I hiked the Lake Ann Maple Pass Loop om Wednesday, Aug. 3rd. The wildflowers are almost at peak.
As always, a fantastic trip!
Category Archives: North Cascades
Recent Night Sky Images
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.
-
- Glacier Peak Wilderness
-
- Glacier Peak Wilderness
-
- Glacier Peak Wilderness
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…
-
- Artist Point
-
- Winchester Lookout
-
- Winchester Mountain
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.
-
- Artist Point
-
- Artist Point
-
- Artist Point
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!
An evening at Winchester Mountain Lookout
I made it up to the Winchester Mountain Lookout last week, I wanted to reconnoiter a bit for an upcoming Photo Tour that’s scheduled. When I arrived the lookout was already claimed by 2 people, and then 8 more recent high school grads showed up, so it was a busy night there for the sunset! I managed a few decent shots!
Spider Meadows Wildflowers
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.
Night Sky at Glacier Peak Wilderness
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!
Pasayten Wilderness Wildflowers
The Pasayten Wilderness is more than 500,000 acres of splendor: lush meadows, rugged peaks, sweeping vistas, deep valleys, thick forests and wildflowers…lots of wildflowers!
July brings an explosion of color, thickets of flowers bursting aloud, the bright colors of Indian Paint Brush and Lupine off setting each other in grand style.
Here, see what I mean:
These images are from a trip along the trail to Sunny Pass. From Tonasket take the road to Loomis, ascend along the Toats Coulee Road to the Iron Gate Trailhead and Camp. The flowers start not far from the trips start!
Visit Andy Porter Images for prints, classes and Photo Tours.
Washington Pass Meadows
Washington Pass is located along the North Cascades Highway. It is the high point along the route, at more than 5,000 feet.
There is a Lookout there, a parking area and a short trail leads to the overlook.
I have been there dozens of times, and only this last week discovered the wonderful meadows nearby, when I was there for North Cascades Photo Tours.
Here are a few pics!
-
- Liberty Bell and Washington Pass
-
- Liberty Bell and Washington Pass
-
- Liberty Bell and Washington Pass
-
- Liberty Bell and Washington Pass
Night Sky at Washington Pass Overlook
Photographing the Night Sky at Washington Pass Overlook, along the North Cascades Highway is spectacular.
Far away from any ambient light the skies are dark.
The looming peak of Liberty Bell Mountain and the hairpin curve of the highway below add to the scene.
This is one of the top locations I use for the North Cascades Night Sky Tours.
Here are some images from my many visits.
-
- Liberty Bell, North Cascades Highway
-
- Liberty Bell
-
- Liberty Bell, North Cascades Highway
-
- Liberty Bell from the North Cascades Highway
-
- Liberty Bell
-
- Liberty Bell
Photo Classes at North Cascades National Park
Photo Classes at North Cascades National Park
2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. 
This is definite cause for celebration! National Parks are fantastic places, full of wonder and fun.
I am proud to be leading two classes in the North Cascades National Park this summer!
The first class is a Landscape Photography Workshop, scheduled for Monday, July 11th from 6 to 9pm. The class will be held at the North Cascades National Park Visitors Center, in Newhalem.
Be sure to bring your camera! We will start the class with a lecture and slide show covering the basic of Nature Photo Composition and then we will head out side to practice what our new-found knowledge!
The second class is a Night Sky Photography Class. This will be held on Monday, August 1st at the Diablo Lake Overlook, at Mile Marker 132, on the North Cascades Highway.
This class is for anyone interested in capturing images of the Milky Way. There will be no moon in the sky, and if we get clear skies we will be able to see and capture the arc of the Milky Way above Diablo Lake!
See the flyer here for a list of what you need to bring!
Both classes are free. Hope to see you there!
Email me of you have any questions: andyporterphotography@gmail.com
North Cascades Greeting Cards
North Cascades Greeting cards are now available!
There are 12 different images that you can order.
Each card is printed on 80lb smooth, high quality paper. The folded size is 6.25″ x 4.5″. The inside of each card is blank. Cards come with matching envelopes. The back of each card has a description of the location of each image.
Here is the selection.
-
- Camped under the Milky Way
-
- Palouse Falls
-
- First Beach, Olympic Coast
-
- Goode Mountain, North Cascades National Park
-
- Liberty Bell, North Cascades
-
- Maple Pass, North Cascades
-
- Mount Logan, North Cascades National Park
-
- Skagit Valley
-
- Daffodils at Sunrise
-
- Glacier Peak
-
- Mount Larrabee
-
- Mount Rainier
There are two packages to choose from.
Assorted Pack of 24 cards (2 of each image, or you choice) $48
Assorted Pack of 48 cards (4 of each image, or your choice) $80
Follow this link to order your cards today!
If you would like a different mix of cards please specify how many of each card when you check out, or email me at: andyporterphotography@gmail.comIndividual Cards are now available at the North Cascades National Park Bookstore on Highway 20 in Sedro-Woolley and at the Skagit Valley Food Coop, in Mount Vernon.
North Western Images - photos by Andy Porter 