I found out a year ago that two days wasn’t long enough to do this loop justice, but I found out this time that three days isn’t long enough to do it justice, either. Of course, I was in a bit of a rush knowing that my new iPhone 3Gs was waiting to be picked up before 7:00 PM. So after I spent as much time as I wanted in Toppenish, I headed across the mountains for home.
I should have taken Chinook Pass, but White Pass is much faster and has less traffic, so I took that route home. It is still an absolutely breathtaking drive, one that deserves much larger photos than these to convey the sense of height and depth of the pass.
Here’ a look back at Yakima just as I neared the pass:
Unfortunately, the haze from the fire that had burned over hundreds of acres for three days makes it difficult to appreciate the layer after layer of mountains that make up the Cascades.
And while this photo offers a glimpse of Clear Creek Falls, it cannot capture the remarkable height of the waterfall:
Of course, the constant highlight of the drive is the ever-present Mt. Rainier, seen here from the south-east.
This may not be heaven, but it’s as close as I expect to get in this lifetime.
loren, wow!! i’ve never seen real mountains except in photographs. this area looks absolutely stunning! i’d guess you’ve had an amazing journey. rainier has something about fuji about it from the angle you took it at. have a lovely day. steven
just back from yakima river and some incredible time with merganzers and osprey. your photos, stellar. kjm
Have been following along without words. Your photos go right to the heart of the beauty of this journey. Thanks so much, loren.
Those beautiful mountains Loren – and that waterfall. I live in glorious countryside but it has not got the majesty of those mountains. Hope you are glad to be home again though.