Finding the rare Kelseya rose in bloom

Delicate blooms on the pink flowers 

Katie gets up close for a photo

The Kelseya grows on cushions hanging from the limestone cliffs

This was a big enough deal that Katie scaled a scree slope to get to the flowers

The second time was the charm in search of a blooming Kelseya rose in the Trout Creek Canyon north of the mining camp of York near Helena.We had tried 10 days ago and the Kelseya was not quite ready.But, on Thursday it was in full bloom on the walls of the Trout Creek Canyon.The flat, easy trail starts where the road ends at the Vigilante Campground in the Helena National Forest in the Big Belt Mountains.You can see these colorful pink flowers that grow as if on pin cushions.The Trout Creek Canyon is located on what used to be the Figure 8 Route.  It got wiped out in a flood in 1981 and has since been converted to a great hiking trail.H. Wayne Phillips, a retired Lewis and Clark National Forest ecologist put together a piece on the flower for his weekly old guys hiking group.  I offer it whole-cloth:"In 1888 Francis D. Kelsey, pastor of the Congregational Church in Helena, made the first botanical collection of a flowering cushion plant that was growing on the limestone walls in the Gates of the Mountains area along the Missouri River, ofter referred to as Kelsey's "moss".  The plant was so unique that botanist named it in honor of its discoverer, Kelseya uniflora. To this day, it is the only plant known in this botanical genus. Because it was discoverd in Montana, and most of its populations occur here, the Montana Native Plant Society adopted the iconic Kelseya as its symbol. The drive to the trailhead, all on asphalt surfaces, will likely take 2 hours, but it will be worth it Not only because of the Kelseya, but also the narrow limestone canyon, with its soaring limestone cliffs, towers, and spires, which are (at least to me) reminiscent of Zion.  The hike is 6 miles round trip and gentle in grade.  The challenge will be the numerous creek crossings.  Although the creek is small, and in places underground, with spring run off, there are some crossings that are challenging.  Bring wading shoes, gaiters, poles, tick repellant, camera, and maybe "yaktracks" in case there are icy sections of the trail (which there were 10 days ago). "Even without the flowers this is an exceptionally scenic canyon and worth the hike.