Sauk Mountain 2

Sauk mountain, August 5, 2007

(access from Highway 20 near Rockport State Park)

A very ethereal and magical experience in the early light of Sunday morning. We (Emily and I) awoke at 3:10 am, left the house at 4:30 am, and started hiking from the misty/cloudy trailhead at 5:25 am.

A third of the way up the switchbacks we climb out of the clouds to a wonderous sight...the clouds BELOW our feet!

Walking a little higher the shadow of Sauk mountain can be seen stretching across the cloud tops

Walking around the back side of the summit ridge we step into the sun

It's so beautiful here this morning!

The trail nearing the summit

The view from the old lookout site...the shadow of Sauk reaches across the valley, and a part of the former lookout is visible

Twin Sisters range and Mt Baker from the former lookout site

Ridge after ridge of the North Cascades extends off in the distance

Emily and I enjoy the view and solitude from our temporary "island in the sky"