A Fall Favorite

On Saturday, I visited one of my favorite fall hikes: Hope and Mig Lakes via the Tunnel Creek trail. I missed last year due to smoke from the Bolt Creek fire, but I try to come every fall. The Tunnel Creek trail to Hope Lake is steep-ish and a bit rough, but pretty short, with some some nice forested scenery. The trail between Hope and Mig Lakes is much smoother (it's technically a part of the PCT), and breaks out into open areas with spectacular fall color.

First, an image showcasing the intense fall colors of the ground cover near Mig Lake. F/14.

Next, Mig Lake. When I was taking this picture, I was concerned that the contrast would be too high, but I think it came together. I like how the reflections sort of frame the fall colors in the foreground. F/18.

Here's another view of Mig Lake. The peak in the background is the most prominent landform visible from either Hope or Mig (it isn't named on the map I have). Perhaps that partially explains the relatively light visitation - you don't have the jaw-dropping views of cliffs and peaks that you get from crowded lakes like Snow Lake, Lake Twenty-Two, Colchuck, etc. But I think Mig Lake has a different kind of beauty, and I really appreciate the solitude. F/13.

Next, Hope Lake. Its shores are more wooded than those of Mig Lake, but there are still a few spots to get a nice view. F/16.

Lastly, a view from the Tunnel Creek trail, with colorful vine maple leaves in the foreground. The contrast is a bit high, and I had to boost the ISO to get a shutter speed short enough to freeze the leaves, so the image quality suffered a bit. The image would probably be okay at standard print sizes, but it isn't a prize winner. F/16.

Late Summer Hiking

Late summer and early fall are one of my favorite times of the year for hiking - water crossings are easy, trails tend to be in good condition, and the mountains start to light up with fall foliage. Practically speaking, enjoying this time of year has been challenging over the last few years due to wildfires and air quality concerns. So far, I'm having better luck this year than last year, so here are my trips so far.

Trail to Monte Cristo

Most recently, I hiked to the Monte Cristo townsite off the Mountain Loop Highway. It's a long but easy walk that mostly follows an old road to the historic mining and tourist town of Monte Cristo, where there are a few structures still standing. As is my style, I devoted most of my attention to photographing the landscapes along the way.

First, the South Fork Sauk River (or at least a channel of it). I'm not confident what mountains are visible in the distance. F/14, 1/15 of a second.

Next, some morning sunlight framed by alder trees. F/16.

Finally, some fireweed gone to seed, framing mountains and emerging fall colors. F/16.

Middle Fork Snoqualmie

Prior to that, I hiked the Middle Fork Snoqualmie trail. The weather was overcast with almost no wind, which was perfect for forest photography. Accordingly, my favorite images from the hike were two forest compositions that highlight the beginnings of fall color. Both F/18.

Next, the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River itself, viewed through alder leaves. I like the broken clouds and fog in the background. F/16, 0.6 seconds.

Here's another view of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie, with a colorful vine maple in the foreground. F/18.

I wasn't sure about this next one when I took it, but I actually really like it. The leaves, again with a hint of fall color visible, are framing a view of the opposite side of the valley. F/18.

Lastly from that hike, a closer view of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie. F/18, 1/4 of a second.

Dugualla State Park

Finally, back when air quality was still an issue in western Washington, I checked out Dugualla State Park on Whidbey Island. It's a nice network of forested trails on the eastern side of the Island, mostly second-growth with some old trees scattered throughout, with a hike down to a beach. The park doesn't have the world-class scenery of nearby Ebey's Landing or Deception Pass, there aren't much in the way of facilities like restrooms or picnic tables, and the beach would be difficult to access at high tide. But that said, the trails were very quiet, and there was a pleasant variation of forest type throughout.

Below, the Big Tree in the center of the park. I like the color contrast with the younger trees in the background. F/18.

That's all for now, but I'm hoping for the chance to find some fall colors soon. Stay tuned!