Landscapes

High in the Pacific Northwest

The short summer season leaves very little room to explore the mountains. So when July comes around, I try to take every opportunity to head to the vast wilderness of the Pacific Northwest.

This year, it will likely be a different experience: the pandemic will most certainly shape the number of people I go with and limit interactions in the outdoors. It also will remove one of my favorite parts of hiking: the post-hike burger, beer and ice-cream, which will most likely be relegated to flimsy takeouts.

Nevertheless, I still hope to head outdoors, and capture the wonder that is the wonderland of the Pacific Northwest.

Here are four images from different parts of Washington and British Columbia, showcasing the endless mountain-scape of rugged peaks with mighty glaciers and volcanoes interspersed amongst them.

Junebug

Eons ago, when I first stepped foot in the US after having lived in a tropical country close to the equator, I was astonished to find the sun shining brightly at 8pm. While many take the long halcyon summer days for granted in the Northern hemisphere, it was a bewildering surprise for me when 6am and 6pm used to mark the boundaries of day and night through the year.

Now, even after almost spending 4 summers in the Pacific Northwest, the 15 hour days still seem a shocker every time summer rolls around. However, for the most part, they make up for the short dreary days of winter. Furthermore, these long days are perfect for traveling, as you seemingly get more time to explore.

As I sit home-bound this June, here are a few memories from the past taken in the long halcyon summer days from around the world.

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Pandemic Pursuits

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As spring turns to summer, the waterfalls roar once more, the wildflowers rear their heads again, and crisp blue skies beckon adventure seekers everywhere. Such is the magnetic draw of the few glorious months of summer in the Pacific Northwest. It is those few months which I yearn every year to go and seek solace in nature after the harsh winters.

And this year, the pandemic has put a pause on these pursuits, leaving me nervous to venture out anywhere but the nearest wilderness. But, in the heart of the evergreen state, nature is but a hop, skip and a jump away. And I am truly blessed to be here.

WA
USA

Sublime Sunrise

It was one of those dreamy mornings where the light and location came together in perfect harmony.


After having spent a late night hunting for the aurora, motivating myself to leave the cozy confirms of a warm bed out into the cold still morning didn't feel like an easy proposition, But as soon as I saw the clear skies and the just a tinge of clouds on the horizon, I knew I had to rush to the inlet near the village of Grundarfjörður to capture the majesty of Kirkjufell.

I am glad I did, because it turned out to be one of most sublime sunrises I had ever witnessed on that memorable trip to Iceland about 4 years ago.

Kirkjufell

Iceland

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Responsibility in the Outdoors

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We seek the great outdoors not to escape life, but for life not to escape us...

As the nations start opening up, there is a yearning in all of us to escape to the great outdoors, and gain a little bit of sanity that we may have lost over the last few weeks. But as you do spread out to wilderness areas all over, make sure you enjoy the outdoors responsibly. WTA, one of my favorite outdoor stewards, has compiled a helpful list here:

  1. While passing people on trail, give space to others, and give way to the opposite direction

  2. Pack in and pack out: trailheads are likely not serviced so avoid using the restrooms if you can. And if you really need to attend nature's calls, carry a small shovel and be prepared

  3. Leave no trace: take only memories and leave only footprints

  4. Avoid crowded trailheads: there is more of the outdoors to explore.

  5. And if you are sick, please stay away from where people might congregate

When I traveled around in Germany a few years earlier, I was struck by how quickly I could get from the busy urban areas to the beautiful outdoors. Having that balance of nature and nurture certainly improves mental well-being, and increases appreciation of what life is all about.

Germany

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Seeking Nature

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The last few months have left their mark on this planet, in more ways than one. It is certainly a stressful time for many, especially when stress relief is not easy to come by.

My stress relief has been to go out in nature, smell the fresh scent of a morning forest, see the majesty of the mountains from a bird's eye view, and hear the rustle of trees, the gurgle of brooks and the chirp of birds. Being outside, and maybe photographing these scenes, were the ways to warm my soul and clear my mind. And it is exactly these that I have striven not to do for the last few months.

It hasn't been easy, but it is necessary. These scenes will be waiting when I get back to nature.

Seattle
WA USA

The Way of the Mountains

There are sunsets.
And then there are sunsets in the Sierra Nevada.

The play of shadow and light on the steep rocky slopes of the granite escarpment of the Sierra Nevada gives rise to unreal sunsets. And nowhere is this more evident than the hallowed landscape of Yosemite National Park. The long rays of sunlight filtering through the remnants of a spring thunderstorm often end up lighting the sheer granite cliffs, creating a evanescent landscape with different geologic features alternately lighting up and disappearing into the shadows.

And sometimes, that scene would transpire to an Sierra Nevada sunset, where the last fleeting rays set fire to none by the highest peaks, while the valleys below get mired in a deep shadow.

This was one such sunset, captured on an spring evening in May many such years ago during one of the many sojourns to my favorite National Park

Yosemite National Park
CA USA

A lake, a cabin, a church, a mountain

A lake, a cabin, a church, a mountain.

That was all I remember seeing in the brochure about Königssee. But in a span of just a few hours there, I came to realize that this wonderful little corner of Germany had so much more to offer: alpine views rivaling the Swiss Alps, the convivial atmosphere of a traditional biergarten, the camraderie of German hikers, and hundreds of delightful surprises everywhere.

I did manage to tick off all the bucket-list items in the brochure, but Königssee left me wanting for more. So while doing my part to reduce the spread of Covid-19, I get to reminisce my past travels, and look forward to creating more travel bucket-lists when travel to these amazing destinations is once again possible.

Königssee
Bavaria, Germany

Happy Earth Day

The mountains are still there. The wild places still abound. Nature still exists.
And they'll be there when we return to seek solace in the wilderness.

But lets take a pledge to preserve where the wild places are. Because if not us, who else

Happy Earth Day

North Cascades National Park
WA USA

Mittelrheintal

When I learnt that I was going to be staying in the heart of the Rhine valley a few years ago, I imagined watching fairytale castles and medieval forts go by as I passed tiny villages and towns meticulously preserved for centuries. I envisaged sampling wines from the very vineyards lining the gentle slopes of the Rhine and Moselle.

It almost seemed too good to be true. But when I did visit this region, it was everything I described and much more. Staying in a tiny village with houses that dated to the 12th century lining cobblestone streets that exuded a German charm, I spent hours tramping up and down the nearby hills, and discovered many a hidden gem. I learnt how to distinguish between trocken, halbtrocken, and süss wien from the numerous visits to the many wine cellars, sample delicious sherry, and savor dozens of varieties of German bread.

Someday, I hope to retire in such a village, enjoying a simple life surrounded by the beautiful Rhine Valley

Mittelrhein
Germany