Winthrop Autumn

Winthrop is a small town in central Washington, up near the Canadian border. Being on the east side of the Cascades, the topography is mainly the low barren hills typical of the region, but with the Methow River providing an oasis along which a multitude of cottonwoods, poplars, and aspens grow, turning bright yellow and orange in autumn.

Seasons

I was scouting local woodland locations when I came upon this interesting juxtaposition: A young tree still clothed in green, framed by a broken stump covered with bright fallen leaves. Unfortunately, I only had my iPhone and, shortly thereafter, heavy winds guaranteed there would be little point in going back up with full gear. I think I was able to get a good enough result from the cellphone image with some careful processing.

Autumn on the Cle Elum River

(Central Washington state – taken mid-October)

Autumn Textures

These are from Kubota Garden in Seattle, and were taken last year. (I finally got around to posting them.)

Driftwood

(for #monochromemonday)
Taken at Lake Wenatchee State Park.

Green and Gold

Autumn along the Swauk Forest Discovery Trail on Blewett Pass.

On the "Larch March"...

Up here in the Pacific Northwest, while we might not get the bright reds and yellows of New England autumns, we do have one distinctive feature: larches at higher elevations that turn bright gold before shedding their needles in mid-late October. Many nature-lovers (and more than a few photographers) join in a trek into the mountains each fall, in what is popularly known as the “larch march.”

Earlier this month, I joined in the march, heading to Washington Pass in North Cascades National Park for a hike to Rainy Lake, to catch both the larch on the ridge and its reflection in the lake, a cascading stream in the forest along the trail, and a final stop for sunset and “blue hour” at the pass itself.

End of the Day at "Erwin's Pond"

This small lake in the Lake Desire Nature Area in southeast King County was “discovered” and named by noted landscape photographer Erwin Buske. It’s a great location, especially for sunset. That evening was a waiting game, expecting the setting sun to drop below the horizon and light up the high clouds. I wasn’t disappointed.

Deception Pass at Sunset: a triptych

Rosario Beach at Sunset

Rosario Beach is located just north of Deception Pass, near Anacortes, Washington. These images are from a few weeks ago.