Skywatch Friday - Sun Dogs

On our last trip home from the CDR, the conditions were perfect for some of the most awesome sun dogs I have ever seen! Combine that with the ruggedness of the North Cascades Mountains as backdrops and you'll agree, too. These two formations were taken just minutes apart as we neared Washington Pass.

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North Cascades Highway is Open!

On May 25th, the North Cascades Highway re-opened for the season. Yay! We are able to cut an hour's drive time off our trip to the CDR, not to mention having a scenic and much more relaxing trip across the mountains.

There was still a lot of snow up there when we crossed on the 28th.

See how deep the snow is by the sign?

 

Heading down towards Boulder Creek

 

Liberty Bell with a dusting of snow

 

Driving through one of the Liberty Bell avalanche chutes at Washington Pass

 

Road cut through the "Annex" below the Liberty Bell avalanche chutes

That's All Folks! - Part 1

Yep, the North Cascades Highway has closed for the season. We were fortunate enough to drive across it on one of the last days in operation. There was a temporary closure on Monday, November 29 that turned into a permanent seasonal closure on Wednesday. Our trip across was last Saturday.

Enjoy some scenes as we drove across.

Heading into the Park

Moon Above the Ridge

Lots of Snow!

On Approach to Washington Pass

Liberty Bell in the Distance

Below Liberty Bell

Just West of Washington Pass

Heading Towards Boulder Creek

Tomorrow I will share photos of ice along the NCH.

Skywatch Friday - Looking Back

Coming west on Highway 20 @ Washington Pass, as you reach the top of the hairpin turn you can look back down into the valley you just traversed. On this day, we drove through rain and then a light snow as we reached the top of the pass. Yet there were patches of blue sky to be seen.

Washington Pass

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