Railroad Grade, and more

On Tuesday, I set out to do the Railroad Grade hike, which shares a trailhead with the Park Butte hike. These hikes are both well-known for their views of Mount Baker, and I was hoping to catch some late-season wildflower displays as well. When I reached the start of Railroad Grade proper, however, I decided to turn around. The trail from that point is quite narrow with a very steep drop-off, and I tend to be nervous about balance, especially when wearing a tripod. I probably would have made it without incident, but I tend to be overcautious. At any rate, I used the extra time to wander farther in the direction of Park Butte, and found some nice scenery and wildflowers to photograph.

First, a view of Mount Baker from the Park Butte trail. For a midday exposure of a sunlit mountain, this result isn't bad. Before using this in any printed form, I'll likely spend some more time perfecting the lighting and sky color. F/16.

Next, a view of Twin Sisters from near Cathedral Camp. The lighting is a bit harsh, but everything is technically in range, so there's a decent chance of this one eventually looking good in print. F/14.

Below, the view from Railroad Grade itself. I like the effect the haze has on the hills, although it would have been nice to get more detail in the very distant peaks. F/14.

Next, afternoon light from the Park Butte trail near Rocky Creek. F/16.

Finally, a dry channel (or former channel) of Rocky Creek, with monkey-flower and other flowers blooming. Due to light breezes, I didn't get all of the leaves or flowers as sharp as I would have liked, but this result is decent. F/16.

Palisades Lakes

Earlier this week, I hiked the Palisades Lakes trail for the second time. It's a tricky hike - the ups and downs make for some steep climbs on the return trip, so the journey is more taxing than hikes with similar elevation gain and mileage where the grade is more consistent. Uphill misery is never too long-lived, though, and the scenic meadows and solitude are worth it. Because there are few views of Mount Rainier itself, this trail sees less traffic than others in the area despite the easy road access.

I first hiked trail about a year ago, but wasn't exactly thrilled by my results. This time, I think I did better. The clear weather made for more challenging lighting, but the wildflower displays were closer to peak, and I was able to anticipate where I'd want to spend the most time on photography.

First, Clover Lake, ringed by meadows of lupine and other wildflowers. Although not as dramatic as Upper Palisades Lake, Clover Lake is a peaceful and enchanting spot. F/14.

Also from Clover Lake, a closer view of elephant's head (Pedicularis groenlandica) growing near the lake shore. F/5.6.

Next, the highlight of the hike: the unbelievable lupine meadows just before Upper Palisades Lake. I don't think I've ever seen lupine meadows this thick or extensive. The first of this pair has better image quality. The second is more dramatic and has a compelling sense of depth, but I had to compromise a bit on the sharpness of the peaks and trees in the distance, so it might not look great at large print sizes. Both F/16.

Below is Upper Palisades Lake with lupine and other wildflowers in the foreground. F/14.

Finally, from the trailhead, a view over the White River valley in the morning light. F/14.