Spring Trip to the Olympic Coast

Spring Break arrived and we headed west. For us that means a ferry ride and drive along Highway 101, through Olympic National Park, one of the greenest places on earth. We stopped to see Sol Duc Falls along the way.

And after checking into our B&B we headed to Ruby Beach for sunset.

The next morning was rainy, but the skies cleared in the afternoon for a hike along Rialto Beach.

That night we stayed in La Push and enjoyed crazy skies and a lot of hail!

Port Townsend is always a treat for more eye candy.

For information on Photo Tours, Classes and Order Prints its all right here!

Shi Shi Beach and Point of the Arches, Olympic National Park

Near the top of my favorite places to camp! Shi Shi Beach and Point of the Arches, Olympic National Park.

Sunset at Point of the Arches

Sunrise at Shi Shi Beach

Diablo Overlook Night Sky

Last night I was leading a Night Sky Photography Class at the North Cascades Institute.

The class went very well, due in major part to the clear skies we were lucky enough to have.

I spent most of my time advising and helping people get their settings right and compose images, but I did manage to get a few cool images as well.

Diablo Dam January 2016

This image is of Diablo Lake and Ross Dam. The snow in the foreground adds a nice balance to the image.

As I awaited the students to return to the vans for the ride back to NCI I wandered out towards the highway and saw a sign for the Cascade Loop Scenic Highway.

Cascade Loop - Diablo Overlook

This and the road and starry sky presented a wonderful opportunity.

I lead Night Sky Photo Tours each month, when there is no moon. This link gives the dates for each month this year (through September) as well as other details and a way to register for your own adventure!

Night Sky and North Cascades Photo Tours are available for anyone. We can arrange to do a Drive-In tour, where we stop along the North Cascades Highway of the Mount Baker Highway to capture images, OR we can arrange hiking tours (both day hikes and overnights) to more remote locations in the North Cascades as well.

And lastly, spring is not too far off! Book your self a Skagit Valley Tulip Photo Tour!

Point of the Arches – Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park in Northwestern Washington State contains several distinctly different wonderlands.

The rain forestsol duc 2015 2, glaciated peaks

Mount Olympus, Olympic Wilderness

Mount Olympus, Olympic Wilderness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and the Pacific coast.

The Olympic beaches are some of the wildest most rugged beaches in the lower 48. I have visited and slept on these beaches many times. There is something truly magical about the ocean.

Last week I spied a window of nice weather forecast for the coast and headed over. I was not disappointed!

Evening light

Evening light

Lines in the sand

Lines in the sand

Sunset through the Arch

Sunset through the Arch

Arch aglow

Arch aglow

Point of the Arches

Point of the Arches

Evening Light

Evening Light

Point of the Arches Sunrise

Point of the Arches Sunrise

Point of the Arches Sunrise

Point of the Arches Sunrise

Washington State Ferry Ride: Sunrise

I recently embarked on a trip from my home in Sedro Woolley to my favorite coastal hike and camping spot at Point of the Arches, in Olympic National Park. It’s a long way, maybe 9 hours from start to camp site, and one of the beautiful legs of the sojourn is a ferry ride from Coupeville to Port Townsend. I booked my spot on the Ferry and arrived just as the sunrise was happening.

Washington State Ferry Sunrise

Washington State Ferry Sunrise

Ferry Drive-in

Ferry Drive-in

Inside the ferry

Inside the ferry

On the Ferry Deck

On the Ferry Deck

Washington State Ferry Sunrise

Washington State Ferry Sunrise

Washington State Ferry Sunrise Crown

Washington State Ferry Sunrise Crown

Washington State Ferry Sunrise: Looking Out

Washington State Ferry Sunrise: Looking Out

Washington State Ferry - Coupeville

Washington State Ferry – Coupeville

Washington State Ferry Sunrise light

Washington State Ferry Sunrise light

I knew it was going to be a great trip when the images from the ferry ride were enough to make the entire trip worth while!

Images of the coast to come, but here is just one to whet the appetite!

Point of the Arches, Olympic National Park

Point of the Arches, Olympic National Park