North Cascades

Here is the second big set of photos from a trip last week to the North Cascades near Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan. I'll just jump right into the pics.


Mt. Shuksan alpenglow from Picture Lake on Mt. Baker.



We climbed Goat Mountain and spent the night at the top. It was a long day because the trail was washed out in several places and we spent a great deal of time climbing around sketchy stuff searching for it. I am glad we pressed on because the view from the summit was amazing!



The summit of Goat Mtn. east




Mt. Sefrit in the front right, Mt. Ruth behind it, Hannegan Pass in the center of the photo, Mt. Challenger, Whatcom Peak, Mt. Fury, and a ton more in the background. Cool to think that we started our hike on the valley floor.


the shoulder of Sefrit and hulking Mt. Shuksan


Mt. Baker, an impressive volcano that apparently steams in the winter, with the trail we hiked in on on the bottom right


I schlepped my big camera on the trip for this reason- not only is the zoom great for birds- but also peak-finding! On the left are the McMillan spires in the southern Picket Range. I think they look like Mordor.




The peaks on the left are called the Pleiades. I like that- mountains named after constellations. The ones in the background are Canada!


A tired pup.


McMillan spires super-zoom.








Shuksan


Ruth Mtn

It wouldn't be called Goat Mountain if there weren't some goats there! These guys were hopping around on a nearly vertical cliff wall.



The mountain goats were just below the shadow line in the center of the pic. Again, yay for the zoom.


losing light




Our little sun shelter at the end of its use


Dinner time- Luke gathers snow to make some water


the kitchen


We could see the sun glowing off the Puget Sound from up there! Amazing.










Sunset on Mt. Baker


Sunrise on Mt. Baker


Luke got up pretty early the next morning for the sunrise... However, you can see I was sleeping like a bear in my bivy through it...


good morning!


my turn to get the snow for breakfast


ready for the descent




Mt. Larabee in the middle, the tall spiky one is called "American Border peak'










some variety of penstemon








Nothing too new in the way of birds-- this golden crowned sparrow was hanging out

And then I got a life bird in the American pipit- a bird that nests in tundra. This guy was pretty much at the summit:


We also managed to do a little kayaking on the North Fork of the Nooksack river... here is Luke hitting the class IV/V







Looking a little more terrified than I should have been...


Glacier creek was silty!


Mt. Baker





This trip was another testament to the incredible beauty of the northwest. I am glad I was able to make it out to explore!