Cascade Dreamscape

From the most peaceful and serene sunrise I've experienced in the mountains. In September 2022, I set off into one of the least visited areas in the entire North Cascades. A collapsed logging bridge, over 14,000 feet of elevation gain total, and three days of solitude on the remote mountainous landscape of Snowking Mountain in Washington state. This was, by far, my heftiest solo backpacking adventure I had ever embarked upon, but it was one of my favorite experiences in life thus far.

This photograph was from just outside of my tent, roughly 100 yards below the true summit of the mountain. A slight breeze brought a crisp chill to my lungs with every breath. Distant wildfire smoke created a hazy atmosphere amongst the high alpine. And the gentle sound of a trickling creek a couple yards away made for the most peaceful soundtracks in nature.

Staring out over the vast sea of rugged peaks, with Dakobed (Glacier Peak) looming over the landscape like an ethereal glacial guardian, made for a truly humbling experience.