Fifty years ago, on October 2, 1967, the North Cascades National Park was created.
Happy Birthday!
Diablo Overlook Panorama
From the first time I laid eyes on a map of the North Cascades I was captivated. The names of the peaks drew me in; Mt. Terror, Desolation Peak, Mount Fury. And then I saw a few pictures. The North Cascades looked like I thought mountains should look: deep dark forests, lush with life; sharp serrated peaks, ridge, after ridge, stretching to the horizon, donned with glaciers, spouting myriad waterfalls glistening in the sun….
My first visit was a mostly cloudy one. I hiked over Park Creek Pass from Stehekin. There were a few glimmers through the clouds of the majesty beyond.
It would be many years before I returned and tried again.
And I was able to confirm that indeed the North Cascades were everything I had dreamed of.
Lush forests and waterfalls
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- Mount Logan, North Cascades National Park
Sharp serrated peaks
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- Sahale Camp
Meadows and wildflowers…
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- Mount Shuksan from Skyline Divide
and endless vistas
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- Sunset on Copper Ridge
The North Cascades have not lost the feeling of wildness. For that I am grateful!
Happy Birthday, and Thank you, North Cascades National Park!
North Western Images - photos by Andy Porter 
I enjoy all your Photos & Wright ups… Thank-You for being on the WEB
Absolutely stunning landscape images, Andy 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
I cannot imagine a more beautiful or more fitting birthday celebration than the one you’ve thrown here, Andy. INCREDIBLE images.