Goat Rocks Wilderness, Washington State

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. Washington State is blessed with more than 30 Wilderness Areas, one of which is the Goat Rocks Wilderness.
The Pacific Crest Trail passes through the Goat Rocks crossing some of the most stunning terrain along the trail in Washington.
Here are a few images from the Goat Rocks Wilderness.

Mount Rainier and Beargrass from the Lily Basin Trail

Mount Rainier and Beargrass from the Lily Basin Trail

Mt Adams and the Pacific Crest Trail

Mt Adams and the Pacific Crest Trail

PCT along the Knife's Edge, Mount Rainier in the distance

PCT along the Knife’s Edge, Mount Rainier in the distance

Avalanche Lilies along the Lily Basin Trail

Avalanche Lilies along the Lily Basin Trail

Pacific Crest Trail

Pacific Crest Trail

Snowgrass Flats

Snowgrass Flats

Mount Adams and Snowgrass Flats

Mount Adams and Snowgrass Flats

Mount Rainier and Packwood Lake

Mount Rainier and Packwood Lake

Upholstered in Lupine

Upholstered in Lupine

Cispus Basin

Cispus Basin

Morning light and Beargrass

Morning light and Beargrass

PCT Thru hiker "Thirsty Boots"

PCT Thru hiker “Thirsty Boots”

Acres of wildflowers

Acres of wildflowers

Explosion of colors

Explosion of colors

Milky Way over the Goat Rocks

Milky Way over the Goat Rocks

Nighttime in the Goat Rocks Wilderness

Nighttime in the Goat Rocks Wilderness

Tulips of Skagit Valley

March has arrived and it’s not too long now (hopefully!) until it gets a little warmer and the flowers start to arrive.
Row of Red Tulips em Rows of Reds, Reflected

NW Travel Magazine March-April 2014 This months issue of NW Travel Mag with one of my images on the cover!

I live in Skagit County, named after the Skagit Indians and Skagit River) in the NW corner of Washington State. And among its other striking features such as the North Cascades and Puget Sound we have the Tulip Festival every April. Yellow tulips Yellows at sunset

I understand that outside of Holland there are more tulips grown here than anywhere. The valley floor has a wide expanse of fertile, flat farmland and near the towns of Mount Vernon and La Conner there are fields and fields of bright tulips. infinite pink tulips Infinite Pinks

Each year the bloom times change, but generally its mid April when they are at their height of color.
This is a web site that has a link for a map showing exactly where the fields are and when they are abloom.
rows and people Rows and people
Every Saturday and Sunday the roads are crammed with cars forming long lines. This is not a good time to come! If you do come on the weekend make sure to arrive for either sunrise or sunset. I am often out for the sunrise and the fields are bright a crisp, a few workers and photographers are there, and that’s about it.

Weekdays are the best, plan to arrive about 5 or 6. The tulipy stores are closed and the manicured gardens. But the huge expansive fields are alive with the hue of low light and alive with vibrance!
tulips 2014 6em Yellowy mud!
Make sure to dress for mud, and bring your tripod and polarizer!
red tulips blue and orange sky Reds and a dramatic sky
If you decide to make the trip for a sunrise or sunset and want a tour guide, make sure to let me know! I am always happy to have company!

Wildflowers of the Goat Rocks Wilderness

The Goat Rocks Wilderness lies along the spine of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State. Nestled between Mount Rainier to the north and Mount Adams to the south, the vistas from the Goat Rocks most always include an awesome backdrop.

Mount Rainier and Avalanche Lilies, Goat Rocks Wilderness
Mount Adams from along the PCT, Goat Rocks Wilderness
Mount Rainier and Packwood Lake, Goat Rocks Wilderness

I visited there for the first time this July. The flowers had just bloomed/were just blooming and the colors were so vibrant…
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Happy New Year to anyone viewing and/or reading here…thank you for Being There and Communicating! May you visit and enjoy many amazing places in 2014!
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