Peterson Prairie is a large remnant prairie west of Trout Lake and features a variety of wildflowers and butterflies throughout the year. We will spend the day here, learning about the butterflies and their larval food plants. While the number of butterfly species in late July/early August will be a little lower than earlier in the summer, it is peak time to see the large colony of a unique form of Zerene Fritillary that Caitlin discovered in 2018. The Peterson Prairie colony exhibits a wide range of variation, showing a blend of three subspecies: one from the Puget prairies, one from eastern Washington, and one from central Oregon.

We will meet at 10:00 am in the parking lot of the Mt. Adams Ranger District west of Trout Lake, then caravan to Peterson Prairie, about 10 minutes away. The road is paved to the prairie, we will never be far from the vehicles and it is all flat walking, so this is a great trip for anyone who can't go on our regular hikes. Please bring water and lunch. Optional items: camp chair, binoculars, camera, butterfly net. A few nets will be available to borrow. If you wish to visit the nearby Guler Ice Cave on your way home, make sure you bring lanterns or flashlights!

Trip leader: Caitlin LaBar (caitlinlabar@gmail.com)