On a clear day, I can see Mount Baker from my house here in Snoqualmie. It’s snow-covered peak looks absolutely beautiful towering above its surroundings. I remember skiing there a few times growing up, but I’d never been during the summer before. All I can say is WOW!!! Stepping out of my car after a 3-hour drive, about half of which was winding and twisting through the mountains was like stepping out into paradise. In every direction were gorgeous peaks, breathtaking valleys descending way down beyond view, serene mountain lakes, and stunning Pacific Northwest mountain forests. I absolutely love the beautifully shaped Mountain Hemlock trees and spire-shaped Subalpine Fir trees that grow in this high, rocky terrain. Many of the trees are stunted by the long, snowy winter that is punctuated by such a brief period without snow each year. In fact, Mount Baker holds the all-time record for most snowfall measured in one winter in the entire US: 1140 inches (95 feet)!!! The low snow totals last winter meant pretty much all of the snow where we were was gone, but that will likely change soon. Within a few more weeks, this will all be covered in snow and closed until next July! I’ve been wanting to make the trek to this place for a while now and I’m so glad that Amanda and Matt were game! And yes, I’ll definitely be back! 🙂

We started off on some trails nestled in some of the high valleys where Spring and Fall seemed to be happening simultaneously. Lush green new sprouts of grass and shrubs ran right up against others that were already showing bright reds and yellows of fall. Avid hikers themselves, Amanda and Matt were up for anything out there and I was seriously impressed by how well Amanda got around in her heels! Amanda and Matt actually summited Mount Baker and Matt proposed on the top of Mount St. Helens, so this was truly the perfect place for them to celebrate their love. As we approached the golden hour, it was time to head up a little higher along the ridge lines for some gorgeous views and a wardrobe change into more dramatic attire. I loved Amanda’s flowey merlot dress and Matt’s grey suit complemented perfectly! We had an AMAZING time exploring this beautiful place and saw so many stunning views of Mount Baker and nearby Mount Shuksan. Seriously, it was absolutely incredible!  Words just don’t seem sufficient to describe how stunningly epic it was, so I think I’ll let the images do the rest of the talking here. 😉

Thank you for the amazing engagement session Amanda & Matt! I had an awesome time with both of you! Enjoy a sneak peek at a few of the many highlights!

We started off in this absolutely beautiful valley.

Spring and Fall all rolled into one!