Mount Baker and the Park Butte Lookout

Last night was a new moon and so I headed up to the lookout on the south side of Mount Baker. I figured I would have 3 chances for great views: Sunset, the stars at night and sunrise the next morning.

The weather forecast was sunny for the day and mostly clear at night, but as I hiked up the cloud cover was almost complete.

As the afternoon rolled by the clouds started to dissipate and the sunset was spectacular!

After shooting these images, circumnavigating the look out over and over at 15 min. intervals, I ate and fell asleep in the lookout dreaming of stars!

But it was not to be! I was awakened by drops of rain on the roof and in the morning was completely clouded in.

The Park Butte Lookout is located in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The road to get there is easy to find and follow. The hike in is 3.5 miles and about 2,200 feet of elevation gain. Due to the lack of snow this year, there is not any water source along the way! Be sure to being all your water.

If you would like to go on a North Cascades Photo Tour to this or other very cool spots, here is the link!!