Hozomeen Mountain

Posted on November 4, 2025 by Andy Porter

Hozomeen Mountain is a double-summited peak on the east side of Ross Lake in the North Cascades of Washington State. The name “Hozomeen” comes from the Salish word meaning “sharp like a knife,” referring to both the sharp peaks of the mountains and also chert, a type of rock commonly worked into sharp-edged tools by early Native Americans and First Nation members.

Hozomeen lies at the north end of Ross Lake, near the U.S.-Canada border. Getting there involves either a long hike or boat ride. I’ve had the good fortune to have visited the area twice.

Hozomeen Mountain is very close to Desolation Peak, which has a rather famous Fire Lookout. From Ross Lake the hike is 4.5 miles and 4,500 feet elevation to the top of Desolation Peak. The views are amazing!

Another time I managed to get a boat ride to Hozomeen and hiked up to Hozomeen Lake. Here are some images from the trip:

Here is an excerpt from the Wikipedia entry about Hozomeen Mountain:

History

The name “Hozomeen” is derived from Salish, a geographically broad language group of the indigenous bands of southern British Columbia and northern Washington State. The name appeared on a sketch map prepared for members of the first boundary survey of the 49th parallel, ca. 1857-1860, designating the name of the mountain. The map was drawn by Thiusoloc, one of surveyor and topographer Henry Custer’s Salish guides, and like other geographic features labeled on the map, it recorded Salish place names.^[3] According to Annie York, a native Salish speaker, “Hozomeen” refers to “sharp, like a sharp knife.”^[4] and links the name to the ca. 9,000 year long tradition of indigenous use of Hozomeen chert (a flint-like mineral) to make a variety of subsistence and hunting tools.^[5]

Hozomeen North Peak (the main summit) 8,066 feet, was first climbed on September 6, 1904 by Sledge Tatum and George E. Loudon, Jr. of the Boundary Survey, from the northeast.^[6] Other routes exist on the South Ridge and Southwest Buttress. The north summit is Washington’s fourth steepest peak, with an average angle from the summit of 38.86°

Hozomeen South Peak elevation 8,003 feet (2,439 m),^[7] lies approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of the higher North Peak. It was first climbed on May 30, 1947 by Fred Beckey, Melvin Marcus, Jerry O’Neil, Ken Prestrud, Herb Staley, and Charles Welsh, via the Southwest Route. While lower than the North Peak, it has a north face which is “almost completely vertical for 1,000 feet.”^[6] This makes it the steepest peak in Washington with an average steepness angle of 42.62° from the summit.

Morocco Photography Tour

Posted on October 11, 2025 by Andy Porter

Morocco Photography Tour April 11-26, 2026

I was recently approached by a local business, “Magical Moroccan Tours” about organizing a Photography Tour to Morocco, in April 2026. They have been organizing tours to Morocco for some time and we have created an exciting itinerary. The dates coincide with the New Moon in the Sahara.

Highlights Include:

Casablanca, Rabat, the Blue City of Chefchaouen, Fes, Atlas Mountains, Todra Gorges and the port Essaouira

Night Sky Photography in the desert, on the New Moon
Architectural photography in Fes and Casablanca
Exploring the colors of Marrakech’s souks
Sunrise and Sunset Photography in multiple locations
Visits to World Heritage Sites

This is a photographers tour of Morocco! Sunrises, Sunset and Night Sky photography interspersed with incredible architectural marvels, wonderful people, food and culture of Morocco. It will be incredible!

Each day we will plan our daily activities around the best light for each location. At night we will capture street/city scenes or night sky images, as conditions allow. Bring your laptops with Adobe Photoshop! I will share all I know about editing images.

Wildflowers of Washington 2026 Calendar

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Andy Porter

The Wildflowers of Washington State 2026 Scenic Calendar is here!

13 wonderfully colorful of Washingtons Wildflowers.

Printed on a 100lb bond glossy sheet, each sheet is 8″ x 12″. No cropping and no borders! Calendars are ring bound!

The Calendar is available locally at the Andy Porter Photography Gallery located at 306 Morris Street in La Conner. We are open every day, 7 days a week from 10am to 6pm.

Order your copy today! $25.00

Buy 2026 Calendar

Crown Point Vista, Grand Coulee

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Andy Porter

Recently I was on a night sky photography journey in Eastern Washington, near Steamboat Rock and Banks Lake. Always on the lookout for a night sky vista, I stumbled upon Crown Point Vista and spent 2 nights there, on the Autumnal Equinox.

The Crown Point Vista was first envisioned in 1946 as a way to attract tourists. You can see the original design here, in this article: Grand Point Vista – A Forgotten Dream

The night-time scenery is magical at the Vista, the stars are very bright. To the north there was a faint glow of the Aurora. Satellites streak across. Sundial, generator or astronomical observatory, who can say?

Photography Classes in Burlington

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Andy Porter

Andy Porter Photography Classes – Burlington Parks and Rec Fall / Winter 2025

Starting in September, 2025 I will continue teaching Photography Classes in Burlington, through Parks and Rec. The Photo Classes will be held at the Maiben House.

Registration is through Burlington Parks and Rec. Seating is limited for each class. At the link below you can see the entire class schedule and register for classes.

Here is the link to the Burlington Parks and Recreation Catalog of classes.

How to Capture Awesome Images with your DSLR – Beginners Level 1

Capturing decent images with your new DSLR camera is easy, just set it on “Auto Mode” and shoot away. Moving your photography up to the next level where you get consistently good shots starts with understanding how to set your exposure manually. This is NOT difficult to do.

