In April of 2025, Shelly Urlacher posted spectacular photos from her hikes on the Cashmere Canyon and Ollala Canyon trails. The wildflowers were splendid. Social media posts on Ollala went viral, so much so that the Washington Trails Association removed its description of the hike from its Hikefinder. Reports this spring were that parking near the trailhead was shut down, but hikers could get there using a commercial shuttle service for $20, starting at 11:00. Steve scheduled the trip for when the flowers should peak, and they were. To maximize the value of the drive to lower Wenatchee valley, we stayed overnight and hiked on both Saturday and Sunday. Five participants stayed in a KOA cabin near Leavenworth for $30 per person, four stayed outside the Leavenworth home of long-time IMAC members Skip and Linda Claeson, four stayed in a Leavenworth hotel, and Leavenworth resident Susie Stenkamp and Linda joined us on Saturday. We did Cashmere Canyon on Saturday. Although the parking lot was full and the road had no shoulder, a generous farmer allowed hikers to park a dozen cars in his field, where we parked. The age range of the party was diverse, from 20 to 86, so the group quickly split up. The younger hikers did the loop around Sunrise Mtn (8 miles total), while the older group was happy to climb 2000’ to the top of Sunrise (6 miles). The weather was superb. While the balsamroot flowers were not as dense as at some other places, the mix of meadows and ponderosa pine was lovely, and the views of the valley and the Enchantment Peaks were expansive. After the hike, we decided to do Ollala rather than alternates on Sunday. We enjoyed dinner together at Yodelin restaurant on Leavenworth, and some of us met after dinner in Skip and Linda’s home to reminisce earlier days when Badger Mountain was preserved and Skip led epic IMAC adventures. Our plan was to drive to the Ollala trailhead at 8:00 Sundary morning and drop off most hikers there and then the drivers would drive to Peshastin Pinnacles State Park, where the Ollala trail ends, and hike the reverse direction. We actually found plenty of parking near trailhead at that time of day, so everyone started at the trailhead. The flowers were mostly balsamroot, with some lupine and sweet pea. Once the trail reaches the ridge crest at one mile in, it follows the ridge down to Pinnacles; we walked for another half mile or so to a prominent point. Plenty of people were enjoying the setting: infants, toddlers, young walkers, couples, and seniors. We looked down on flowering apple orchards and Leavenworth, and across the valley to the Enchantment peaks (the Peakfinder app was very helpful). From there, Shelly, Nancy Flood and Shannon Cortinas walked down to Peshastin Pinnacles. Everyone else returned to the Ollala trailhead and headed for home, but some reconnected by chance at Anjou Bakery near Cashmere. Steve, Sharon Grant, Carol Gurwell and Melinda d’Ouville added a lovely stroll through Ohme Gardens on the way home. What better way to end a lovely trip, and to celebrate Sharon’s birthday!