A Superb Alpine Meadow Near Timberline, Oregon

    Butterfly season was tapering down.  We had seen nothing at Dougan Falls, and Sue Anderson in Eugene, told us that we were several weeks late for California Sister.  We had been counting on going back to Peterson Prairie for the fritillary extravaganza, but Caitlin LaBar reported that the show there was already past its prime, and the butterfly we most wanted to see, the Mormon Fritillary, had done its deed and retired for the season.  She did note that the Mormon Frit is a high altitude butterfly and looking near timberline at Mount Rainier or Mount. Hood could still be worthwhile.  The higher you go, the later the wildflowers and butterflies appear. 

Mount Hood soars above Alpine Campground, August 2023

    With this bit of news as a carrot, the following morning Sandra and I hopped into the Bot-mobile and headed up to Mount Hood.  The ride up was surprisingly easy and we made it to our first stop, the Mirror Lake Trailhead by 9:30. We dawdled around for a bit; 9:30 is just too early for a self respecting butterfly.  By 10 we were on the trail and after half a mile were disappointed to find that this was going to be a hike through a forest, with no butterfly habitat.  

    Past Government Camp we tried Snow Bunny, where we had seen Green Commas in May.   There were some wildflowers, but either it was too early in the day or, from a butterfly point of view, too late in the season. And so we pointed the car uphjll and headed towards Timberline.  The road climbs steeply; its just under 4,000 feet at Government camp and 6,000 feet at Timberline Lodge.

A Painted Lady nectars on the asters.

   As we climbed, we saw a few clumps of wildflowers, but no butterflies.  Almost to Timberline, right at the 1 mile marker, we were suddenly blessed with a meadow of purple and yellow flowers that paralleled the road for at least 100 yards.  And lo and behold, at the upper edge of this alpine meadow was a dirt entrance to a National Forest campground.   I backed into the first camping spot, stepped out of the car and a dark orange butterfly shot by.  Eureka!

   The target butterfly for this trip was the Mormon Fritillary   It occurs at lower altitudes, like Peterson Prairie, but by frit standards, it is a high altitude butterfly. Luckily it has three morphologic features which separate it from the similar zerene and coronos. It is significantly smaller, has rounded wings and it is less orange, sometimes bronzy in coloration. 

   The meadow was so beautiful.  Expanses of purple asters mixed with yellow monkey flower,  and nestled against the spruce forest.  By now it was almost 11:00. Occasionally one of the medium sized butterflies would shoot by.  We were able to appreciate the rounded wings, and the size was suggestive of mormonia, but the darn things wouldn't hold still for a picture and the few opportunities we got with a net were unsuccessful.  

Painted Lady and Asters.

    We walked down the dirt road for about 100 yards, appreciating at least seven camp sites, all with picnic tables.  The forest service had placed small red flags in the fire pits to discourage use.  And we did continue to see those medium sized butterflies.  Finally I crept in to get a shot at one perched beneath a spruce.  He eluded my camera, but I did get a good look at his ventral hind wing, which as we know, tells the story with fritillary butterflies.  It had an array of spots consistent with the Mormon Frit.  

    As we walked back to the car we enjoyed views of Mt. Hood between the towering trees.  Once at the car, we saw a beautiful butterfly with lots of white spots in the adjacent meadow.  I stalked among the asters and one landed by my feet, slowly opening and closing its wings while nectaring.  My cell phone sufficed to get some good pictures.  Back at the car, the butterfly book confirmed that this was a Painted Lady.  You may recall that three weeks ago we saw this butterfly at James house, roughly 1200 feet elevation.  A few days later all the butterflies in his neighborhood had disappeared.  

Painted Lady under glass.

    We watched the ladies for a while and Sandra, coming from a hunting tradition, netted one.   Curiously, we saw no more of those medium sized frits while we ate lunch.  following our al freso repast we headed up to Timberline Lodge.

   It is only a third of a mile from Alpine Campground to the beginning to the Timberline complex.  This might be considered walking distance if you really enjoy a steep uphill walk.  From the fork in the road it is another quarter mile up to the lodge and the new day use building.  We encountered this handsome new edifice on our spring fling when we spent a night in the lodge.  I did not go in, but it surely boasts the sort of facilities (clean restrooms, possibly showers) that we did not see at the Alpine Campground.  On this warm mid-week day the lodge parking lot was extremely busy and we just drove through, back to our peaceful meadow.  

    I took one more stroll through the campground and spotted a small orange butterfly, surely a Western Meadow Fritillary on my walk. The contrast with the hub bub at the lodge was remarkable.  

    Back home we had a chance to photograph Sandra's Painted Lady.  Some butterflies simply don't settle even when refrigerated and that was the case with this beauty.  As a consequense, most of our pictures were taken with the butterfly under a stemless wine glass.  We found that when Sandra rattled the butterfly just a bit, he would flap and then, as he settled,, afforded us a look at his red markings on the ventral front wing.  In modeling vanessa butterflies, this is a very useful look.  Compare it with the picture taken not under the glass, which may be a bit sharper.  

   After the photo session, the butterfly flew off in the direction of Mount Hood.  Painted Ladies are famous fliers and I think maybe he made it back to Alpine Campground. 

    If you are of the camping persuasion, a site here is $25, assuming someone comes around to collect it.  There is a gate which may be closed in the evening.  It is a slice of alpine peace and beauty and perfect for August butterflies.

jeff