Landscape Photography in the Pacific Northwest
I recently had the amazing opportunity to visit the Pacific Northwest where one of my best friends now lives to hike and backpack. A good friend of mine planned his bachelor party to be an outdoor adventure. Needless to say I brought my camera gear to capture everything I could along the way. The extra 12 pounds was well worth it, even in the backcountry on tough trails! To see my best images from the trip visit my portfolio site here.
The Pacific Northwest is an absolute goldmine for landscape photographers. Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Baker, Mt. Hood, Three Sisters, and many other peaks in the Cascade Range provide for epic image opportunities, even in the middle of the day when the sun is harsh. Other treasures include the coastline, the Columbia River Gorge, Crater Lake, etc.
Location, Location Location
With only 9 days, we were forced to choose a handful of these locations to visit. I suggested that we visit the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Rainier and the coast. The group was excited to try out those locations so we made the necessary reservations and packed our bags.
Trip Planning and Logistics
Thorough planning for trips in backcountry locations is absolutely critical. Although beautiful, most locations in the backcountry are far from civilization, lack cell service and present their own natural hazards. Detailed maps and knowledge of these areas are required. Additionally, permits for backpacking and camping are often necessary for these areas and failure to obtain required documentation can result in fines.
Our first location, the popular Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge, simply required a permit for the car as the area is a designated permit location. The trail itself is fairly easy and due to its close proximity to Portland the trail is often packed, especially on weekends. We packed plenty of food, rain gear, tent and essentials and a water filtration system for this short hike. Our packs weren't too heavy, about the 30-35 pound range.
Our second location, Mt. Rainier, represented a completely different challenge. Mt. Rainier sits near the jet stream, often getting huge amounts of moisture from the Pacific Ocean. Heavy storms can roll in in a matter of hours. The mountain stands over 14,000 feet high and is one of the largest peaks in the world by prominence. Mt. Rainier creates its own weather, generating snow, hail and thunderstorms on days that are otherwise clear.
Also of concern are wild animals in the area, including bear, big cats, elk and other animals. Although issues with wildlife are rare, it is necessary to be educated about the risks they present and how to respond during an encounter.
With these risks in mind, we packed extra gear for cold weather (the forecast called for snow on the last day of our hike in August), rain gear, parachute cord, expanded first aid kits, etc. We also obtained permits for the Wonderland Trail to reserve campsites.
For our third location we planned to relax on the beach after over 30 miles of hiking.
Finally, the pictures along the trail. All of the preparation and planning culminated in a great experience each place we went. Check out the shots below!
I hope you enjoyed this post. I will be posting more information on the individual trails and preparation for each soon. Visit my portfolio site at portfolio.pursuitphotographynow.com to see my best images and to purchase prints!
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