The Alpine Asters of Mount Rainier are small purple wildflowers of the sunflower family. Sprouting up in the drier meadows and breaching their way on the stony slopes, these florae are delicate yet resilient, and my favorite on the mountain.

Photographing this scene in rapidly changing weather conditions, I was racing up the trail at a clipping pace this evening. Nearing my scouted destination, I stopped in my tracks mesmerized by the light and this little trio of purple sunflowers. Each year there is another visual moment on the mountain that I will catalog as unforgettable, and this is one.

Ten percent of the profits from sale of this image will be donated to Youth in Focus, a Seattle based organization whose mission is amplifying teen voice through photography and arts education.