Would a root by any other name be as bitter? (by Kat)

That plant I couldn't identify?
It's called bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva).

Like the national forest.
Like the mountain range.
Like this one-time archy has no excuse for not knowing....
So, a dope slap to the side of the head for me, and one more plant identification for you.

PS I've been waxing rhapsodic about cryptobiotic soils ever since the hike.
As far as I've found, no ode has ever been written to this magical phenomenon.
I have long waits at doctors offices tomorrow with my grandma.
Just a warning.

Weekend hike (by Kat)

So the buttercups stole the show yesterday, but they weren't the only flowers to be found .

See the little white puffs?

Lomatium!

And this sole yellow flower.
My first thought was glacier lily, but that's not it--the leaves are too narrow.
I'm thinking Fritillaria pudica?

Finally, we came upon these sea anemones!

All the Googling in the world hasn't yielded the name of this little guy.
Anybody know?

Buttercups! (by Kat)

Mr. Boom and I woke up early this morning and ran up to the hills. The sun shone through our bedroom window in a long-forgotten angle, and we just KNEW we had to make a run for it! That particular angle meant spring! It promised beauty and warmth and squishy mud under our boots. It whispered that we might find some antlers that deer and elk are now shedding. It yelled at us to get the heck out of the house at this very instant! Being obedient sorts (ha!), we did.

The snow is still thick on the mountain ranges surrounding our valley, but the lower hills have lost their blanket.

As we traipsed up a draw, the still-frozen soil crunched under our feet, but as we neared the upper portion, the soil grew less firm, and then it was downright muddy. We started up a toe slope, and discovered a buttercup!

Then this!

Then these!

Then a stream!

An ocean!

Oh heavens above...
Spring has sprung!!!!!!!!!!!!!!