The last light of sunset hits the peak of Mt Hood and the clouds in the western part of the sky as shadows fall across the rest of the land, in a quiet moment on the shores of Trillium Lake in midsummer. I grew up swimming in, hiking around, and camping alongside this lake. As often as it gets photographed by others, it always keeps that sense of authenticity and wonder for me, and it never looks the same way twice. I love Oregon.
A view of Bridal Veil Creek, just downstream of the falls of the same name. In the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon.
I was driving north along Interstate 5 in western Washington on my way from the Columbia River Gorge to the Olympic Peninsula when I saw that the late afternoon sky was starting to get interesting. I didn't know the immediate area well and I had to get to my destination before it got too late, so I thought that I would just enjoy the show from my car window if it developed into something special. But the sunset ended up being so absolutely breathtaking – almost apocalyptic – that I just pulled off at the nearest exit and headed towards the closest water I could find on my GPS. It led me to this spot – about the only sliver of public access along the lake I could find – where I watched in breathless wonder as the colors moved from fiery red and orange, through pink, then blue, and finally faded. One of the best detours I have ever taken.
