A Bird and Butterfly Walk in the Old Cascades
East of Salem Or and west of Santiam Pass are the reminents of the old Cascade Range pushed up by the westward drift of the North American continent. The old Cascades, before the newer volcanic mountains we are familiar with like Rainier, Hood, Jefferson, the Sisters and others, created the moist Pacific coast lush forested landscape of Western Oregon and Washington and a dry desert like landscape east of the newly formed cascades. Recently I went birding and butterflying on Cone Peak and Iron Montain, two of the old cascade peaks. This area is botanicaly unique with more species of trees than anywhere else in Oregon including the Alaska cedar.
Also this month of August a unique and spectacular butterfly explosion occured of California Tortiseshells. By the millions these bright orange butterflies have been swarming from Mt Adams in Washington, to Santiam Pass in Oregon and eastwards to Idaho. There has been word of near loss of visibility for motorists in the mountain passes. After driving over Santiam Pass I stopped at the trail head for Cone Peak and was greeted by many California Tortiseshells in the parking lot. Also skippers were abundant, many Fritilaries and Crescents. The scramble up Cone Peak provided hazy views of
Mt Jefferson and the Three Sisters because of several forest fires burning. Hill topping Oregon Swallowtails and several Pipits, a sweet brown mountain bird were pleasant companions on top. Remanents of old basalt columns lay on their sides on the peak. A flock of over fifty Canda Geese flew high overhead southward bound, a reminder of the approaching fall season. I had brought my Black Diamond hiking sticks with me which I really appreciated for the downhill scramble from the peaks and back through the cedar forest. I saw a Cooper's Hawk flying over a clearing as the day ended.
