It was eerily silent on the trail. The dense forest seemed to wrap around ever so closer with every step. The rustle of the wind stopped, the chirp of the bird silenced, and the faint early morning light dimmed. An odd feeling sunk down my spine, sending shivers down every muscle in my body. I wanted to turn back on that pre-dawn hike up Rattlesnake ledge, but the pursuit of photography persevered, and I endured that momentary lapse of rational thoughts. Hauling all of my camera gear, I continued onward, gingerly stepping over the unruly trail in the wee hours of the morning.
And I was glad I did, for the landscape I encountered was like nothing else. Smoke from the forest fires hung low and dark in the valley, while the clouds above were starting to turn yellow, heralding the rising sun. And like clockwork, it crested a distant ridge, a bright glowing ball of orange still suffering from the particulates in the air. The deep blues of the valleys transformed to warmer tones, while the rising mist from the lake below were set aglow by the morning light. And all around, the signs of life were slowly emerging: chimneys on the log cabins below emitting, the birds in the forests around chirping, and sounds of hikers on the trail rising.
Here is one such image of an anonymous hiker enjoying this serene vista.
Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area
WA USA
