Assignment Number 9: In The Mountains

I keep going back to my photos from last year's visit to Washington state. Although I've been to several mountain ranges over the past several years – the Sierras, the Rocky Mountains, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to name a few – the mountains in Washington first came to mind when considering a photo to fit with this assignment. Perhaps because the viewing experience is still fresh in my mind, perhaps because I had more knowledge when shooting the photos.

© Anna Irwin

This photo was taken from a meadow trail near the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. The drive to Hurricane Ridge was a challenging one; there was a thick fog all the way up the winding two-lane road. The intense concentration on driving was rewarded with a glorious view of the snow-capped mountains. Though there was a chill in the air, the sun provided enough comfortable warmth.

I loved seeing the mountains rise up from the mist, which seemed to cover the mountain sides like a white, fluffy blanket. There didn't seem to be any trace of the rainy conditions we left behind at Port Angeles. A landscape like this just makes you want to sit and enjoy the scenery, and that's just what we did. And I hope to do so again.

-ai