Glacier Peak, located in the North Cascades of Washington State is the name sake for the 500,000 acre Glacier Peak Wilderness.
Thee images are from the Liberty Cap spur trail, near Buck Creek Pass.
Over the past 3 weeks I have visited the Pasayten Wilderness, the Glacier Peak Wilderness, Winchester Mountain Lookout (twice), Artist Point – for a North Cascades Institute Class and the Diablo Overlook – for a North Cascades National Park class.
The Glacier Peak trip was not during ht e new moon, but I was able to get a few good shots early in the night, before moon rise. I was out working to capture an image of the tent at Upper Lyman Lake, with the Milky Way behind, over Spider Gap. I could clearly hear and animal sniffing around. It was a deer, come to find place where anyone peed, to lick the spot for any lingering salt.
I decided to see if I could capture the deer in the image, and it worked pretty well!
The Winchester Mountain Look out is a perfect place to spend the night and shoot night sky images…
The Night Sky Photo Class that I lead though the North Cascades Institute was held at Artist Point. There were 14 of us, we parked at the Artist Point rest area and started to hike to Huntoon Point. There were more than 50 other night sky photo enthusiasts there, all out along the same trail! We asked and were told that they were all from Vancouver, BC! The skies got cloudy, but we managed a few shots.
The last class was on Aug. 1st, another Night Sky Photo Class, this one through the North Cascades National Park, as a part of the NPS Centennial. About 15 people arrived and we hung out at the overlook, trying to learn the basic tools of night sky capture.
There are two New Moons in September, on the 1st and 30th! If you’re interested in a Night Sky Photo Tour, here are the details!
Just back from Glacier Peak Wilderness, traveled in and out via Spider Meadows.
My brain goes into sensory overload when I see all those colors! I love it!
I have seen more flowers, and denser stands of flowers elsewhere, but never such a varied array at once.
Purple, yellow, white, red and green, it was awesome!
Trying to capture the scene is not easy! I just started, took a few steps and kept shooting, each viewpoint offering a different scene.
Just back from 4 days in the Glacier Peak Wilderness.
Here are a few pics of the night sky.
We hiked up Phelps Creek, through Spider Meadows and on up and over Spider Gap, descending to our camp.
This first image is from the Upper Lyman Lake Basin. Chiwawa Mountain on the right. Spider Gap is the low point along the skyline.
Here is another image from the same location. The moon began to rise and is splashing light on Chiwawa Mtn.
Lots more soon!
Schools out for summer! This year the song has new meaning, and actually has more excitement for me as a teacher than it did as a student.
The plan for back country excursions and North Cascades Classes this year is:
Note: To see details for all my classes in the North Cascades National Park are here.
AND details of classes at the North Cascades Institute this summer/fall, follow this link.
IF YOU are interested in coming along on any of these longer backpacking excursions, contact me! andyporterphotography@gmail.com
July 11 – North Cascades National Park Landscape Photography Class (free) 7-9pm
Cathedral Peak trip – 6 days, Mid July 12-18. This is a 60-mile RT hike, through the Pasayten Wilderness. Starting at the Iron Gate Trail head the route follows the Boundary Trail to Cathedral Lake. Here in the basin you are sandwiched between Amphitheater Mountain and Cathedral Peak. One of the coolest spots ever! I great early summer trip.
Spider Gap – Upper Lyman Lake July 20-24. This is a short and relatively easy trip, with unparalleled views. I cannot wait to do this trip!
July 30 Winchester Lookout. I was there 2 x last year, a short hike and unbelievable views. Great for Night Sky imaging.
July 31 Artist Point North Cascades Institute Night Sky Class
Aug. 1 North Cascades National Park Night Sky Class (free)
Aug. 2 Hidden Peak Lookout. I have never stayed overnight at the Hidden Lake Lookout, but reckin it would be beyond compare for night sky pics.
Aug. 3 Park Butte Lookout
Park Creek Pass Loop – 6 days Early Aug. 5 -10. This is my most ambitious trip for the summer, 7 days and three steep passes, (Easy, Park Creek, Cascade) through the most remote parts of the North Cascades.
Aug. 21 – North Cascades National Park Slide Show at Colonial Creek (free)
All dates are estimates, based on weather and trail conditions!
This is the tentative plan for backpacking trips in July and August. If you are interested in coming along for any, please let me know!
