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From Fall to Winter

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In the Cascades, autumn doesn't arrive on a set date—it descends from the peaks.

Long before lower valleys turn, September coats the high alpine brush in striking scarlets and ambers. Golden larches shine for a brief, glorious moment, and then—almost overnight—the first snow of the season dusts the upper slopes.

There is something profoundly special about this transitional period where late fall meets early winter around Mount Rainier and the North Cascades.

Washington, USA

The Cascading Larches

Often times, the larch march in early October in the Pacific Northwest has felt like a maddening rush to capture the best of the colors. And everyone seems to have the same idea, leading to overcrowding on trails and trailheads (one trailhead had cars parked for an entire mile along the road on both sides).

So this trip focused on a more remote location in the North Cascades National Park. While it was not the crowning glory of larch colors, the region still presented many unique larch perspectives for photography which I really enjoyed. And I could count the number of souls I met on the trail on 2 hands!

North Cascades National Park
WA USA

March of the Larches

Its already October. For many, that signifies the long march towards winter. Out here in the Pacific Northwest, it represents peak fall colors, savoring hot soups, drinking pumpkin-spice everything, and catching up on life. The first week, however, is perhaps well known for the golden colors displayed by the larches. 

Over the last several years, I have had the pleasant opportunity to explore many of the classic locations to view larches in the Cascades backcountry. And although I can't tell one larch in full gold from another larch, seeing the collective glow from a grove of larches is something else. Especially when backlit or sidelit against a dusting of fresh snow.

Here is my tribute to larches. Hope they shine gold forever.

Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest
WA USA

Glimpses of Summer

And just like that, summer has come to an end in the Pacific Northwest. With temperatures already plunging to the low 40s (~10C), and a series of weather patterns bringing much needed moisture to the mountains, the 'nice' weather window in the higher reaches of the Cascades will be over in a couple of weeks. While not the best year in terms of wildfire and precipitation, every day and every month in the mountains is a treasure-trove of next sights, sounds and experiences.

Here is one from a summer backpack this year to a region I had last visited more than 15 years ago. It was refreshing to experience this beautiful region when I am in a different place in life. And while this was many weeks ago, I still remember the trip like it was yesterday.

Olympic National Forest
WA USA

Amidst the Granite Walls

Park # 61 - Gates of the Arctic National Park
The Gates is a massive park situated entirely within the Arctic circle in Alaska, characterized by a long (but not very tall) ranges running east to west along the Continental Divide, and forming the border between the boreal and tundra climactic zones. Its wilderness experience is unparalleled, next to only the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. There are valleys in this where one could spend days without meeting another soul or witnessing any signs of civilization.

I chose to skip all that and visit the Arrigetch region of the Gates - known for its towering granite peaks with dramatic names such as Caliban, Xanadu, Elephant's tooth (given by climbers, of course). It is one of the most heavily visited areas of the park, so much so that there is even a very walkable climbers trail going up the valley. Despite that, it was challenging, and amazingly beautiful, especially when the weather cooperated. 

Having explored this, it is certainly one of the parks I want to come back to explore some of it's more remote corners, of which there are so many.

Gates of the Arctic National Park
AK USA

Falling to Winter

Time is the one true constant—an invisible current that carries us forward, whether we’re ready or not. It’s the most honest measure of what we value: the hours we devote to work, the moments we share with loved ones, the days we steal away to travel and explore. Yet once spent, time is irretrievable. And as we age, its pace seems to quicken, propelling us ever faster toward the inevitable horizon.

In this digital age, one of the greatest thieves of time is doom-scrolling. I’ve succumbed to it more often than I’d like to admit—a habit I wrestle with, especially as the world around me slips by in fleeting seasons. The spring wildflowers I wandered among feel like they bloomed just yesterday, their colors still vivid in my memory. Summer hikes and backpacking adventures seem only moments ago. The joy of autumn’s fiery foliage still lingers. And tomorrow, surely, will be winter. The cycle spins faster now, each turn of the wheel a blur.

Sometimes I long to return—to the wide-eyed wonder of my teens, the boundless optimism of my twenties, the memory-rich tapestry of my thirties. But time doesn’t rewind. All I can do is move forward, carried by its current, hoping to make each moment count before it too becomes a memory.

Oregon
USA

A Sky Set in Motion

10,000 snow geese erupted into flight, their honking a wild symphony echoing across the Skagit Valley. The air pulsed with movement, the scent of damp earth and feathers grounding the spectacle. It was chaotic, yes—but utterly mesmerizing.

These Arctic travelers spend their summers nesting in Siberia before journeying thousands of miles to overwinter in the fertile fields of coastal Washington and British Columbia. Some continue south to California, while others linger here—unwelcome guests to farmers, but pure magic to photographers.

I hadn’t expected such a massive flock this early in the season. But witnessing their synchronized dance—rising, settling, rising again—was a gift I’ll never forget.

Bonus: Trumpeter swans competing for attention from the snow geese gathering in the valley.

Skagit County
WA USA

The last of Fall

In the blink of an eye, autumn’s brilliance has faded into the mist of early winter. The Pacific Northwest, once draped in vibrant foliage and crisp air, now braces under atmospheric rivers and dwindling daylight.

As nature slows, so do we—retreating indoors to rest, reflect, and recalibrate. This seasonal shift invites a deeper pause: to acknowledge the personal transformations we've weathered, and the seismic shifts felt across our communities and country.

In these uncertain times, I’m leaning into the beauty that remains. The fiery hues of fall, like those captured here in the North Cascades, remind me that even fleeting moments can offer lasting comfort.

Here’s to finding light in memory, and strength in stillness.

Mt Baker Wilderness
WA USA

Silver Linings

Expectations: A crisp autumn weekend hiking through the Cascade Mountains, chasing golden larches and postcard-perfect vistas.

Reality: A fierce and unannounced winter storm barreled through the region, plunging temperatures into the low 20s and unleashing winds strong enough to flatten tents. The landscape was blanketed in a fresh inch of snow—beautiful, but brutal.

None of the forecasts hinted at the severity we encountered in the high country. The mild conditions at the trailhead gave no warning of what lay ahead. As we climbed, thick banks of clouds rolled in swiftly, unloading icy rain and snow across the peaks. We knew then: the night would be unforgiving.

By morning, the storm had passed. In its wake, it left behind a breathtaking scene—crisp air, golden larches dusted in snow, and light that danced across the ridges. A photographer’s dream, even if our fingers were numb.

North Cascades National Park
Washington, USA

Larch Madness

The mark of fall in the Pacific Northwest is undoubtedly the synchronized color show put on by the larches. 

As per the Washington Trails Association: Larches are a pot of gold in the fall hiking season as their flaming yellow needles turn the Cascade mountain landscape into something ethereal and otherworldly. The few short weeks when the larches’ needles turn golden—typically late September into early October—make them all the more precious to spot. It’s no wonder we call our annual search “Larch Madness.”

With Larch Madness hitting the mountains over the next couple of weeks, it is primetime for landscape and nature photographers seeking to capture landscapes with swathes of gold coat all over. And while I missed the prior years, I am excited to go this time and indulge in this spectacle of nature.

Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness
WA USA