Our thirteen-mile hike was on the old railroad bed that has become the Klickitat Trail. Starting out on the high prairie, along side of Swale Creek, the route took us down into Swale Canyon where the bleak hillsides gave way to fir, oak, and pine trees. In the open areas at the top we were serenaded by Meadow Larks, and Red Winged Black Birds, deeper in the canyon we were scolded by Stellar Jays, and Western Flickers. Red Tailed Hawks soared high above. Pungent Desert Parsley covered the hillsides and filled the air with its overwhelming scent.

The flat monotonous grade of the railroad bed was broken up by interesting railroad trestles, and old mileage markers that gave us a sense of location and progress.

Besides the dominating yellow of the ubiquitous Pungent Desert Parsley, we were treated to the beautiful purples of the Columbia Desert Parsley, and the occasional bright yellow Balsam Root blossoms. Also to be found were Prairie Stars, Shooting Starts and Oaks Toothworts.