Clara and I drove way, way up into the mountains to a big rock field I've crossed a number of times. On each prior visit, I've heard pika, but I always had somewhere to go so I didn't hang out to look for them. This time, Clara and I had planned specifically to photograph pika and maybe even set a camera trap.

Right away we could hear them. We dumped our gear on a huge rock and started wandering. I had the small lens so my pictures were meh, but I got good enough pics to log the finds on iNaturalist. Clara, with the big lens, got some really great shots. Some of the pika were totally cool just chilling as we crept around and closer. Never too close, but close enough for 300mm to see details.

My favorite was a pika that picked Lyall's Lupine and carried it down a slope to a haypile under an overhanging rock. It'd take a few bites, pick a stalk, run down, stash it for winter snacking, and repeat. It didn't care one bit that I was watching. I certainly wouldn't have felt comfortable with a giant watching me eat.

Since I couldn't initially find a good spot to place the camera trap, I picked a spot where the it looked like animals crossed from one gully to another. I climbed back up the slope and of course, found a better spot. So back down to the camera and back up. I placed the camera and took another few steps and ooooh, that's even better! I moved the camera one last time and resolved not to move it again.

As a treat before the gnarly drive out, we picked a handful of early season berries. Some were a touch sour, but in general, they were tasty. Hopefully, they're the first of a good crop. And hopefully my camera trap gets a bunch of cool shots. SCIENCE!

📍On the lands of the Snoqualmie people.