North Cascades Photo Tours and Prints

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North Cascades Photo Tours and Prints

The North Cascade mountains in Washington State are rugged, lush, stark and colorful all at once.

Lupine and the North Cascades

Lupine and the North Cascades

Abundant rainfall creates fantastic meadows filled with wild flowers while at the same time sculpting the ridges and peaks into serrated knives of stone.

The two main entry ways into the North Cascades are the North Cascades Highway (Hwy 20) and the Mount Baker Highway (Hwy 542)

Mount Shuksan and Picture Lake, along the Mount Baker Highway

Mount Shuksan and Picture Lake, along the Mount Baker Highway

While there are a few places, such as Artist Point (located at the end of Hwy 542) and Washington Pass (the highest point along Hwy 20) where you can drive to see the scenery, most of the time a trip here involves hiking.

Liberty Bell from the North Cascades Highway

Liberty Bell from the North Cascades Highway

Along these two byways there are many side roads leading to trail heads that take you up (always up!) into the high country. There are so many trails and choices!

The North Cascades Highway (Hwy 20) is a part of the Cascade Loop Scenic Byway. This is the Best Road Trip Vacation in Washington State!

North Cascades Photo Prints

If you are interested in fantastic, colorful prints of the North Cascades to adorn your home or office here is a link to my North Cascades Gallery. There you can purchase Canvas Wrapped prints (framed prints are available) as well as Fine Art prints.

One of the most popular hikes along Highway 20 is the Lake Ann – Maple Pass Loop. This 7 mile hike visits Lake Ann, cupped amongst peaks snow and flowers and offers spectacular views of the nearby summits.

Maple Pass Trail

Wildflowers along the Lake Ann – Maple Pass Trail

North Cascades Photo Tours

This summer I am offering Guided Photo Tours of the North Cascades. We can pick a trail, based on your available time and venture into the mountains for some stunning scenery and photographic opportunities and/or training. Tours are available for both day hikes and overnight trips.

Skyline Divide is a trail reached from Highway 542. This trail leads up and onto a ridge carpeted with lupine, paintbrush and other flowers with grandstand views of Mount Baker, adorned with glaciers.

Mount Baker and Lupine from the Skyline Divide Trail

Mount Baker and Lupine from the Skyline Divide Trail

 

 

If you are looking for a guide book that catalogs most all of the North Cascades Trails, I recommend the book “Hiking the North Cascades” by Erik Molvar (Falcon Press). This book provides accurate info about each trail including mileage, elevation gain, and details of flora and fauna.

 

Another fabulous day hike is the Sauk Mountain Trail.

This trail is an easy(ish) hike up into the high country with smashing views of the Skagit Valley. Skagit Valley from Sauk Mountain

If you like a dash of solitude to go along with your mountain scenery then you’ll need to don a backpack and hike at least a day travel from the parking area. Here the crowds disappear and you have the place (mostly) to yourself.

Hiking along Sahale Arm

Hiking along Sahale Arm

In the next installment I will describe a few of the most stunning overnight and extended hikes in the North Cascades.

Trail along the North Fork, Bridge Creek

Trail along the North Fork, Bridge Creek

 

 

 

 

 

If capturing images of the Night Sky is your thing, check out our Night Sky Photo Tours and the Night Sky Photo Gallery!

 

Glow of Aurora Borealis

Glow of Aurora Borealis

 

 

Lake Ann – Maple Pass Loop

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On July 1 I hiked the Lake Ann – Maple Pass Loop. Usually this trail does not open (due to snow) until late July or even August. But the trail was completely snow free from top to bottom.

I started late to get the evening light. Here are a few images. Oh, and there were a few wildflowers.

If you’d like to go on a North Cascades Photo Tour and get shots like this, here is the place to find out more and sign up!

Lake Ann from Maple Pass

Lake Ann from Maple Pass

Lake Ann from Maple Pass

Lake Ann from Maple Pass

Maple Pass Trail

Maple Pass Trail

Maple Pass Trail

Maple Pass Trail

Stars, Tent and Kids

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Here is another shot from the other night along the Baker River.

Camped under the Milky Way 3

Camped under the Milky Way 3

I had in my mind several images, planning and scheming as we hiked in, having the kids in the tent illuminated with the I-Pad, having them look out of the tent, in awe at the stars.

Here is the i-pad shot. Not too bad! A little overexposed on the face of the kid (Dawson) holding the device.

Then I tried an image with them looking out of the tent. I used the red light function on my head lamp to illuminate their faces and this is what I got:

IMG_8179At first I didn’t even try to edit it, it looked so red.

