| Photo Information |
Copyright: Joshua Lewis (JoshLewis)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 59 W: 2 N: 229]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif) (816) |
| Genre: Landscapes |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2008-02-18 |
| Categories: Mountain, Sky |
| Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 |
| Exposure: f/5.0, 1/1300 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2009-04-05 22:30 |
| Viewed: 617 |
| Points: 6 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
This Photo goes out to Bob Shannon!
Eldorado sticks out in my mind as one of the most classic peaks in the state of Washington. It is one of my Top 10 favorite mountains and is located in the North Cascades. The Peak towers the Cascade Valley and gives an awesome feeling when there.
Here's the Trip:
Atlast, the news was in, a perfect weather oppertunity, and perfect hiking oppertunity which was great, because I been wanting some for a while. We decided on going to Cascade Pass or a hike in the general area. This time my mom, Michael, Mark and me came on this trip. I could harly wait so we packed all our gear and headed out, which as usual was late, but atleast we would be spending the night. By the time we got to Concrete which is a city along the way, it was sunset with a great view of Sauk Mountain, and some reflections. We spent a while here for gas, and photos. After that we headed to Rockport, which at this one view point we could see Eldorado Peak which we pulled over to take a few photos. It was dark by this point but the moon light proved once again to be very scenic and Eldorado could be clearly seen even thought it was night and it was distant. Adter snapping what Mark and me could, we rushied back to the car, and drove to Marblemount. From what we heard, Diablo was closed tolocals only due to heavy snow, which made Cascade Valley our only way which is were Cascade Pass is. We drive about 12 miles or so until we get to a turnout point which we are forced to stop due to snow in the road and a giant bolder. When I got out, this was a magnificent view of Eldorado and Hiddenlake Peaks, a gorgous vantage point. All so beautiful with the moon shining above making it feel like darker day, only more beautiful. We decided to check out the road a bit in the moon light, and it was not needed to have a headlamp because of the reflecting snow. After about a mile in, we decided on turning around becasue there was'nt much, and we tried to convince mom a while before we got this far. When we got back we set up our tent and bed and I took some more mountain photos. Next to us was a large drop off into the Cascade River which I had to be careful of when taking photos, after all I am a nut for photography. After all this was done, we went to bed, and I could still hear the rushing of water from the river below, and there was some mist in the valley from the river. I slept great during the night, although it was very cold. When I woke up, it was before sunrise and I was shivering a lot, and of coarse went back to getting some morning shots of Eldorado Peak and the Cascade Valley.
Unfortunatly the sun never really had the peaks glowing as I had hoped due to us being in the lower elevations with trees in the way. But it still had all its beauty as the mountains always do. We had some breakfast, and took a while to decide were we were going to go. Cascade Pass was obviously out of the question, and we decided on going to Diablo Lake area, but as we were going a few miles down the road, we changed our minds and went back and decided on Look Out Mountain. We had to walk a mile or so to the trailhead due to the snow and boulder in the road. We started the hike with a snowy trail, and soon separated from my mom and brother and it was just me and Mark. We were having such a fun time going up that It did'nt matter to us that if we get in trouble for going ahead. It's truely a diffrent world when hiking up in the mountains, and especially when it is winter with snow. The higher we went, the more exiting it got. It started to get to the point were we were starting to question were we were, but at the time in a sense it did'nt matter, we just wanted to go up. There would be some faded snow shoe prints, and then some times dissapear. It also started to get steep which is when I pulled out my ice axe, and my friend took out his ski polls. It got to the point were I would be worried if one of us fell over.... not that it was serious, but someone would go down a ways, or perhaps hurt. As we were going up we found a spot up ahead that looked as if it would be part of the trail which fortunatly it was. It was a flat spot perfect for camping and had a sorta cliff beyond the flats, but was surrounded by trees due to our low altitude. This was our only real vantage point during the hike because of the clearing. After we took a few photos we kept going up. My feet started getting colder and colder as we went up, due to my feet getting soaked and my boots were not 100% water proof as they claim to be. I start to become tired due to hunger, but we very much wanting to make it. As we are hiking up though the woods on the trail, we head a big boom of an avalanche, which frightens me, but fortunatly is on the other side of the mountain.... or was it further ahead? Well anyways we were safe thank goodness. After a while we find another flat looking aread and decide to stop to eat because I became very weak and if I kept going, I would feel as if I could not keep going. It was wonderful with salomi and cheese crackers, and such, but walking to the spot had a toll, it was deeper snow, which made my feet much colder and wetter. It started getting to the point were my feet were hurting and I was starting to loose feeling in my feet and I was still fatigue. Perhaps Mark had the same feeling, because he asked me if we should turn around. Honestly we could have kept going but would have perhaps been not worth it, which I think we made the right choice.
So we decided to go back down, and as we went down at the flats I came across my brother Michael which he was in shorts, which supprised me because it was snowy everywhere. I heard my mother yelling below, and she did not come up because it was steep at this part, she could have made it here, but it would'nt be worth it. She was a bit worried when I caught up, but fortunatly not to upset. As we were hiking down route finding was difficult because the warm sun had melted a lot of the snow. We would almost go the wrong way by following this trail that went up, but then get back on track. Mark's feet at this point became very cold, and we could no longer feel them, which the same was starting to happend to me. I started to worry because with our feet feeling frozen like having ice feet, andit becoming late, and we did not know our way, I was hoping this would not end up being one of those misadventures. We headed down but soon realized that we were going to far down, so had to go more across and slightly up, but my mother was arguing that we stop, but Mark was complaining about his feet which I totally understand because my feet we not feeling so good, if having any feelings. The reason not to stop is because when you stop the motion, your feet get even colder. I started to pray because I did not want to be stuck walking around in the dark not knowing were we were going, and Mark's and my feet not so good and limited supplies. Fortunatly we found the trail which brought great exitement to us all, although mom and my brother fell behind and it took them a while to catch up. We hurried out of there and soon came close to the trailhead. By this point much of the snow in the day was melted away which I was supprised. At the trailhead Mark and me were waiting for my brother, which we lay on our packs and take off our boots and socks and warm our frozen feet. After this we had some more food and such and got our gear once the rest of the group caught up. We got to the car before sunset which we took more photos. It was an awesome trip once again in the mountains. The mountains, never forgettable. |
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