The latest news on PNW berries:
June 13th, at approximately 1,000′ elevation, early salmonberries were ripe. Not yet plentiful. Hardscrabble Horse Camp is melted out but there was still snow around Williams Lake.
June 18-20th, between 1-2k’ elevation, abundant and fully ripe salmonberries. Occasional thimbleberries. No berries above 2′ yet. We chased off a black bear (not on purpose) near the Snoqualmie Middle Forks trailhead. Its scat revealed a berry rich diet.
June 30-July 7th, 300′ elevation, abundant and fully ripe raspberries and blueberries. In my yard.
July 1-3rd, 5k’ elevation, no berries at all. We oscillated around 5,000′ for 3 days and 58 miles, seeing only flowers on huckleberry and wild strawberry plants. In related news, the Pacific Crest Trail between Chinook Pass and White Pass has about a dozen steps of snow left on the trail.