The Cascade Loop
Posted July 29th, 2007 in [hide]I’ve been working for Getty Images as a contractor over the last few months; 
all contractors are being dismissed due to budget constraints, so I’ve found a new job - still in the IT sector - and managed a few days off to explore Western Washington, my little corner of the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, with my new tripod broken out of the box, I came back with less photos than I’d intended.
Directions
North Cascades is a long drive from Seattle, but it doesn’t have to be an ugly one; leave I-5 for route 530 just north of Marysville, avoiding the ride and traffic all the way to Mount Vernon. You’ll pass through what feels like hundreds of miles of forests, farmland, and foothills before joining SR 20 in Rockport and starting your ascent. Unlike most national parks, North Cascades doesn’t have an entrance fee, as it straddles one of three passable routes across the mountains in Washington State.
At this point there are jagged and sharply cut mountains with glaciers pouring down their peaks like giant white tongues … but they can only be seen now and then through openings between the evergreens. Much of what there is to see is more intimate in nature: waterfalls, staunch rows and deep columns of trees, aligned like a Roman phalanx into a northwestern forest.
But every now and then you catch a teasing glimpse of the epic mountains surrounding you, at this point in every direction. As the road climbs, the surroundings get less green and lush, gradually feel more desert-like, until Washington Pass confirms that you might as well be in Nevada. Once you climb down out of the mountains, it feels amazingly like Owens Valley, in California, just east of the Sierra.
Traditionally the Cascade Loop means heading east on US 2 over Stevens Pass, but having been there less than two weeks ago, I stayed on US 97, following the Columbia River south to I-90; the cheater’s route back to Seattle. The canyons leading into the eastern foothills look a lot like some of the canyons heading up out of Boulder, Colorado.
Lighting, Sun, and Patience
It will take several trips to build a portfolio of North Cascades photos. Throughout this trip, the sun was harsh, throwing up a lot of heat haze, brightening the sky and turning mountains into brown silhouettes.
Most of the great masters would tell you lighting is the most or only important quality of a photograph, even if Old Ansel would argue for the weather. Having left Seattle at about 9:30 am and arriving in the park three hours later, the light was too harsh for good landscape photography. A place like this would sing with alpineglow in the morning or at sunset.
Since I haven’t figured out how to influence the weather or light, it seems like the best way to approach this park is to go camping a few days at a time.
Photos
Great photos (as always) and it sounds like a great trip you had. I love the highway icons! Very cool.
Beautiful photos. The top one is Diablo Lake, isn’t it?
You’re right, it’s Diablo Lake … sounds like you’ve been through this wonderland a few times yourself?
Wow those are just wonderful. So peaceful - I like “IronHorseWaterfall2″ the best.
Thanks for posting these - I googled for scenic WA drives, found the Cascade Loop, and now your site with great photos and blog on the Loop. Awesome, much appreciated.
A friend told me to come check this out, and she’s right, it freakin rocks, man!!! I looked around the rest of your site — any chance you could think of adding a map here?
North Cascades is great. Here are some of my North Cascades National Park Photos.
Nice photos.
I am from Malaysia. I have seen most of the mountain state while I was an expat in Houston. I am planning a one-week trip to Washington state in early Oct. My main interest is to see the natural beauty of the state.
I intend to drive and camp. Go on day hikes. I read with interest that you have camped in that region. Which are your favourite camp sites ?
I was undecided whether to skip the US-2 leg of the North Cascade loop. But reading your comments, I am leaning towards skipping it and go further south to either Mount Rainier or the Columbia gorge. What do you think ?
The North Cascades are beautiful … they remind me of Glacier National Park. The slope of the mountains, the deep shade of green, the lakes… But if it was one or the other, I think I’d go south.
Mount Rainier has a lot to offer, and it’s big, but not so big you can’t get to Paradise and Sunrise pretty easily. This late in the year, La Wis Wis should have spots available; it’s by far the nicest camp in the area. Hard to pick a bad one, though. Rainier is far enough south that you could see the Gorge in another day, and do at least a modest hike. I love mountains more than anything else, so, I’d prefer Rainier, but the Columbia River Gorge is spectacular in its own right.