Kangaroo Ridge, Silver Star Mountain, Wine Spires, North Cascades Scenic Highway, June 2015

The views along the North Cascades Scenic Highway are among the most beautiful anywhere.  This panorama was taken from the same spot where the Liberty Bell photo was taken (the next morning).  I've been there several times, the last time in June 2009. The names of the peaks aren't easy to identify from the topographic maps, but at least they have been updated to show the highway.  While at the North Cascades National Park visitor center, I bought Jack McLeod's book, The North Cascades Highway, which was quite helpful in identifying the names of the peaks.  The title of the post reverses them so right to left, they are Kangaroo Ridge, Silver Star Mountain and the Wine Spires (each peak being named for different wines, Chablis, Pernod, Burgundy and Chianti).  Vasiliki Tower is left of the Wine Spires.

Liberty Bell and the Early Winter Spires, June 2015

Ever since my first visit to Washington Pass, I've wanted to return and get an acceptable photograph of Liberty Bell and the Early Winter Spires.   I've never been happy with the afternoon photographs I've taken because they are taken looking west (in summer) and the angle of the sun casts shadows on the peaks (at best). Due to the distance from Seattle, you either have to get up very early or stay overnight somewhere close to Washington Pass.  Some 16 years after my first visit, I finally scheduled an overnight stay in Mazama, Washington, and the weather (finally) cooperated.  

To be honest, I'm not really seeing why the peak on the right is called "Liberty Bell" but the peak is beautiful all the same.

Humpback Whales in Juneau Alaska, June 2015

Breaching whales off of Outer Point Douglas Island.

Humpback Whale Fluke, Stephens Passage off Douglas Island 

Bubble Net feeding by Humpback Whales, Saginaw Channel, Shelter Island State Marine Park