Sahale Arm and Sahale Camp, North Cascades

Posted on May 31, 2023 by Andy Porter

The North Cascades are located in the northwestern part of Washington State, along the border with Canada.

Sahale Camp is the highest (7,600 ft.) official camp site in the North Cascades National Park.

The route follows the Cascade River and ascends to Cascade Pass, then swings onto Sahale Arm, a giant curving slope carpeted in grasses and wildflowers. The overall elevation gain is 4,000 feet.

The camp sits atop 3 mounds of glacial rubble, at the base of Sahale Peak.

To spend the night there is sublime. Over 12 years I was lucky enough to spend 15 nights there at the camp.

Here are some pictures from the trail.

Wildflowers. Sahale Arm is truly upholstered in bright, crazy colorful wildflowers.

In the fall the Arm comes alive again with color.

There are many magical moments to be had, there at the camp.

Methow Valley Wildflowers

Posted on May 22, 2023 by Andy Porter

May is when the Methow Valley comes alive with flowers.

I captured these images in the Valley near Pipestone Canyon.

Plus 2 cool night sky pics with the Aurora and lightning!

Columbia River Gorge

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Andy Porter

The Columbia River Gorge is not a place you can visit once. There is magic there, a magical feeling and once you experience it, you will want to go back again and again.

The drama of the landscape ebbs and flows with the weather; each day the storms of the Pacific make their way eastward filling the Gorge with clouds and sun.

The deep gash of the river cuts a trough thousands of feet deep through the mountains, its steep cliffs covered in green. As the day progresses the shadows shift and colors change. Each day the show is different.

Driving back and forth, up and down the valley, chasing the light I visit each little town along the highway, each has a unique character, a story to tell… life along the river goes at its own speed. I am amazed by the place and the people I am lucky enough to meet. I already want to go back!

These images are from a 4 day trip over spring break. I spent my time hunting for blooming wildflowers and exploring a few waterfalls.

Each week of spring bring new blooms in the Gorge; here are some wildflowers images from Columbia Hills State Park.

Gorge Flowers - Wide open Aperture - focus near

Gorge Flowers - Wide open Aperture, focus far

Panther Creek Falls is one of my all-time favorite waterfalls. The images tell all.

Rodney Creek Falls is another wonderful, multi-tiered falls, in Beacon Rock State Park.

Here are more random images from 4 days of rambling about…

Catherine Creek Trail

Fruit Farm

Horsethief Butte

Rowena Plateau

Wind Mtn Ranch

Wind Mountain Ranch is where I stayed, a wonderful place!

Spider Meadows Wildflowers

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Andy Porter

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.

Pasayten Wilderness Wildflowers

Posted on July 18, 2016 by Andy Porter

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.

Glacier Peak Wilderness – Liberty Cap

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Andy Porter

Last August I hiked the Spider Meadow – Buck Creek Pass Loop.

Spider Meadows, Glacier Peak Wilderness

What a glorious hike!

We started at Spider Meadows,

And ended the trip at Buck Creek Pass.

Glacier Peak

We arrived at the Pass early in the day and waited for the sun to cool off a bit before we ascended the slopes of Liberty Cap and scouted for a place to camp with a view of Glacier Peak. This image is from that night.

The next morning before sunrise we made our way south along the ridge line, heading for High Pass.

The views of Glacier Peak were magnificent. sumptuous wildflowers and greener than green meadows invited us to relax and breathe in the air.

: Glacier Peak, Sunrise

: Trail along Liberty Cap

: Triad Lake from High Pass

North Cascades Hike: Lake Ann – Maple Pass Loop

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Andy Porter

Lake Ann

The feeling of exhilaration from being in the mountains is unsurpassed. Sweat and strain, fresh air and a cool breeze, a lake reflected and gathering clouds: these are all part of what makes the trip Great.

The Maple Pass Loop trail starts at Rainy Pass, on the North Cascades Highway. Ascending through the brush and out into the sun a first view whets your desire for more.

Swinging around the head of a small basin you soon plunge back into the cool forest.

Now the climbing becomes more insistent. The trail angles up along the side of a ridge and switchbacks heavenward. Lake Ann beckons below, her silvery waters calling.

Heather Pass appears and you keep climbing, but now the wonder of the view cancels any thought of your body.

You are in the mountains!

The clouds invade the valley as you view the world from above. Its time to start heading down.

Clouds

Bright colors, my favorite thing!

Flowers

Its difficult to keep walking…despite the threatening skies, I just want to sit amid the flowers.

Darkening clouds

I see the skies opening in the near distance…

Meadows

The thunder and lightening are not far off now.

This summer I am offering photo tours of the Maple Pass Loop.

And if you’d like a bold, bright canvas print of any of these images, here is where to go.

Stormy Skies along the Lake Ann – Maple Pass trail, North Cascades

Posted on October 24, 2014 by Andy Porter

Stormy Skies along the Lake Ann – Maple Pass trail, North Cascades

Goat Rocks Wilderness, Washington State

Posted on August 17, 2014 by Andy Porter

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

Mt Adams and the Pacific Crest Trail

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

Avalanche Lilies along the Lily Basin Trail

Pacific Crest Trail

Snowgrass Flats

Mount Adams and Snowgrass Flats

Mount Rainier and Packwood Lake

Upholstered in Lupine

Cispus Basin

Morning light and Beargrass

PCT Thru hiker “Thirsty Boots”

Acres of wildflowers

Explosion of colors

Milky Way over the Goat Rocks

Nighttime in the Goat Rocks Wilderness

Skyline Divide, North Cascades

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Andy Porter

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.