But later I decided to give it a try. I edited (in photoshop, as a raw file) the foreground, then went back and edited the raw a second time, but edited just the sky.

Then I merged the two and did final editing.

That’s Joe on the left, wrapped in the sleeping bag. And my son, Max is the incredulous one on the right!

Not too bad!

I guess I’ll have to take the kids camping more often!

Looking at the stars

Looking at the stars

Mount Shuksan

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This view of Mount Shuksan in the North Cascades (Washington State, USA) is the most photographed mountain in North America. This is due to its beauty (and Picture Lake!) and the fact that you can drive on a paved road to this very spot!

Here is an image I captured in the fall.

Mount Shuksan

Mount Shuksan

And here is a less common view, an image from last night!

Mount Shuksan and the Milky Way

Mount Shuksan and the Milky Way

Hiking Trips for July and August

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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

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.

Amphitheater Mountain Cathedral Peak, Pasayten Wilderness 6em

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

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

Upper Lyman Lake, Glacier Peak Wilderness

Spider Meadows, 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.

 

 

 

 

 

Recent publications !

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Here are 5 recent publications of articles I’ve written along with images.

This first link is to an article I wrote for photo students called Elements of Coolness. It was published by the company that does my canvas wrap printing, Canvas on Demand.

Surround Yourself  – Canvas on Demand Lifestyle  – Elements of Coolness

The Washington National Park Fund is a local non-profit raising money for Washington’s 3 National Parks: Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades National Park.

Washington’s National Park Fund – Why I love Sahale Glacier Camp

cropped-untitled_panorama-10-em.jpg

The Nature Conservancy is a well-known organization dedicated to preserving wild lands. I have donated many images to their cause and am happy to be a part of their efforts.

The Nature Conservancy – Enchantments

Colchuck Lake, Enchantments, Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Colchuck Lake, Enchantments, Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Cascade Loop Magazine is a local travel guide here in Northwest Washington. The loop is a wonderfully Scenic Drive encompassing the North Cascades, Lake Chelan, Skagit Valley and several other picturesque locations. I contribute images each year and was lucky to have an image on the cover of this years magazine.

Cascade Loop Magazine – Cover shot!

loop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amateur Astrophotography Magazine publishes a e-zine each month and here is an article and images of Night Sky Images.

Park Butte Lookout and Mount Baker

Park Butte Lookout and Mount Baker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you enjoy the articles and images and thank you for stopping by!

Earth Day 2015

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Earth Day

What is Earth Day all about?

We live on a cool planet.

Mount_Rainier_Milky_Way

Mount Rainier

It’s beautiful.

Evening Light

Point of the Arches

There are mountains.

Colchuck Lake, Enchantments

Colchuck Lake, Enchantments

Oceans.

Washington Park, Anacortes

Washington Park, Anacortes

 

Rivers.

Bridge over Skagit River

Bridge over Skagit River

Flowers.

Skagit_Valley_Tulip_Festival_1

Skagit Tulips

 

Meadows.

Wildflowers

Pacific Crest Trail, Pasayten Wilderness

Animals.

AndyPorter_deer_ wildlife

Deer at Cascade Pass

 

People.

boys a

Atop Maple Pass

 

and LOTS more.

Park_Butte_Lookout

Park Butte Lookout

 

Lets try harder to not fuck it up!

Snow Geese on Fir Island, Skagit Valley

Snow Geese on Fir Island, Skagit Valley

untitled_panorama1-m

Skagit Valley

 

spider-meadows-112-a

Spider Meadows

 

 

 

 

 

Copper Ridge

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Copper Ridge

Start of the Copper Ridge trail

Start of the Copper Ridge trail

Recently I received a photo request from a magazine looking for images of Copper Ridge in North Cascades National Park.

When I receive a photo request for a location I’ve visited and have decent images, I go and review the folders and choose the shots that I feel best fit my idea of what the publication is looking for.

I will have a look at the original images and their edited versions, trying to decide if I may have learned any new Photoshop skills since my last editing session, and if so, I open the original raw files and start the editing process over, from the beginning, on each shot that I feel holds promise.

Ruth Mountain and Mount Shuksan

Ruth Mountain and Mount Shuksan

I have no idea whether any of the images will be chosen for publication, in fact the chances are against me, but its fun to revisit these fantastic places and relive my short visit to their majesty.

These images are all a part of that process. You can view these images, and more North Cascades Vistas in my gallery where they can be purchased as canvas prints and fine art prints.

