Friday, September 28, 2012

Road Trip Part Two: SMELLED THE MOUNTAIN AIR, MAN


Ever since I drove through North Cascade National Park in 2009 I’ve wanted to go back.  This time we would be going the recommended way; east to west.  We drove up the North Cascades Scenic Highway 20 in Washington state.

It's considered one of the U.S.’s most spectacular mountain drives. We were rewarded with dramatic views of the jagged mountains called the “North American Alps.”

 We crossed over 5,477 ft. Washington Pass and were still looking ‘way up at rugged peaks all around us.

 Washington Pass overlook is 700 feet above the highway on a natural rock platform. We could gaze back down a road that was not opened until 1972.  This part of the trip is closed each winter due to snowfall.

I think this serrated hunk of rock is called Liberty Bell.

Another mountain along the way--maybe Colonial Peak.

We passed over the bridge which crossed Gorge Creek Falls.  I made DH pull over so I could go back and braved passing trucks and RV’s to get a shot of the water cascading (good bet that’s why the mountains are called the cascades?) down the rocky hillside.  Even there the conditions were much dryer than during my last visit.

More mountains. Probably Pyramid Peak.This time I remembered to put the polarizer filter on my camera to bring out the blue-blues in the sky. 

I wish I could show how massive these hulks of snowy rock really are.  Just mind-boggling.

Another log truck.

Diablo Lake.  Gets its turquoise color from the sediments in the water melting off all those glaciers.

Through a tunnel drilled out of solid rock.

Another picket fence of peaks on the other side.

11 comments:

Linda Sue said...

BIG! Thank you for these amazing photos of bigness! I worked in these mountains one summer, clearing trail with a bunch of nature folks- using only machetes and gloves...had to be young!

susan m hinckley said...

Thanks for the lovely photos! Could almost smell the mountain air myself...

Val said...

That reminded me of the opening credits for The Shining. Both take my breath away.

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh I love these photos it reminds me of the train to Vancouver. Gotta love them mountains. Awesome Thank you. B

Alica said...

Oh my, I want to go there! Breath taking!

Anonymous said...

Spectacular!

laurak/ForestWalkArt :) said...

gorgeous! love the snowy topped mountains...and the gorge...

although we have LOTS of log trucks here too...the scenery is nothing compared to THAT!! here it's just flatflatflat!

i love & miss the mountains!! thanks for the ride!

CarrieBoo said...

I was just thinking about the Shining, too, when you said they close the roads off in winter. ;)

Holy moly! Those are beyond words, really. Don't you love making'em pull over so you can get a good shot. Glad you could get away somewhere so beautiful.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Beautiful photos! I have not seen that area before so your photos were a real treat! I love the color of the mountain lakes and streams:)

Elizabeth said...

What an amazing journey!
Thrilling to go with you.
So very different from our part of the world!

Carla said...

I LOVE Washington! You were so lucky to be the passenger---as you could look out the window and soak up the beauty. I made Eric pull over in Oregon for pictures in fairly unsafe places as well. :)