This October I spent 5 days in the Enchantments, we hiked into Colchuck Lake, camped, and the next day hiked up Aasgard Pass to Isolation Lake. Here are a few images from the trip!
Aasgard Pass, looking from the boulder field
Aasgard Pass, the “trail” headed up!
Aasgard Pass, hiking up
Colchuck Lake, from Aasgard Pass
Camped at Isolation Lake
Isolation Lake
Isolation Lake, panorama shot
Isolation Lake at sunset
Camped at Isolation Lake, nighttime!
Camped at Isolation Lake
The Enchantments are a small series of peaks and lakes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, near Leavenworth, Washington. Here are a few images from last weekends encounter with mountain goats while hiking!
Enchantments and Mountain Goats
Enchantments and Mountain Goats
Enchantments and Mountain Goats
Enchantments and Mountain Goats
Enchantments and Mountain Goats
Enchantments and Mountain Goats
Enchantments and Mountain Goats
Enchantments and Mountain Goats
Enchantments and Mountain Goats
Enchantments and Mountain Goats
Enchantments and Mountain Goats
Prusik Peak in the fall is an alluring sight. The larches turn bright orange and if the weather co-operates the blue skies punctuate the landscape.
I luckily won the lottery for a permit this fall and last week I spent 5 days in the Enchantments, exploring and ogling the colors.
Prusik Peak above Perfection Lake
Prusik Peak and Gnome Tarn
Prusik Peak Reflected
Prusik Peak and Stones
To commemorate 50th anniversary of the signing of the Wilderness Act the Wilderness 50 Coalition established a photo contest. The winners and honorable mentions, more than 100 images in all, are now on display at the Smithsonian!
Here is the link to the Wilderness Forever site.
I was lucky enough to have an image chosen as an honorable mention! Here it is.
Sunrise, Steven Mather Wilderness – North Cascades National Park
I have never had any images win any thing or get chosen for any exhibition, and I must say its quite an honor. The winning images are really stunning. My favorite is the Milky Way shot over Second Beach in Olympic National Park. But have a look for yourself!
And here is a link to the Smithsonian web site where you can vote for your favorites!
Grandy Lake is a few miles north of the North Cascades Highway (Highway 20) along the Baker Lake Road. These images are from a few years ago, some really stunning clouds, reflections and colors…
Grandy Lake Sunset, Skagit County
Grandy Lake Sunset, Skagit County
On September 3rd, 1964 President Johnson signed into law the Wilderness Act. This watershed piece of legislation has been a cornerstone in preserving the wild lands of America.
The Wilderness Act provides a definition for wilderness: “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.”
I have been lucky enough to visit many wilderness areas and enjoy their majesty and solitude. Here are a few images from my travels.
Sahale Camp, Steven Mather Wilderness
Pasayten Wilderness
Milky Way, Glacier Peak Wilderness
Point of the Arches, Olympic Wilderness
Mount Rainier and Avalanche Lillys, Goat Rock Wilderness
Left Fork Canyon, Zion Wilderness
Steeple Peak and Lost Temple Spire, Bridger-Teton Wilderness
Enchantments, Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Mount Olympus, Olympic Wilderness
Amphitheater Mountain, Pasayten Wilderness
Upper Lyman Lake, Glacier Peak Wilderness
Mount Baker and the Park Butte Lookout, Mount Baker Wilderness
Sunrise, Steven Mather Wilderness – This image will be displayed in the Smithsonian Museum as a part of the Wilderness 50 Celebration starting on Sept. 3rd, 2014
Always looking for new adventures in the North Cascades I had heard for years about this loop. Its about 40 miles and covers some very striking terrain. The Glacier Peak Wilderness in in the North Cascades of Washington State, nestled between Highway 2 (Stevens Pass Highway) and Highway 20 (North Cascades Highway) its one of the most rugged parts of the state. We did the loop in 6 days and here are a few pictures!
Start of the trail
Spider Meadows
Spider Meadows
Spider Meadows
Spider Meadows
Spider Meadows
The next days hike took us up steep switchbacks above the valley, to the narrow defile of Spider Gap.
Spider Meadow from above
Lawrence on the trail to Spider Gap
And then onto, up and over Spider Glacier. As we gained elevation the clouds got thicker. And when we reached the top the rain and hail started.