What the class teaches:

How to Shoot in Manual Mode
Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO. These 3 settings will be explained in detail with lots of examples and images.
Depth of Field: You’ll learn how a photographer changes this in an image.
Bracketing Exposure is capturing multiple images of the same subject with different exposures.
A Circular Polarizer is an optical filter that screws onto the end of the lens.
Raw vs. Jpeg – We’ll discuss this as well as an overview of editing a RAW image file.

Prerequisites: You must be familiar with your camera, taking pictures in Auto Mode, image review, etc.

Equipment Required: A DSLR or Mirrorless Camera with interchangeable lenses.

Dates:

Wednesday, September 17, 6pm to 8pm
Wednesday, October 8, 6pm to 8pm
Wednesday, November 5, 6pm to 8pm
Wednesday, December 3, 6pm to 8pm

How to Capture Awesome Images with your DSLR – Intermediate Level

In this class we will discuss different lenses, focal lengths and what they do; we’ll delve deeper into depth of field and how to master control over how much of what’s in front of you is in focus. Then we’ll cover the use of different shutter speeds to create stunning, unique images.

What the class teaches:

Lenses and Focusing: Different lens focal lengths and what they are best for
You’ll learn the technique of Focus & Recompose
Sharper Images: Blurry images can be avoided by following one simple rule
Hyper-focal Distance: How to extend your depth of field in landscape images.
We will take time to practice these skills outdoors
We will cover in detail how to capture Night Sky images of the stars and Milky Way.
Discuss all the equipment needed
Exact camera and lens settings, Walk through setting up out in the field!
Locations for night sky imaging and more!

Prerequisites: You must be completely comfortable with shooting in Manual Mode.

Dates:

Wednesday, October 22, 6pm to 8pm
Monday, November 17, 6pm to 8pm
Wednesday, December 10, 6pm to 8pm

To register for one of there classes CLICK HERE!

The Andy Porter Gallery is located at 306 Morris Street, in La Conner. Were open 7 days a week with a wide array of Aluminum and Canvas prints, as well as an assortment of Night Lights, magnets and Greeting Cards!

Baker River, North Cascades

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Andy Porter

The Baker River drains the west side of the North Cascades range, merging with the Skagit River near Concrete.

There are two dams on the river, creating Baker Lake and Lake Shannon.

The Baker Lake Road extends 25 miles North from Highway 20 ending in a parking area along side Baker River. There are trails along the Baker River and around the lake.

I’ve been visiting Baker River for 20 years, been there in every season and weather condition. Here are a few images!

Please visit AndyPorterImages.com for info on classes and prints!

Amphitheater Mountain, Pasayten Wilderness

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Andy Porter

Amphitheater Mountain is located in the Pasayten Wilderness of Washington State. The Wilderness is located along the border with Canada.

Stretching east for 50 miles from Ross Lake and the Cascade Crest, the Pasayten Wilderness is some of the most remote and beautiful wilderness in Washington.

Amphitheater Mountain is about 1 mile south of the Canadian Border, on the Boundary Trail. Depending upon your route, its about 25 miles, one way to get there.

I visited there twice, in July and then October of the same year.

The orange needled trees in some of the pictures are Larch. In the summer the needles on the larch are bright green, like an evergreen…but in October they turn bright orange! Larch are found at an elevation of 5,000 to 7,000 feet.

Amphitheater Mountain is huge! There are so many views!

Amphitheater Mountain on left, Cathedral Peak on right

Prints on Aluminum, Canvas or Paper are available in many sizes for these and more magical images of the Pasayten and North Cascades. Here is the link to shop.

The Andy Porter Photography Gallery in La Conner is now open! See a wide display of Aluminum Prints, Night Lights, magnets and Cards! Classes are also available! 306 Morris Street, La Conner, WA 98257

Waipio Fruitshack

Posted on July 22, 2024 by Andy Porter

I drove past the fruitshack on my way to sunrise at Waipio Valley Overlook. On the Big Island, Hawaii.

When the sunrise was finished I made my way back, stopped to gather some images.

Wow, just wow!

Photography Workshops and Photoshop Editing Classes

Posted on March 8, 2024 by Andy Porter

I am very happy yo to now be offering both Photography Classes and Photoshop Editing Classes now in La Conner. The classes will be help at the Andy Porter Gallery, 306 Morris Street, La Conner, WA 98257

There are 3 Basic Photography Classes, here is a link with detailed descriptions of each class as well as dates/times and registration.

Photoshop Editing Classes

There are 2 Photoshop editing Classes.

The first class, Introduction to Photoshop, is all about editing your images. How to get your images to look like the scene you actually saw with your eyes. The Class takes two sessions or class periods.

I am offering a second Photoshop class as well, a 3 session class where we will do a series of creative assignments where you will learn advanced Photoshop Skills while having fun.

Details for each class, dates, times and registration are all on this link, click here!

Important Note:

To attend the Photoshop Classes you MUST

Bring your own laptop computer
Have a current subscription to Adobe Photoshop

Andy Porter Gallery in La Conner

Posted on February 10, 2024 by Andy Porter

I am very happy to announce the opening of the Andy Porter Photography Gallery! It is located in La Conner, Washington, near the mouth of the Skagit River.

The Gallery has Aluminum Prints, Magnets, Greeting and Post Cards as well as really cool Night Lights for sale! Winter Gallery Hours are from 11am to 7pm Saturday and Sunday.

I will be teaching Photography and Photo Editing Classes at the Gallery as well. You can see Class Descriptions, dates and times and register for classes here.

La Conner has a long and interesting history as a center for art. Fish Town was home to an Artists Colony for 20 years. The Northwest Museum of Art is here as well as a host of galleries and shops.

The town is named after Louisa Ann Conner. The Skagit Valley Daffodil and Tulip Festival arrive every spring, March/April, and the valley comes alive with color.