Manastash Ridge

[Bill Crawford]

Winter has finally arrived in Cascades. The first significant snow storms came through in the middle of last week. Saturday, the wife and I got up to near 6000 ft. on Manastash Ridge, which runs east from the Cascade crest, South of the Kittitas Valley, (Ellensburg), all the way to the Columbia River. The hoar frost on the trees was up to 4 or 5 inches thick on the trees. I didn't get to spend much time looking for "the shot", and I didn't have a tripod. I would like to go back to this area, but probably won't make it this year. Here's what I managed to get. The first 2 photos were really difficult, being on the North side of the ridge, the foreground trees were very dark.

Glacier Peak on the left, the Stuart Range on the right.

Sun setting near Mt. Rainier.

Looking South, Mt. Adams barely visible in the center.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Nice set.

 

[AlanLichty]

Beautiful set and I absolutely love the last image facing south towards Mt. Adams. The backlit hoar frost on the trees is really nice and the haze adds just the right amount of color to the skies.

 

[JimFox]

How fun Bill! Getting up into the fresh snow is sure cool. I like the series of shots you got, you worked the snow and light nicely. My favorite I think is #3 with Rainier in it.

 

[Bob Denton]

Wonderful photos. That snow is great.

 

[Doug P]

A wonderful group of images. Well done!

 

[Amy Nelson]

Very nice!

 

[Mike Lewis]

Bill,

A tremendous set - all are compelling, but I find my 2 favorites to be the first one, with the amazing clarity of the mountain range really pulling my eyes into the shot, and the final image, with that wonderful detail on the foreground tree, along with the sun and clouds mixing together. That last shot represents what must have been a tough challenge exposure-wise, but you pulled it off beautifully.

ML

 

[Leslie Hunter]

A great series of photographs.

 

[Bill Crawford]

Thank you all for the positive comments!

 

[Bill Crawford]

Bill,

A tremendous set - all are compelling, but I find my 2 favorites to be the first one, with the amazing clarity of the mountain range really pulling my eyes into the shot, and the final image, with that wonderful detail on the foreground tree, along with the sun and clouds mixing together. That last shot represents what must have been a tough challenge exposure-wise, but you pulled it off beautifully.

ML

You are correct about that last one Mike. I always see these fantastic backlit scenes, but capturing them is very difficult. This is one time I was able to pull it off. I think having the sun obscured by the clouds helped a lot. Thanks Mike!

 

[lionking]

Beautiful captures Bill, especially in those conditions, i would consider some blur in the lost highlights of the 3rd image.

 

[Jim Dockery]

Nice set Bill, #1 for me - I love getting out in new snow too. I assume you were just booting it- doesn't look deep enough for snowshoes or skis.

 

[Tom Narwid]

Nice group....you have successfully captured the alpine winter.

 

[Tom Makofski]

Vey unique! Great work!