Located in south-central Washington, Mount Adams reaches 12,280 feet into the sky. Unlike Oregon's Mount Hood and Washington's Mount Rainier, which are easily visible from populated areas, Adams is elusive. The Cascade Mountains hide it from the view of most folks in western Washington and Oregon, allowing only a distant view of the top of the peak. Even from the east side of the Cascades, hills and ridges often block the view. For a spectacular, up-close view, a trip off the beaten path is necessary.
For the past two weeks, I have been working near the small towns of Trout Lake and Glenwood. When the weather cooperates, Mt. Adams dominates the northern skyline. As a bonus, some hilltop vantage points include views of Mt. Hood and Mt. Saint Helens. At the same time that I'm getting paid to walk in the woods, I get to see verdant valleys, showy autumn leaves, and snowy mountains. Life is good, even if I have to endure a few days of rain.
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When I arrived in Trout Lake on October 15, this was my first view of Mt. Adams. A hot summer and a dry fall had reduced the peak's snow cover.
All pictures are in Lightbox mode; click for a clearer image.
On the way to and from the woods, I had the privilege of seeing the peak under varying light and cloud conditions.
Farther east, near Glenwood, the open spaces of Conboy Lake Wildlife Refuge allow an unobstructed view.
On October 22, fire crews set a controlled burn on the refuge.
As the mornings became colder, fog formed in the valleys. These cottonwoods look like yellow ghosts in the morning mist.
October was nearly gone, and still there was no new snow. A rainy front arrived on the 26th, with temperatures chilly enough to make me wonder what was happening on the mountain. The next morning, I got my answer. I was surprised to see the peak free of clouds so soon after the storm, while clouds still lingered to the west.
October 28th saw more rain, making for an unpleasant day in the woods. I was working on a hilltop at 3,500 feet elevation, and was in fog and low clouds all day. Late in the afternoon the clouds began to break up. As I descended into the valley near Trout Lake, I was again surprised to see that Mt. Adams was visible so soon after the storm. Looking south towards Mt. Hood, I could only see a mound of clouds where the mountain would normally appear.
The next morning, the new coating of snow gleamed in the sunlight.
On my way into the woods, the mountain would suddenly appear when I rounded a curve. The sliver of blue sky near the horizon was just big enough to frame the mountain.
Western larch adds some fall color to this view.
Clouds hug the hillsides as the rain continues. The summer weather pattern persisted well into October, but autumn has definitely taken over.
On a rainy day, the fall foliage of red osier dogwood and bigleaf maple brightens the roadway.
Trees on the hillsides, farms in the valley. The town of Trout Lake is just out of view on the right side of this image.
The floor is now open. This is a Daily Bucket, so all comments about the natural world are welcomed. And with it being Halloween and the end of Daylight Savings Time, feel free to include any horror stories about either topic.
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