September Roundup

Hello all! It seems I've gotten a bit behind on my blog, so I'm going to roll my best September excursions into one post. Highlights include two lakes that I had almost entirely to myself, and some fun fall colors! I still can't say that fall is my favorite season, but I've really come around to fall hiking, and about mid-September to mid-October is one of my favorite times of the year to be outside. The bugs and heat are gone, water crossings on trails tend to be easier, and there are lots of pretty colors everywhere.

Lake Janus

Most recently, I visited Lake Janus, along the PCT north of Stevens Pass. It's a lovely lake that tends to get overlooked in favor of nearby Lake Valhalla and Mount McCausland, which offer more dramatic mountain views. In fact, out of the few hiking parties I encountered on the trail to Lake Janus, the majority  had intended to head to Lake Valhalla but turned the wrong way at the intersection with the PCT. For a long stretch of time, there were no other hiking parties at Lake Janus, which was worth the price of slightly-less-dramatic views. The boggy meadows around the lake seem like they could get quite buggy in the summer, so I don't know if I would revisit then, but I can definitely envision repeating this as a fall hike.

First, Lake Janus from one of the camping areas nearby. The foreground looks a bit busier in practice than it did in my mind's eye, but the fall-color effect still comes through fine. F/16.

Next, Lake Janus from nearer the shore. I like the warm tones of the grass and leaves in the foreground. F/16.

Lastly, a meadow near the lake. F/16.

Hope and Mig Lakes

Before that, I hiked to Hope and Mig Lakes, also near Stevens Pass. Like Lake Janus, Mig Lake tends to be overlooked; it seemed like most hikers were turning the other direction, to Trap Lake. But the trail to Hope and Mig Lakes is one of my favorite fall hikes, due to the solitude and the colorful meadows around Mig Lake.

Here's a view of one such meadow. I took a picture from almost the same vantage point last year (first image), but this time included the sky, which I think I might like better. F/16.

Here's a similar view from nearby. The colors aren't quite as striking, but I enjoy the symmetry. F/16.

Next, Mig Lake. There was a slight breeze at this point, which was a mixed blessing. It took longer to time a shot with the leaves being still, but the breezes also stirred up the water, creating the photogenic blue reflections that are visible here. F/16.

Here's another view of Mig Lake, this time with a selective-focus approach. F/5.

On the way to Hope and Mig Lakes, there are a few clearings in the woods with patches of vine maple, which can be one of the most colorful trees in the fall. I really liked the green and red patterns in the ones below. F/7.1.

Lastly from that hike, a peek-a-boo view of Hope Lake through trees. I was concerned about the high contrast, but I think it works. F/14.

Odds and Ends

There were a few instances in the last month where I made closer/shorter trips, for weather or other reasons; I wasn't as thrilled with my results from these outings, but had two images worth blogging about. First, a forest view from a brief dry break during a rather rainy morning on Tiger Mountain. I don't recall the exact location of this one, but it was somewhere in the Tradition Plateau area. I do like the scattering of yellow leaves in the shot. F/16.

Next, some little ferns (licorice ferns?) growing on a tree trunk in Tolt-Macdonald Park near Carnation. I like the selective-focus concept of this shot, but I'm not convinced that I made it work. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think it might be because the parts of the composition aren't distinct enough from each other, or I wasn't close enough to the little ferns in the foreground. F/8.

All for now. Thanks for hanging in there!