Heliotrope and Horseshoe

Just returned from a quick camping trip! I stayed at the Douglas Fir campground, which is right off the Mount Baker Highway and accesses the Horseshoe Bend trail. My main destination, though, was the Heliotrope Ridge trail. I didn't make it quite to the end, due to a stream crossing that I wasn't all that comfortable with (about half of the hiking parties I saw ventured across). Still, it was a good day in the mountains, with plenty of scenery.

Heliotrope Ridge

Mount Baker's slopes and glaciers were frequently shrouded by fog, but I took advantage of a few minutes of partial clearing to get this moody shot from the climbers' trail that branches off from the main trail. F/18.

Next, a branch of Heliotrope Creek, framed by lush greenery. I'm not thrilled by this one, as the greens are a bit dull and indistinct from one another. Still, I think the creek itself and the arrangement of the branches make it worthy of posting. F/22.

The next two are of a new flower to me, Chamaenerion latifolium, which I've seen termed "river beauty," "dwarf fireweed," "broad-leaved willowherb," and other common names. The flowers definitely resemble those of fireweed. F/4 and F/9.

Horseshoe Bend

Adjacent to the Douglas Fir Campground is the Horseshoe Bend Trail. It follows the North Fork Nooksack upstream, with plenty of views of the river. First, a higher view of the river framed by lush trees. I spent quite a bit of time on this concept, both perfecting the composition and waiting for lulls in the motion of the leaves. Below is my best result, F/18.

Next, one closer to the river. This one takes a bit of a risk, as most of the lines are slanted - there is no straight horizon, stand of straight up-and-down tree trunks, or other element to provide what the late photographer Galen Rowell would have called "visual sea level," beyond some horizontal lines in the water. Nevertheless, I think the lines balance each other out. F/22, 1 second.

Finally, a forest shot from the trail. I was struck by this arrangement of vine maple trunks, as well as the full yet not-too-busy background. F/18.

Naches Peak Loop

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit the Naches Peak Loop trail, which is partly in Mount Rainier National Park and partly in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. I faced two major challenges: midday sunshine and the most crowded hiking trail on which I've ever attempted to do nature photography. Nevertheless, I managed a few compositions that I was pleased with.

First, a view of Mount Rainier from the national park portion of the trail. The wildflower in the foreground is false hellebore (Veratrum viride). F/22.

Another view from the national park portion, with western pasqueflower (Anemone occidentalis) seed heads in the foreground. F/22.

A wildflower bouquet from the national forest portion of the trail, with paintbrush (Castilleja) in the foreground. F/8.

Here's something a bit different, a big-sky view; I believe the lake at lower left is Dewey Lake. I used a graduated neutral density filter to expose correctly for both the dark foreground and the bright clouds. F/18.

Finally, a closeup of the seed head of a western pasqueflower (Anemone occidentalis). F/11.