Forum Index > Trip Reports > The last sunrise of 2017, from Pratt Mountain 12/31/17
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awilsondc
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awilsondc
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PostMon Jan 01, 2018 9:50 pm 
Over the last year I've really developed an affinity for hiking in the wee hours of the morning. Darkness giving way to a faint light, deep purples and reds on the horizon giving way to orange and yellow... all the while exercising and getting nearer to your destination while the show keeps getting better and better. After the sun has finished it's performance, hey... you still have all day to be in the mountains! The worst part of hiking early enough to be in the high country for sunrise is getting up so damn early, which is why I do most of these trips solo. Not everyone wants to get up at 1:30am to go hiking. With 2017 drawing to a close and with a favorable weather forecast, I was able to make it up to Pratt Mountain to catch the final sunrise of 2017. Here are the pictures:
Dawn panorama
Dawn panorama
Defiance wtih dawn colors
Defiance wtih dawn colors
Rainier with dawn colors
Rainier with dawn colors
Dawn from near the summit of Pratt
Dawn from near the summit of Pratt
Sunrise with West Granite and Granite Mountain
Sunrise with West Granite and Granite Mountain
Sunrise sunburst
Sunrise sunburst
Summit tree
Summit tree
Morning alpenglow and long shadows
Morning alpenglow and long shadows
Lovely views
Lovely views
Trees and peaks
Trees and peaks
Kaleetan, Chair, et al with some morning fog
Kaleetan, Chair, et al with some morning fog
Just some snow covered trees
Just some snow covered trees
Olallie Lake
Olallie Lake
Olallie Lake photosphere
Olallie Lake photosphere
Looking UP
Looking UP
Sunburst through the trees
Sunburst through the trees
Forest
Forest
The trail was wet early on with patchy snow, turning into more continuous snow after the junction leading towards Granite Mountain. I used microspikes which were kinda helpful but would ball up with snow after the many water crossings. There was a firm and frozen boot path down to Olallie Lake, and a firm snowshoe trail leading towards Pratt. The trail led me smack into the middle of a couple campers sleeping under a tarp. I hope I didn't startle them, they were probably thinking WTF is somebody doing in our camp at 5:30 in the morning!?! The firm and frozen snowshoe trail led all the way to the summit of Pratt, and I stayed in boots and microspikes the entire time. Didn't even take my snowshoes out of my pack. It was great to get to see yet another beautiful sunrise in these gorgeous mountains we have so close to home! I hope I get many more days like this in 2018. Happy New Year!

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gb
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gb
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PostMon Jan 01, 2018 10:15 pm 
Nice set of images!

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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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Matt
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PostMon Jan 01, 2018 10:29 pm 
Beautiful

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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wildernessed
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Joined: 31 Oct 2004
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wildernessed
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PostMon Jan 01, 2018 10:32 pm 
up.gif

Living in the Anthropocene
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Ancient Ambler
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Ancient Ambler
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PostTue Jan 02, 2018 8:22 am 
Wonderful images!

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RichP
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RichP
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PostTue Jan 02, 2018 9:22 am 
You always bring back the goods with those summit sunrises. up.gif

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Stefan
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Stefan
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PostTue Jan 02, 2018 9:37 am 
I am impressed. It takes motivation to get up by yourself, drive, and hike all in the dark to get there before the sun rises.

Art is an adventure.
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Bootpathguy
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Bootpathguy
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PostTue Jan 02, 2018 10:34 am 
awilsondc wrote:
Sunrise with West Granite and Granite Mountain
Sunrise with West Granite and Granite Mountain
up.gif up.gif up.gif wink.gif

Experience is what'cha get, when you get what'cha don't want
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neek
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neek
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PostTue Jan 02, 2018 10:42 am 
The early start seems worth it if you're getting views like that. How's that crazy camera working out?

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GaliWalker
Have camera will use



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GaliWalker
Have camera will use
PostTue Jan 02, 2018 11:45 am 
The 2nd, 3rd and 4th photos... up.gif

'Gali'Walker => 'Mountain-pass' walker bobbi: "...don't you ever forget your camera!" Photography: flickr.com/photos/shahiddurrani
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awilsondc
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awilsondc
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PostTue Jan 02, 2018 7:56 pm 
Thank you for the kind words everyone!
Stefan wrote:
I am impressed. It takes motivation to get up by yourself, drive, and hike all in the dark to get there before the sun rises.
For sure. It's getting easier the more I do it, and it's addicting. The views and the overall experience makes it well worth it for me! The scant amount of sleep I get on these days is the only detractor.
neek wrote:
How's that crazy camera working out?
Great! All these photos were taken with the L16 except "summit tree", "lovely views", and the Ollalie Lake photoshpere. A 52 MP camera that fits in my pants pocket and only weighs 15.3 oz?! Yes, please! It's a bit more work getting photos from camera to best quality DNG and then final jpeg, but it's worth it and they're rolling out direct jpeg from camera capability via software updates. I can't wait until they enable HDR, panorama, and 4k video! I've been very happy with it. smile.gif

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awilsondc
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awilsondc
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PostTue Jan 02, 2018 9:14 pm 
Jeff wrote:
How were the winds in the morning?
It was definitely windy. Not enough to push you off balance, but enough for quite the chill. All my layers as well as hand warmers were utilized, but it wasn't too bad. My camera didn't like it though. After 20-30 minutes on the tripod it decided it was out of battery juice and powered down. Five minutes in my mid layer napoleon pocket and it fired back up at 68%. So yeah, cold and windy but I kind of liked it. biggrin.gif

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Bernardo
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Bernardo
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PostTue Jan 02, 2018 9:45 pm 
Nice hike!

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MangyMarmot
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PostTue Jan 02, 2018 11:08 pm 
Cool trip. Way to end the year. Awesome photos!

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Just_Some_Hiker
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Just_Some_Hiker
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PostWed Jan 03, 2018 1:49 pm 
Incredible photos.

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Forum Index > Trip Reports > The last sunrise of 2017, from Pratt Mountain 12/31/17
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