Every time I camp in the mountains, I look forward to the colorful sunsets and the dramatic sunrises. And when the conditions are right, I sometimes wake up to the classic Cascade sunrise where sunlight pours over the endless ranges of silhouetted mountain ranges. And in the next few hours, the pale orange sky and warm silhouettes slowly transform to a clear blue sky, where the rays stream between the gaps in the ridges and the valleys. Meadows that were in the shadows at dawn, slowly take on the lush mid-day green, and splashes of colors from vibrant fireweed and bright parsnips highlight the scene.

There are few places still in the North Cascades where this vision of a lush summer can still be experienced. I was glad to get experience one this summer season.

Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
WA USA