This is an image from the top of Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park in Washington state. I have made a few trips up here, but never have I been in conditions even approaching those that gave the place its name. It is very exposed, and I suppose if I visited during a stormy winter period, I would better appreciate the name. But on this August morning, I made the pre-dawn hike up to Elk Mountain on the east end of the ridge.
The wind was blasting me from the west as a front moved in from the nearby Pacific Ocean. Although it was a mild and short-lived summer weather system, up there it felt like I was back on the tundra in Alaska. I had some trouble keeping the tripod from vibrating in the gale. It was a bracing and very pristine feeling up there. I really wanted to capture the feeling of being alone on top of an exposed ridge, facing a stiff wind, air as clean as it gets. As the sun rose the wind dropped slightly and I captured this view west towards Mount Olympus.
Hurricane Ridge in dawn storm light.
Gorgeous. My husband and I visited Hurricane Ridge ten years ago. Thank you for sharing you beautiful image.
Wow awesome. I’ve never been up there when the weather was that way, either.
I love being out there when the weather is less than ideal. The light is always so interesting and the challenges of keeping your camera still will make a great photograph and a pretty good story as your post here shows.
Thanks Rich. It was definitely a challenge but a rewarding one.
I don’t just like, I LOVE this.
Thank you Rosemarie.