Berry Timing and Elevation

[TriggerMike]

Every year there seems to be multiple threads where people ask about whether or not the berries are in it yet and what elevation, so I figured we could have a berry thread where people can share what they're seeing as the Summer goes on. My guess is that the blueberries are gonna come in late in the higher elevations of the Cascades (4500' and up) this year, maybe around early September. Hopefully it's not that late though.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[kevinlisa06]

Well this is just from my house here in Monroe. Blackberries are just turning red and the huckleberries are ripe. Haven't had any time to hit my usual spots to check on the berries as of yet. Boys wedding is on the 23rd of July so we been doing wedding *censored*.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[saylean]

Hucks are ripe, salmon berries are in and low vine black berries are in full swing, in Conway area.

[treeclimber2852]

Over in Bumping the small huckleberries are in full swing.  Some of the bigger ones too.  3400-4000 feet. Cost me an extra hour on my hike with all the stopping to pick. 

[Okanagan]

In our area near the border trailing blackberries are late this year compared to last year and are just now coming into peak of ripeness at low elevation, say under 500 ft.   Pretty good crop.  I am eating a piece of blackberry pie as I type.  Scouted and picked a few for morning cereal 9 days ago, then picked a gallon on Friday, still not prime ripe.  Plan to hit it again Monday because it is so warm and dry I would assume that they will ripen fast.  These are the small, indigenous native blackberries that grow on long thin vines along the ground except where they might climb up on a stump.  Superb.

We don't pick the big invasive Himalayan berries but I haven't seen any ripe yet. 

We tend to pick huckleberries near timberline and it is way too early in our area for them to be ripe up high.

Added since this thread is under Bears:  lots of bear sign in the berry patches.

[wooltie]

There's still freaking snow at 4500'.  No idea how that will affect berry development.

[Okanagan]

Picked a couple of gallons of trailing blackberries this morning and heard a bear working dead logs near me as he looked for bugs but he spooked before I got a look at him.  Blackcaps ripe among the blackberries.  Elevation probably 700 feet.

[jackelope]

Lowland berries run at a much different speed than the high country berries.
The blackberry bloom is just coming to an end so the berries should be good pretty quick.

[Eric M]

Tag

[kevinlisa06]

And we have a few ripe black berries now at the house means I need to go start checking a few spots now


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bowtechian]

Wet side @ 3000 last weekend salmon berries along a logging Rd we're starting to come in blues small & green still

Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk

[geauxtigers]

Was at 4,000' near Mt Rainier last weekend. Huckleberries not even close, still small and green.  Almost hard to spot on the bush even. 

The big Himalayan blackberries next to my yard at sea level are another story.  Started picking last week and they're just getting into full swing


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Wetside Brushbeater]

was 1200 to 2200 ft last weekend in 448 and don't know proper name but these soft raspberry guys were all over bear s was full of the seeds as were salmon berries out too huckleberrys were not there yet


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JimmyHoffa]

Thimble berries.  Seem to be good areas on hot days, as the plant likes to be near shaded, cool areas like near a stream.

[slavenoid]

New to this bear/berry game so I looked around in 572 today and learned I don't know much about berries. What I did find was there were no blackberries down low around 800 feet, but there was some around 1900 feet. The ones at 1900 feet appeared to be a small variety if that's such a thing. I did find fresh berry scat on the way back down. I also found what I believe is Oregon grape at 1500 feet.

[kselkhunter]

Picked huckleberries in Alpine Lakes Wilderness this weekend during my scouting trip.  They were more ripe at higher elevations than lower.  The lower elevation berries were good color but a little tart, probably 1-2 weeks away from peak ripeness.  Hoping to find a bear eating some next weekend.

[Timberstalker]

Huckleberries are in full swing in the Blues. 5700' elevation. The berries are big, the crop is not.

[Okanagan]

New to this bear/berry game so I looked around in 572 today and learned I don't know much about berries. What I did find was there were no blackberries down low around 800 feet, but there was some around 1900 feet. The ones at 1900 feet appeared to be a small variety if that's such a thing. I did find fresh berry scat on the way back down. I also found what I believe is Oregon grape at 1500 feet.

The small variety you found at 1900 feet are almost certainly trailing blackberries, the species indigenous to the PNW.  They are TEN TIMES as good tasting as the big common blackberries found in the lowlands that take over vacant lots etc.  OK, maybe only four times as good.   Much smaller, slower to pick but fabulous.  We've had three pies made from them in the past two weeks plus put a bunch in the freezer.

[WAcoueshunter]

New to this bear/berry game so I looked around in 572 today and learned I don't know much about berries. What I did find was there were no blackberries down low around 800 feet, but there was some around 1900 feet. The ones at 1900 feet appeared to be a small variety if that's such a thing. I did find fresh berry scat on the way back down. I also found what I believe is Oregon grape at 1500 feet.

The small variety you found at 1900 feet are almost certainly trailing blackberries, the species indigenous to the PNW.  They are TEN TIMES as good tasting as the big common blackberries found in the lowlands that take over vacant lots etc.  OK, maybe only four times as good.   Much smaller, slower to pick but fabulous.  We've had three pies made from them in the past two weeks plus put a bunch in the freezer.

  I pick a lot of blue huckleberries and love them, but the native vine blackberries are the best berry anywhere IMHO.

[TriggerMike]

Anyone know if the blueberries are coming in up high in the Cascades yet? 5000'-5500' or so.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Kit Carson]

Anyone know if the blueberries are coming in up high in the Cascades yet? 5000'-5500' or so.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

They weren't ripe last weekend at that elevation off Mountain Loop Highway. I don't know a lot about berries but my guess was another week or two and they should be good.

[sumpnz]

Anyone know if the blueberries are coming in up high in the Cascades yet? 5000'-5500' or so.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

They weren't ripe last weekend at that elevation off Mountain Loop Highway. I don't know a lot about berries but my guess was another week or two and they should be good.

How long do they usually stay good?  A few days or a couple/three weeks?

[TriggerMike]

Looks like some rain in the forecast for Sunday and Monday. That should help the berries really pop up.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Moe the Sleaze]

Was at Stevens Pass last weekend, still too early for the huckleberries.  Some ripe blueberries down in the creek drainages.  I'm thinking 2 more weeks for the hucks.

[kselkhunter]

Well I'm heading back to the same spot this weekend that I posted up thread, to pick more huckleberries.  Hoping the other areas are ripe now.  Bringing the rifle and bear tag.