Short And Sweet: My Mt. Rainier Trip

You can see some photos from my very first Mt. Rainier photo trip by reading my Heading Back To Rainier post. Take a look!

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Busy, busy, busy. Since Saturday, I've been perfecting the editing on the photos I took at Mt. Rainier. Browsing for the best shots, dodging, burning, saturating. It's taking up a large portion of time, but I'm sure I must overcompensate on post-processing. I only spent what seemed like a quick few minutes at the mountain, due to the fact that it was a family trip and everyone wanted to head back home early. We didn't even stop at any waterfalls on the way up. But in a way it was good, I suppose. Being put into the position to savor my solitary exploration made it all that more special, you know? And savor it, I did.

Scenery near the Skyline Trail.

My last "visit" was in need of redemption. The roads were so bad that they required chains; something we weren't expecting when we arrived at the entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park. This time, the weather was different! Not even two minutes into my hike up to the Skyline Trail, sweat was soaking my brows. The sun was out without a cloud in the sky, the entire trail led up a steep incline, and I was carrying my camera gear and tripod on my back. My god, the ascent was tough on my body; I worked a hard 5 a.m. shift that morning which already wore me out. However, I was so mesmerized by a Mt. Rainier I'd never seen before, that I didn't feel anything until I got back to the car.

Red, yellow, white, and blue wildflowers transformed grassy meadows into colorful works of abstract art. And oh, the smell of them all! The breeze carried the scent over the entire National Park. It was something reminiscent of jasmine. I've never experienced Mt. Rainier with all of those wildflowers before. I knew I had to utilize my opportunity to photograph them - to have them front and center as the focus of my trip.

My spectacular view of the Tatoosh Mountain Range!

When you look south from Paradise, there lies the Tatoosh Mountain Range. Everyone who visits Paradise has seen them, as the view is incredibly photogenic. However, there's something not a lot of people get to see as you ascend the mountain: over the Tatoosh Range, another mountain peeks it's head up and makes an appearance across such a large distance. I overheard two hikers say that it's either Mt. Adams or Mt. Hood! That's incredible to me. We were so high up in elevation that a mountain in an entire different state was visible! So even though I was sweating out all the water I drank, I was thankful the sun was out to grant me that view.

Available for purchase at my Solace In The North shop.

After I had my fill of beautiful scenery, I made the descent. Everyone was tired, as I mentioned, so they decided to pack it up and head out. I didn't want to leave. Someday, when the idea is reasonable for my budget, I'd like to spend a few nights at the lodge there in Paradise. Several days of nonstop photography, day and night. That's what I want.


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Heading Back To Rainier!

Yep, this friday I'll be making the journey back to my favorite place on Earth:
Mt. Rainier National Park! It always seems like I go there either in late August or late December - that pattern's emerged over the past couple of years... But this year will be different; I'm beginning to plan a possible autumn photo trip!

So before I get caught up in talking about my admiration of Rainier (and before I run out of things to mention after my journey this friday), let me show you some photographs from my very first Mt. Rainier photo trip in 2010! Subject matter, editing, everything - they were what developed the meaning of "solace in the north." I feel that these photos represent that name wholly, by giving a sense of peaceful solitude, quiet introspection, and indifference of nature. All of those things are felt when the following images are viewed; it's how I've found solace in the north.

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Remembering Hurricane Ridge

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I've been looking back through my zillions of folders of images today. I came across the photos I shot at Hurricane Ridge - in the Olympic National Park - two winters ago, and remembered the day both Raychel and myself took a trip out there.

Hurricane Ridge rests on top of a steep mountain side; one that descends like a waterfall of earth and stone into the valley of evergreens below. Also, during my visit, a thick coat of fresh snow laid snug on the ground. What a landscape. I looked out at the expansive mountain range - or, I tried to look beyond my frosty breath - and came to wonder why, in all my time of living here in Washington, had I never made a trek out there!

Available for purchase at my Solace In The North shop.

It was another world. True, a familiar world altogether because of the mountains and trees, but something felt beyond new. The views went farther, the pines grew taller, the cold more bitterly stung my skin. It was the thick of winter, and we almost didn't get to visit because of all the snowfall. Hurricane Ridge had a temperature of 16 degrees that day, and dropping. Again, what a landscape.

Everyone else there that day had snowshoes or skis to take the trails with... we didn't. Call it unpreparedness or whatever you will, but the story will always end with snow making its' way thigh-deep up my pants, touching bare skin. There we were, Raychel and I, creating traffic on the trail as we trudged and hobbled and fell in the snow - making a scene as everyone else glided right on by with their hip new winter gear. Embarrassment hit maximum capacity. I would have apologized to all of them if I could! But my jaws were practically frostbitten from the snow that got into my mouth.

Sometimes it's better to be silly than serious on a photo trip. I know I tend to keep a straighter face when I photograph, but that's just because I want to make the best use of my limited amount of time on location. I didn't want to take a three-hour car ride to and from our destination, all within the same day, and come back with nothing! Even so, I've promised myself I'd relax on future photo trips. Slow down the breathing, step aside, and enjoy where I am, you know? It may even better my photography. Besides, I'm only 19 (and a half)! I've got plenty of time to go back and witness what the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

 

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