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awilsondc Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2016 Posts: 1323 | TRs | Pics
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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 Defiance wtih dawn colors Rainier with dawn colors Dawn from near the summit of Pratt Sunrise with West Granite and Granite Mountain Sunrise sunburst Summit tree Morning alpenglow and long shadows Lovely views Trees and peaks Kaleetan, Chair, et al with some morning fog Just some snow covered trees Olallie Lake Olallie Lake photosphere Looking UP Sunburst through the trees 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 Member
Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Posts: 6303 | TRs | Pics
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gb
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Mon Jan 01, 2018 10:15 pm
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Matt Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
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Mon Jan 01, 2018 10:29 pm
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Beautiful
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
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Ancient Ambler Member
Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 1092 | TRs | Pics Location: Bainbridge Island |
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RichP Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 5628 | TRs | Pics Location: here |
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RichP
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Tue Jan 02, 2018 9:22 am
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You always bring back the goods with those summit sunrises.
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Stefan Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Posts: 5085 | TRs | Pics
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Stefan
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Tue Jan 02, 2018 9:37 am
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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.
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Bootpathguy Member
Joined: 18 Jun 2015 Posts: 1787 | TRs | Pics Location: United States |
Experience is what'cha get, when you get what'cha don't want
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neek Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2011 Posts: 2329 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle, WA |
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neek
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Tue Jan 02, 2018 10:42 am
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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
Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 4916 | TRs | Pics Location: Pittsburgh |
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GaliWalker
Have camera will use
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Tue Jan 02, 2018 11:45 am
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The 2nd, 3rd and 4th photos...
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awilsondc Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2016 Posts: 1323 | TRs | Pics
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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.
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awilsondc Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2016 Posts: 1323 | TRs | Pics
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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.
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Bernardo Member
Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 2174 | TRs | Pics Location: out and about in the world |
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Bernardo
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Tue Jan 02, 2018 9:45 pm
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MangyMarmot Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2012 Posts: 474 | TRs | Pics
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Cool trip. Way to end the year. Awesome photos!
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Just_Some_Hiker Member
Joined: 02 Jan 2013 Posts: 691 | TRs | Pics Location: Snoqualmie, WA |
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