The weekend before last, I went on one of my favorite off-season hikes, from Whistle Lake to Sugarloaf in the Anacortes Community Forest Lands. There is a shorter route to Sugarloaf from another direction, but I like to see the lake as well. While Sugarloaf's expansive views make for one of the best destinations in the area, Whistle Lake has scenic highlights of its own - reflections, rock formations, colorful madrones, and interesting birds.
First, a view from Sugarloaf. I like the definition in the clouds, and the sense of depth. The foreground branches could stand to be a bit brighter, but this isn't too bad. F/18.
Most of the area has a second-growth feel, but there are a few bits and pieces of older forest. Here is an older Douglas fir, with cedars in the background. F/16.
Finally, Whistle Lake. This composition is similar to the last image in this post from last year, but with a simpler foreground. Even though there wasn't mist this time, I like the newer composition better - it isn't as busy, and the treetop reflections are much clearer.
That's all for now. I've sometimes found wildflowers (specifically, Indian plum) blooming as early as mid-February around the Puget Sound. Maybe there will be some wildflower photography in the near future!