Amphitheater Mountain, Pasayten Wilderness
Cathedral Lake Trip – 6 days This trip is a 30 mile one way trip, to the eastern Pasayten Wilderness. The trailhead is at 6000+ feet, so its mostly a ridge hike, Lots of solitude and fantastic scenery. Here is a trip report from a July trip 5 years ago. This trip is planned to start right around July 4th (maybe July 2 or 3, or maybe July 5th) and return July 8, 9 or 10. This is one of the coolest hikes in Washington! And although the mileage is somewhat long its not very difficult.
Cathedral Peak, Pasayten Wilderness
Easy Pass – Park Creek Pass – Cascade Pass – 6 days I have had this trip on my radar for a while, the plan is to get dropped off at Easy Pass, hike through one of the more remote parts of North Cascades National Park ending at Cascade Pass, then hitch back to Sedro-Woolley.
Horseshoe basin
I have hiked almost every part of this trip many times, except Fisher Basin. This trip would include a few days of off trail travel and camping. Horseshoe Basin and Park Creek Pass are unbelievable places to visit. Trip planned for July 26- July 31
Spider Meadows – Upper Lyman Lake – 4 days I did this trip last year, its awesome! My plan this year is to hike into Spider Meadows, hike up and through Spider Gap, spend a day in the Upper Lyman Basin and then hike back. Check out the story and pics. Trip planned for Aug. 2 to Aug. 5
Upper Lyman Lake, Glacier Peak Wilderness
Spider Meadows, Glacier Peak Wilderness
If you have an interest in coming along on any of these trips, or have any questions, email me at: andyporterphotography@gmail.com
I have several extra backpacks, tents and all that stuff if anyone is lacking.
Last August I hiked the Spider Meadow – Buck Creek Pass Loop.
Spider Meadows, Glacier Peak Wilderness
What a glorious hike!
We started at Spider Meadows,
And ended the trip at Buck Creek Pass.
Glacier Peak
We arrived at the Pass early in the day and waited for the sun to cool off a bit before we ascended the slopes of Liberty Cap and scouted for a place to camp with a view of Glacier Peak. This image is from that night.
The next morning before sunrise we made our way south along the ridge line, heading for High Pass.
The views of Glacier Peak were magnificent. sumptuous wildflowers and greener than green meadows invited us to relax and breathe in the air.
The Glacier Peak Wilderness, located in the North Cascades of Washington State, is one of the lower 48’s most remote wilderness areas.
Glacier Peak with Tent and Stars
Glacier Peak in the Morning Light
There were many highlights photo-wise in 2014.
I had two images chosen for the cover of Northwest Travel Magazine. Not a bad way to start the year!
Northwest Travel May June 2014
NW Travel Magazine March-April 2014
This image of Sahale Glacier Camp in North Cascades National Park got a lot of coverage. It was chosen as an Honorable Mention and is on display in the Smithsonian Museum, in Washington DC.
Sunrise, Steven Mather Wilderness – North Cascades National Park
Hiking along Sahale Arm
Palouse Falls State Park
Mount Rainier from Crystal Mountain Resort
Park Butte Lookout and Mount Baker
Glacier Peak
Mount Adams and the Milky Way, Goat Rocks Wilderness
2015 is looking to be another great year.
I have a new schedule of photography classes coming up.
And new articles and images being published in the Mountaineers Magazine and Backpacker Magazine.
I will also be teaching photo classes through the North Cascades Institute, more on that soon.
Travel Plans for the new year include a Washington State Tour, the Enchantments, Olympic National Park, Glacier National Park and a nighttime Tour of Mountain Lookouts in the summer.
Thanks for being there and happy trails to you all!
This summer I completed the Spider Meadows, Buck Creek pass Loop in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. The hike was simply astounding.
The hike took us through Spider Meadows, then up through the narrow defile of Spider Gap and down into the stark basin of Upper Lyman Lake.
Spider Meadows, Glacier Peak Wilderness
Spider Meadows, Glacier Peak Wilderness
As we ascended the pass the clouds and darkness moved in. After a snack at the crest we descended the glacier, sliding on our butts, in the rain.
Upper Lyman Lake, Glacier Peak Wilderness
I protested the weather and purposefully lollygagged on the way down, hoping for sun…
Upper Lyman Lake, Glacier Peak Wilderness
The views were dramatic, Upper Lyman Lake green and white lay at our feet with Cloudy Peak in the distance.
Upper Lyman Lake, Glacier Peak Wilderness
Upper Lyman Lake, Glacier Peak Wilderness
Upper Lyman Lake, Glacier Peak Wilderness
Upper Lyman Lake, Glacier Peak Wilderness
North Western Images - photos by Andy Porter 