The Endless Larches

High up in the dry eastern ranges of the North Cascades lie groves of larches that put on a spectacular show every fall. It requires a bit of effort to get into the hinterlands, but once up here, you are greeted with views of endless larches. These conifers, which covering every alpine slope above a certain elevation, change to a brilliant yellow, and flow like golden lava over the rocky landscape.

While climbing over one such mountain pass in this area, I came across this grand vista of the larches showing off their peak autumnal shade. And nestled amidst the golden valley was a blissful alpine alpine pond. Surrounded by a marsh of drying grass, the lake was shrunken from its summer days but still was a pleasant sight for sore eyes.

I could not get over the tranquility of this silent morning, disturbed by nothing but the wind rustling through the golden needles. But I knew this wouldn't last forever. In a few more days, those larches will be bare, waiting for the arrival of spring to sprout again.

Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest
WA USA

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Not your typical tundra

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When I was planning the trip to Lake Clark, I was told I would be hiking through the Alaska tundra. When I imagined the tundra, I expected a mosquito-filled boggy marsh, interspersed with thick dense bush, all moist from a perennially cold summer drizzle that would never stop. But when I arrived there, the marsh I expected was still there, sans mosquitoes. Grey moody skies and cold rain were replaced by balmy weather, bluebird skies and puffy white clouds, straight out of a New England summer.

It was not your typical tundra, at least not for another three days after which a powerful thunderstorm slammed the region with torrential rain and copious water. But until then, the tundra I enjoyed out at Lake Clark National Park was sublime.

Lake Clark National Park
AK USA

Golden Sunrise

Waking up to freezing temperatures, and layering up in the dark to hike up a mountain on a cold morning isn't my idea of fun, but I realized that is what it takes to capture the grand show of colors put up by the vast grove of larches this side of Washington. It was my final morning of the 3-day backpack and my arms and legs were getting sore. I wasn't very hopeful for colors, especially since I heard the winds howl through the night, racing down from the mountains.

Thankfully, as I stepped out, I noticed that the trees had persevered, and most of the needles were still hanging on. I started climbing in the dark, scouting for compositions just as the eastern sky was starting to light up. A few minutes later, I had reached my intended destination for shooting the sunrise. In a few moments, the sun came up from behind the distant hills, lighting up the golden larches in a blaze of fiery glory. As I watched, the glow progressed down the slope towards the lake, and eventually encircled it. The deep red color slowly changed to a vibrant orange and finally turned gold, for which this trail is named after.

I caught this composition just around the moment the glow had spread through the vast bowl covered with larches. And not a moment too soon - the sun disappeared behind a large patch of clouds never to be seen for the next few hours.

Okanagan Wenatchee National Forest
WA USA