Landscapes

The Early Bird

It pays to wake up early, but sometimes this action borders on the verge of stupidity.

I had a grand old goal of climbing to a viewpoint near Mt Rainier to catch sunrise in the summer. And when it was announced that the roads had just opened to the area, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to head up there. What I didn't factor into the calculations were the early 5:30am sunrises that meant leaving home at 2:30 in the morning to give enough time to drive and hike up in the dark.

And yet, I somehow managed to yank myself out of the cozy confines of my bed after a mere 4 hours of sleep, drive in the pitch black inkiness of the night, and hike up the rocky trail just as dawn colors were breaking in the sky.

But the reward was worth it: a beautiful sunrise over a serene mountainous landscape, with Mt Rainier to give me company.

Mount Rainier National Park
WA USA

Mountain Magic

Grand Park was unlike any other place I have been: a vast meadow budding with wildflowers, with the classic profile of Mount Tahoma and and Little Tahoma framing the background. It almost took me back to a fairytale wonderland, and I would been transported to such a place, were it not for the swarms of mosquitoes, I certainly would have been.

Mount Rainier National Park
WA USA

Mountain Magic

The billowing clouds gathered moisture over the Pacific and moved inland, where it encountered the mighty peaks of the Sierras. Never before had it seen such a formidable foe blocking its path. But as it got closer, it realized the mountains needed help, needed rain.

And the clouds whispered to the mountains, you look a little parched, and then let loose a torrent of rain and snow into the freezing winds.

June Lake Loop
CA USA

When Out of Officee

A few years ago, I decided to take a break from work and go back to school for a couple of years. And while that was a high loss of opportunity cost (compared to staying at work), I never regretted that decision. Apart from those two years being a life-changing decision, I got quality time to take leisurely trips and enjoy the outdoors, do backpacks in amazing destinations and tick off a few bucket list items.

Driving cross country was one of them. Revving up my Civic through those sinuous mountain roads while enjoying glorious sunsets with vistas of endless peaks was nothing short of sublime. That trip made me realize that there is so much out there to see, and I have but experienced just a fraction of it.

Perhaps one of my most memorable trips was to the heart of Italian Dolomites. I spent a week climbing steep rocky terrain, hiking through incredible landscapes and witnessing incredible sunrises and sunsets from rifugios aptly placed on mountain-tops. And while the days were exhausting, the urge for photography kept me going. The Dolomites are like nothing else.

Looking back at those pictures from mountainous north of Italy, memories come flooding back to me of this amazing trip, replete with the delicious food paired with crisp local wines, friendly company, towns and cities steeped in history and culture, and so much more. It pains that I cannot travel and retrace my steps at these destinations, but I hope that fortunes turn in the future.

But this trip, and the many others I took during a two year break from work, taught me that gathering experiences by immersing yourself at a location, and expanding your worldview is perhaps as important, if not more, than the pedantic knowledge obtained through books and lectures.

High in the Pacific Northwest

The short summer season leaves very little room to explore the mountains. So when July comes around, I try to take every opportunity to head to the vast wilderness of the Pacific Northwest.

This year, it will likely be a different experience: the pandemic will most certainly shape the number of people I go with and limit interactions in the outdoors. It also will remove one of my favorite parts of hiking: the post-hike burger, beer and ice-cream, which will most likely be relegated to flimsy takeouts.

Nevertheless, I still hope to head outdoors, and capture the wonder that is the wonderland of the Pacific Northwest.

Here are four images from different parts of Washington and British Columbia, showcasing the endless mountain-scape of rugged peaks with mighty glaciers and volcanoes interspersed amongst them.

Junebug

Eons ago, when I first stepped foot in the US after having lived in a tropical country close to the equator, I was astonished to find the sun shining brightly at 8pm. While many take the long halcyon summer days for granted in the Northern hemisphere, it was a bewildering surprise for me when 6am and 6pm used to mark the boundaries of day and night through the year.

Now, even after almost spending 4 summers in the Pacific Northwest, the 15 hour days still seem a shocker every time summer rolls around. However, for the most part, they make up for the short dreary days of winter. Furthermore, these long days are perfect for traveling, as you seemingly get more time to explore.

As I sit home-bound this June, here are a few memories from the past taken in the long halcyon summer days from around the world.

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Pandemic Pursuits

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As spring turns to summer, the waterfalls roar once more, the wildflowers rear their heads again, and crisp blue skies beckon adventure seekers everywhere. Such is the magnetic draw of the few glorious months of summer in the Pacific Northwest. It is those few months which I yearn every year to go and seek solace in nature after the harsh winters.

And this year, the pandemic has put a pause on these pursuits, leaving me nervous to venture out anywhere but the nearest wilderness. But, in the heart of the evergreen state, nature is but a hop, skip and a jump away. And I am truly blessed to be here.

WA
USA

Sublime Sunrise

It was one of those dreamy mornings where the light and location came together in perfect harmony.


After having spent a late night hunting for the aurora, motivating myself to leave the cozy confirms of a warm bed out into the cold still morning didn't feel like an easy proposition, But as soon as I saw the clear skies and the just a tinge of clouds on the horizon, I knew I had to rush to the inlet near the village of Grundarfjörður to capture the majesty of Kirkjufell.

I am glad I did, because it turned out to be one of most sublime sunrises I had ever witnessed on that memorable trip to Iceland about 4 years ago.

Kirkjufell

Iceland

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Responsibility in the Outdoors

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We seek the great outdoors not to escape life, but for life not to escape us...

As the nations start opening up, there is a yearning in all of us to escape to the great outdoors, and gain a little bit of sanity that we may have lost over the last few weeks. But as you do spread out to wilderness areas all over, make sure you enjoy the outdoors responsibly. WTA, one of my favorite outdoor stewards, has compiled a helpful list here:

  1. While passing people on trail, give space to others, and give way to the opposite direction

  2. Pack in and pack out: trailheads are likely not serviced so avoid using the restrooms if you can. And if you really need to attend nature's calls, carry a small shovel and be prepared

  3. Leave no trace: take only memories and leave only footprints

  4. Avoid crowded trailheads: there is more of the outdoors to explore.

  5. And if you are sick, please stay away from where people might congregate

When I traveled around in Germany a few years earlier, I was struck by how quickly I could get from the busy urban areas to the beautiful outdoors. Having that balance of nature and nurture certainly improves mental well-being, and increases appreciation of what life is all about.

Germany

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Seeking Nature

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The last few months have left their mark on this planet, in more ways than one. It is certainly a stressful time for many, especially when stress relief is not easy to come by.

My stress relief has been to go out in nature, smell the fresh scent of a morning forest, see the majesty of the mountains from a bird's eye view, and hear the rustle of trees, the gurgle of brooks and the chirp of birds. Being outside, and maybe photographing these scenes, were the ways to warm my soul and clear my mind. And it is exactly these that I have striven not to do for the last few months.

It hasn't been easy, but it is necessary. These scenes will be waiting when I get back to nature.

Seattle
WA USA