North Cascades National Park, in Washington State, is one of the most rugged and least accessible National Parks in the lower 48. Lots of rain and thick flora make the mountains a sheer hell to bushwhack through. So, most travel in the back country is along trails. The northern section of the park has few trails really, there are large sections of mountain fastness that people very rarely visit.

Evening light at Copper Ridge

Evening light at Copper Ridge

One very popular trail is along Copper Ridge. The trail starts at the Hannegan Trail head and crosses over Hannegan Pass and then heads up Copper Ridge. There is a campsite atop the ridge, Silesia Camp. Its small, only two or three tent pads. But the views are spectacular. From here you can see Mount Shuksan, and Ruth Mountain, straight across the valley and, a little to the west, Easy Ridge and Whatcom Peak in front of Mount Challenger, draped with glaciers, and just south of this massif, the needles of the fabled Picket Range jut skyward.

Its a cool campsite!

Selesia Camp

Silesia Camp

Just below the camp is small Egg Lake, with a few more tent pads. The trail heads northerly from here, to the top and the Copper Ridge Lookout. Rangers man the lookout through the summer and this is the highest point on the trail, at almost 7,000 feet.

From here the path descends down to the shore of aqua blue Copper Lake. This is the next spot where you can camp, but the views are lacking. Its a great place to stop for lunch and a swim!

The ridge hike follows the contours through forests and meadows, now and again popping out into the open for more jaw dropping vistas until, finally reaching its end, you plunge steeply down more than 4,500 feet to a ford of the Chilliwack River.

If you make the trip in early August you may be lucky enough to find yourself fording the river full of spawning salmon!

Whatcom Peak and Easy Ridge from Copper Ridge

Whatcom Peak and Easy Ridge from Copper Ridge

Mount Shuksan from Copper Ridge Lookout

Mount Shuksan from Copper Ridge Lookout

Sunset at Copper Ridge

Sunset at Copper Ridge

Hiking along Copper Ridge

Hiking along Copper Ridge

Selesia Camp Sunset

Silesia Camp Sunset

Copper Ridge Trail

Copper Ridge Trail

Capturing sunset

Capturing sunset

Copper Ridge Panorama

Copper Ridge Panorama

Copper Ridge Lookout

Copper Ridge Lookout

Copper Lake

Copper Lake

These last two images are from the end of the Copper Ridge trail, at the Chilliwack River and its confluence with Indian Creek. Here is where yo may have a salmon encounter!

Indian Creek

Indian Creek

Indian Creek Salmon

Indian Creek Salmon

North Cascades Hike: Lake Ann – Maple Pass Loop

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Lake Ann

Lake Ann

The feeling of exhilaration from being in the mountains is unsurpassed. Sweat and strain, fresh air and a cool breeze, a lake reflected and gathering clouds: these are all part of what makes the trip Great.

The Maple Pass Loop trail starts at Rainy Pass, on the North Cascades Highway. Ascending through the brush and out into the sun a first view whets your desire for more.

Swinging around the head of a small basin you soon plunge back into the cool forest.

Now the climbing becomes more insistent. The trail angles up along the side of a ridge and switchbacks heavenward. Lake Ann beckons below, her silvery waters calling.

Lake Ann from Maple Pass 2 2015

Heather Pass appears and you keep climbing, but now the wonder of the view cancels any thought of your body.

You are in the mountains!

The clouds invade the valley as you view the world from above. Its time to start heading down.

Clouds

Clouds

Bright colors, my favorite thing!

Flowers

Flowers

Its difficult to keep walking…despite the threatening skies, I just want to sit amid the flowers.

Darkening clouds

Darkening clouds

I see the skies opening in the near distance…

Meadows

Meadows

The thunder and lightening are not far off now.

This summer I am offering photo tours of the Maple Pass Loop.

And if you’d like a bold, bright canvas print of any of these images, here is where to go.

New Web Site Launch!

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I have been dreaming of this for some time, today is the launch of my new web site Andy Porter Images. Snow Geese on Fir Island

The site includes 10 Galleries of images for sale. Canvas Wrapped Prints and Archival Paper Prints in various sizes are available. Framing of the canvas prints is also an option. This is a big step, as now any orders for my work come directly to me.

The new site provides a place to provide a complete schedule of the Photography Classes I am teaching. Starting this Spring I will be teaching classes in Burlington, Bellingham and Marysville.

Another exciting part of the new site is that there is a section to promote Photography Tours! This Spring and Summer I am offering

Tulip Tours,

Night Sky Photo Tours

North Cascades – Skagit Valley Photo Tours.

We’ll see how it all goes! Thank you all very much for your support, comments and attention!

Wildflowers