North Cascades National Park

My home state of Washington is blessed with three incredibly scenic national parks; Mount Rainier and Olympic being the most popular ones. These well known parks attract visitors in numbers from all over the world.

Though this park is traversed by the North Cascades Highway, or State Highway 20, it is best experienced from the backcountry where one can be alone on a number of long trails, remote ridges or peaks. It's paradise for those wanting to get away and is a local favorite for many.

These mountains take the full brunt of ocean storms, receiving heavy snowfall in the winter months. As a result, they are alive with life, movement and power.

They consist of a twisted, convoluted range which rises to majestic heights of over 10,000' above sea level. At their base, rivers twist through deep gorges and valleys on their way to the Puget Sound.

The North Cascades are a climbers paradise, with so many remote, rugged peaks begging to be climbed. There are too many incredible vantages to be experienced in a single summer - or perhaps many.

Along with those towering peaks are destinations to the backpacker and/or cross-country traveler seeking scenic and memorable destinations. There are many to be had.

The image above of Whatcom Peak was taken during such a trip, backpacking 17 miles to Whatcom Pass, and then traveling cross-country to a high tarn near a set of lakes with incredible views of the Northern Picket Range. Elevation gain was ~ 6,100', a taxing gain with a full pack of camera gear.

I took many photos on this trip, and they remain some of my most licensed images from this magnificent park. This reflection image was recently licensed to an international travel guide, appearing as an inside image and gracing the back cover.

Many more images from this fantastic park can be seen in my North Cascades Gallery, including more from this trip.

Thanks for reading!