Sauk Mountain Wildflowers

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Sauk Mountain Wildflowers start blooming in July. Exactly when in July varies from year to year depending upon how much snow accumulated from the winter and how warm the spring.

Getting there is easy.

As soon as you leave the parking lot the trail is fringed with flowers. The first long, easy switch backs afford views out along the river and up, following the zig zag of trail to the top.

Along the way views of Mount Baker appear.

Rounding the shoulder of the mountain Sauk Lake comes into view and a trail leading to its shores. Lilies, Columbine, Lupine and more carpet the meadows.

I try to get up there several times each year. These images are from an overnight visit in July 2017.

Day Hike and Overnight Photo Tours are available here!

Waiting for sunset is  pleasure. The warm glow of late afternoon light envelops us.

The next morning’s light invites us to linger a while.

Five National Parks: Images from 2018

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As I started to review images from this year, the theme of “National Parks” kept coming to me. So here are some of my best images from 5 National Parks this year…

Zion National Park

I visited Zion NP for the 4th time, always a marvel…

Here is an image from a new place, for me: Double Alcove Arch!

And for those who have not heard of the Subway…

“The Subway”, Zion National Park

The Subway, Zion National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park

They say the night skies at Bryce are magical…they say right! This is from a short 2 day trip to Bryce in April…

Milky Way, Bryce Canyon National Park

 

North Cascades National Park

I have visited this park more than all others combined. I made the boat ride this year to Hozomeen, along the shores of Ross Lake near the Canada Border, and spent a night at Hozomeen Lake…

Hozomeen Lake, North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park turns 50 in 2018! Here is a link to a wonderful new book, by Lauren Danner, “Crown Jewel Wilderness: Creating North Cascades National Park” which chronicles the efforts of many to create NCNP.

And a shout out to my all time favorite camping place, Sahale Glacier Camp.

Sahale Glacier Camp, North Cascades National Park

 

Olympic National Park

My only trip this year, out west to the Olympic NP was back in February… as always dreaming of my return…

Sea Stacks at Point of the Arches, Olympic National park

 

Yellowstone National Park

I just returned from a Christmas trip to Yellowstone…Cold, crisp mornings, with no one about…I am still digesting the wonder of the place…

Oh, and here is my favorite image from 2017:

Winchester Lookout and the Aurora Borealis, North Cascades

Star Trails above Winchester Lookout, Northern Lights on the horizon

To purchase prints, here is the link.

For information on North Cascades Photo Tours, this is the place!

And, 2018 Calendars are still available! Get them while they last!.

Christmas in Yellowstone

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I spent 5 nights at Yellowstone, 3 at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and 2 nights at Mammoth Springs.

Here are a few images.

2018 Washington State Scenic Calendar is here!

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The Andy Porter Photography 2018 Washington State Scenic Calendar is available now and ready to ship!

Order your calendar here.

The calendar is printed on 8.5″ x 11″ 100lb Bond Glossy paper, ring bound and individually wrapped.

Cost is $20, with $6 shipping in the US, $12 to ship anywhere in the world.

Here are the images from the 2018 Calendar.

Order your copy today!

Mount Baker, North Cascades

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From Wikipedia: After Mount Rainier, Mount Baker is the most heavily glaciated of the Cascade Range volcanoes; the volume of snow and ice on Mount Baker, 0.43 cu mi (1.79 km3) is greater than that of all the other Cascades volcanoes (except Rainier) combined. It is also one of the snowiest places in the world; in 1999, Mount Baker Ski Area, located 14 km (8.7 mi) to the northeast, set the world record for recorded snowfall in a single season—1,140 in (2,900 cm).[12]

Mount Baker falls with in the confines of the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. Here are a few pictures I’ve taken from various vantage points. You can see more and buy prints and calendars at AndyPorterImages.com

Cypress Island Sunset and Sunrise

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I camped on the island for one night. It was magical.

Winchester Mountain

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I visited Winchester Mountain Lookout this last August, on the New Moon, hoping for some nice night sky images.

I was with two clients who had signed up for a Hike-In Night Sky Photo Tour.

We arrived early at the trail head so as to get to the Lookout early and so “reserve”it for the night.

The hike in is beautiful, less that 2 miles. We arrived and just lazed about until the sky got dark.

My first comp was this shot of the lookout with the Milky Way above…how awesome!

I got this image and mostly thought I was done, but figured, what the heck, I am out here anyway, might as well shoot some more. I went to the other side of the lookout to shoot, now facing north…and was shocked to see the green glow of the aurora borealis along the horizon!

I decided to do a time lapse image, I used a 20 minute exposure at 100 ISO and here is the result.

And here is one more shot, of Mount Larrabee.

Fir Island Sunrise

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This last Sunday morning was forecast to be wet and miserable.

Somehow the clouds parted and the sunrise was long and varied, dark clouds, rain, then rainbows and sun!

Here are a few pics.

Cascade Loop Photo Trip

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Cascade Loop Photo Trip

I drove the Cascade Loop this weekend. It’s about 400 miles through wonderful valleys and over two mountain passes.

The plan was to make it to Index for sunrise. As I drove south the skies were mixed, mostly cloudy, it didn’t look good.

Somehow I made it right on time, drove up the Index Road, crossed the bridge, parked, set up and started shooting. The light up the North Fork was perfect, still some fall colors…and then the clouds lit up.

Gunn Peak, newly dusted with snow, scrapped the sky. Purples erupted.

Leavenworth was the next stop, a night at the Sleeping Lady Resort. Three trips to the outdoor hot tub, two trips downtown for Oktoberfest and two fantastic meals at the Sleeping Lady…yes, I could make a habit of this!

I opted for the long way back, north up Highway 97 to the North Cascades Highway, and then west.

The drive along the Columbia River is relaxing, long sweeping stretches through the sun and shade. The brown dotted with the green of a small settlement.

Things start to get interesting as I drive through Twisp, Winthrop and Mazama. The drive up is exhilarating, the colors, the fresh air…

My last stop is Washington Pass. The highest point along the road at 5,400 feet. I always get excited driving up to any pass… snow is along the road and I am wondering about the trail…

I arrive at 1pm, cars are parked all along the highway. I find a spot left open from an early morning hiker and start the jaunt to the lake.

Most of the people are heading back now, but I would say there were about 60 late afternoon hikers headed up the trail along with me.

The sky is blue, the snow white, the larch orange and the trees green, it doesn’t get much better than this. The images look over photoshopped just out of the camera!

What a perfect weekend. Time to start planning my next Cascade Loop Photo Trip!

Information about Andy Porter North Cascades and Night Sky Photo Tours is available here.

If you’d like to purchase canvas prints they are available in many sizes, frames, etc. Here is the link. 

Click on a gallery to see images and place orders.

 

 

Fir Island Sunset

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Fir Island is located at the mouth of the Skagit River. You can get there from Best Road, go west on Rawlins until the road stops and start walking. Its very wet and soggy, in the best of times.

There is sort of a trail that leads out to the closest mound of rock. Its an easy relaxing walk. The sky is filled with sounds.

I make it to the small hill and climb up for the view. The mouth of the Skagit River sweeps out to the sound.

The sun is starting to set and so I head back.

Soon I am assaulted by waves of color.

Its hard to keep walking.