, & I headed east to the Ginkgo Backcountry to see if we could avoid most of the rain forecast for this mild, cloudy day.  We parked at the road about 1/2 mile before the Rocky Coulee Rec Area (no facilities), walked up the right-hand road about 50 yards, and then headed over towards the Columbia.  There is a boot trail here, but it was pretty overgrown with cheat grass.  Once over by the river (lake) we headed north, walking out to most of the promontories to see the view and if we could spot some big horn sheep, which we did.  By the end of the day we had probably see at least 50, a few at close range, and lots of babies (Ethan with his binoculars saw one nursing).  We walked for about 1.5 miles up the river, then found a nice sheltered spot for lunch.  We spent our usual hour or so, but then the storm started blowing in, so we headed back the way we had come.  In addition to the sheep, there were still a few wildflowers in bloom:  some mariposa lilies at the beginning, round-headed desert buckwheat, purple sage, quite a bit of dusty maiden, and some nice bushes of spiny hop sage.  There were no other hikers.  It was a very nice way to enjoy Spring's last gasp (it's forecast to hit the 90's over here by the end of the week).