Ascending Spider Glacier
At the top of Spider Gap
We donned rain gear and slid down the glacier on the other side, towards Upper Lyman Lake.
In the rain
The sky was very dark and as we made our way down through the rain we encountered another hiker, who passed us by, on the same loop as us. Our paths would cross several times on our hike. His name was Steve and he had hiked more trails and miles in the North Cascades than anyone I had ever met.
The stark beauty of the valley captivated me and we dallied, wishing for clearing skies…
Clearing skies
Soon our wishes were answered and the sun came out to greet us. The rocks and gray-green water of the lake were like a magnet for me.
Upper Lyman Lake
Upper Lyman Lake
Reluctantly we left and trekked down through some wonderful grasslands towards Lyman Lake.
Looking back at Spider Gap, the low saddle on the left
Reflections in Upper Lyman Basin
On the way we passed a perfect spot to camp, and so stopped to lolly-gag in the sun while we got our wet gear dry. We had perfect views of Lower Lyman Lake and Cloudy and Bonanza Peaks.
Lower Lyman Lake
Drying out in the sun
Lower Lyman and Bonanza Peak
The next day took us down into the forest and back up to Cloudy Pass. We could look back and see where we had crossed through Spider Gap.
Upper Lyman Basin from Cloudy Pass. The sun halo was…real!
Looking north from Suiattle Pass, down Agnes Gorge
Our trail took us over Suiattle Pass and along Miners Ridge and then down to a river crossing. Here our path was along the Pacific Crest Trail and we must have met more than a dozen thru-hikers, all hurrying along to complete their 2,400 mile quest.
Buck Creek Pass was another highpoint of the trip. From here a trail climbs and rounds Liberty Cap as it heads towards High Pass.
Glacier Peak: evening light
Glacier peak: Morning Light
We camped here, with magnificent views of Glacier Peak.
Glacier Peak
The stars at night was alive.
Glacier Peak, Milky Way
Glacier Peak, Milky Way
Early the next morning we made our way along a wonderful ridge to High Pass. Here we could get a glimpse of the barren rocks and snow around Triad Lake.
Steve at High Pass
Triad Lake
Glacier Peak, wildflowers
Glacier Peak, wildflowers
All in all one the most satisfying loop treks I have done in Washington!
The weather forecast called for a 40% chance of thunder showers, a perfect afternoon to head up into the North Cascades.
Lake Ann, from the Maple Pass Trail.
Lake Ann framed in Fireweed
The 7-mile loop trail is perfect. The parking area is right off of the highway, at Rainy Pass which is about 4,800 ft elevation. The trail switchbacks up through thick forest, swings along side an open curved slope and climbs to the junction with a spur trail to Lake Ann. Continuing up, you break out of the trees as the path angles up, above the lake, on its way to Heather Pass. There are camping spots here, and often water. Every step from here is better than the last, the views open up: Cutthroat Peak is right across the highway, Black Peak and the spikes of Early Winter Spires and countless other peaks all adorn the horizon.
Maple Pass Trail: Switchbacks headed down
Meadows of Green and Storm Clouds
Once you reach Maple Pass you can see south, into the Glacier Peak Wilderness and beyond. Soon the trail reaches its highest point and you can see the switchbacks steeply plunging down, down to the shores of Rainy Lake.
Wildflowers along the Maple Pass Trail
Storm Clouds along Maple Pass Trail
If you start later in the day (hit the trail at 2pm or so) you’ll get some wonderful light. Just remember to bring head lamps and flashlights for the hike down in the dark!
The Skyline Divide Trail is one of many off the Mount Baker Highway (Route 542) that heads up to the high country near Mount Baker. It is one of the busiest trails due to its ease of access and wonderful views.
These images were captured with the morning light after camping on the ridge. The two mountains in the images are Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan. 
Park Butte Lookout Under the Big Dipper
Park Butte Lookout
View from inside
Mount Baker. The ridge on the right is Railroad Grade
Lookout at Sunset
Twilight
Park Butte Lookout and Bellingham
Mount Baker and the Milky Way
Mount Baker and the Milky Way
Lookout at night
A very satisfying night!
North Western Images - photos by Andy Porter 