Silver Star Trail

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 Silver Star Trail

Today I hiked the Silver Star Trail with my niece Jenna and my nephew Jon. The trail is located in Washington State, close to the Oregon border and near the Columbia River. We made it all the way to the top, but it was a misty, mysterious day, and the sweeping views we hoped for were hidden behind the low clouds.

On a clear day, you can see spectacular sights from the summit, the deep gorges of the Columbia River and towering volcanoes of the Cascades like Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and Mount Hood. Even though we missed those panoramic views, the trail offered its own beauty. We enjoyed the fields of wildflowers, including the striking Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax), which blooms every few years in spectacular fashion, lighting up the meadows. We were lucky enough to walk among these tall, creamy-white flowers that swayed in the mist.

The photos we’ve shared on the blog capture the special atmosphere of the day—mist swirling around the hills, colorful wildflowers along the trail, and the sense of quiet beauty that only the mountains can provide.

It was a memorable adventure with Jenna and Jon, one that we’ll always carry with us.

Hoy caminé por el sendero Silver Star con mi sobrina Jenna y mi sobrino Jon. El sendero está ubicado en el estado de Washington, cerca de la frontera con Oregón y junto al río Columbia. Llegamos hasta la cima, pero fue un día brumoso y misterioso, y las amplias vistas que esperábamos quedaron ocultas tras las nubes bajas.

En un día despejado, se pueden ver panoramas espectaculares desde la cumbre: los profundos desfiladeros del río Columbia y los imponentes volcanes de las Cascadas como el monte St. Helens, el monte Rainier, el monte Adams y el monte Hood. Aunque nos perdimos esas vistas panorámicas, el sendero ofreció su propia belleza. Disfrutamos de los campos de flores silvestres, incluyendo la llamativa hierba oso (Xerophyllum tenax), que florece cada pocos años de manera espectacular, iluminando los prados. Tuvimos la suerte de caminar entre estas altas flores blanco-crema que se mecían en la neblina.

Las fotos que compartimos en el blog capturan la atmósfera especial del día: la niebla arremolinándose alrededor de las colinas, las coloridas flores silvestres a lo largo del sendero y esa sensación de belleza serena que solo las montañas pueden brindar.

Fue una aventura memorable con Jenna y Jon, una que siempre llevaremos con nosotros.


by Abe Sanoja 





                       Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax)


                                                                            Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax)




                     Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax)


Summit
                                                                                                Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax)


 

Copyright © 2026 Abe Sanoja
All rights reserved.

Thanks Jenna and Jon for a great time and company. 

The writings, photographs, and content shared on this blog are the work of the author and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission, except for brief quotations used in reviews or educational discussion.

Many of the ideas presented here are also part of The Kitties of the Camino Book Series – A Journey of Values, a collection of bilingual stories for children inspired by the spirit of the Camino.

To learn more about the books and follow the journey of the series, please visit the books section of the blog:
The Kitties of the Camino Book Series – A Journey of Values
https://tortuga-hiker-camino.blogspot.com

For permissions, questions, or inquiries regarding the books or the blog, please contact the author at
caminante.abe@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting and for hiking and walking with me . 



















 

Location: Issaquah, WA, USA

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