Jane Strong commented that the flowers of this unk plant were very similar to filago et al. 

Then it suddenly struck me that these plants might be unusual-looking 
white everlasting, Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum.

We did find a single specimen of this species off-trail above this area.  Although I've never seen
Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum looking like these plants before, this sure looks like the id to me.