Fire and ice are not brethren that occur frequently together, and after a day of gloomy grey skies, I was not expecting the fiery sunset glow appear on the icy glaciers on the steep slopes Mt Shuksan. But a gut instinct drove me to hike to that lookout that was blasted by freezing winds and sub-zero temperatures.
And for that few moments when fire and ice appeared together, I was thankful for that photographer's instinct and wishful yearning for a colorful sunset.
Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
WA USA
The Last Vestiges of Winter
The last vestiges of winter are still hanging on through mid-April, leading to plunging mercury lines and people searching for their winter-wear. It brought memories of the cold winter the city went through, as well as my own escapades into the snow-capped cascades.
One such trip was the climb up-to Huntoon point where I was witness to a spectacle of sun and snow like no other. Fresh snowfall from the prior night had coated the ragged peaks with a carpet of pure undisturbed white, while strong winds had created tree-shines on the south-facing slopes. It was surreal to experience the transition from verdant greenery to the refreshing white climbing up from the depths below.
Conditions like these come together perhaps a couple of times a year, and I was glad to experience one of them. Hopefully it will keep me engaged until the next winter.
North Cascades National Park
WA USA