Thomas Bancroft Photography

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Wilderness 40 Favorites

60 images Created 7 Mar 2014

Wilderness contains many beautiful and intriguing sights. This portfolio contains my 40 most favorite landscape photographs from Washington's wilderness areas.
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  • To be out in the mountains early in the morning and experience the sensation of seeing the sun rise over Mt Shuksan has to be a treasure I will remember forever.  We had come up the previous morning but the fog was so thick we could not even see any indication that the sun ever rose.  It was great on this morning when the fog drifted down into the valley a little while before the sun was scheduled to rise.  Truly a spectacular start to the day.
    Sunrise over Mt Shuksan with fog in ...jpg
  • A few ochr sea stars clung to rocks at low tide as the waves came in and out.  I used a slow shutter speed to create a ghostly feeling to the scene.
    Waves and ochr sea stars-Rialto Beac...jpg
  • The sun set behind the sea stacks, silhouetting the trees on the cliffs. I used a slow shutter speed to soften and blur the waves.
    Rialto Beach sunset-Rialto Beach-Oly...jpg
  • The redwood sorrel was growing amongst the thick moss on the down log.  I was intriqued by the pattern of the leaves, flowers and moss.
    Redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana)-Hoh ...jpg
  • The landscape was constantly changing.  The clouds settled down close around me on the river and then would rise slowly for a few minutes.  At times, I could not see across the river to the forest on the far side.  It was fascinating and extremely serene.  I stood for quite a while watching the dynamic scene.  Eventually I realized I was getting cold in the drizzle and decide to head back toward the trail.
    Clearing Storm over Hoh River-Hoh Ri...jpg
  • The columbine was just starting to open.  One flower was full and the buds were in various stages of development.  I absolutely adore columbines, they are so delicate and showy.  I was so excited to find this one along the trail.  It reminded me of many beautiful springs in the east.
    Red Columbine-Indian Creek Trail-Gla...jpg
  • Indian Creek drains the eastern side of glacier peak wilderness.  A large foot log forms a bridge across the creek.  I sat to watch to water flow unde the log.  A dipper flew by several times, complaining loudly that I was on the bridge and disturbing its creek domain.  The tumbling of water across the rocks created a wonderful mesmerizing sound.  After a while, I figured I should let the Dipper have its creek back so I moved along.
    Indian Creek-Indian Creek Trail-Glac...jpg
  • The individual cells in the balsamroot leaf stood out. The veins that carry nutrients to the leaf and the food back from the leaf to the rest of the plant showed clearly in the leaf.
    Arrowleaf Balsamroot-Ingalls Creek T...jpg
  • Snow had recently disappeared from many of the meadows on Mt Rainier and the mountain pasqueflowers were coming into full bloom.
    Mountain Pasqueflower-Silver Forest ...jpg
  • The Hairy Woodpecker took off to fly over me, screaming loudly that I was near her nest.
    Female Hairy Woodpecker-Diamond Peak...jpg
  • The subalpine forest extended down through the wilderness valley for as far as the eye could see.  I found the wildness breath taking.  This looks across the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness into Oregon.  We had been having rain miixed with snow during tbe last two days so it was really relaxing to finally have the rain stop.
    Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness Panorama-...jpg
  • I discovered these two marmots in an intense wrestling match much like two puppies.  The wrestling match went on for 5 to 10 minutes before one tired and returned to his burrow.
    Marmots boxing-Sourdough Ridge Trail...jpg
  • Iceberg in Frozen Lake.
    Iceberg at 7,000 feet-Frozen Lake-Mt...jpg
  • Clouds enveloped Mt Rainier for two days as it snowed at higher elevations and rained through the valleys.  The clouds lifted for a while on the third morning and the sun lit the fresh snow and fall colors in the valley. A lenticular cloud hung tight over the summit.
    Mt Rainier is blanketed by a lenticu...jpg
  • Around midnight, I hiked up to sourdough ridge in Mt Rainier Wilderness.  It was so dry that a dust cloud rose from each step.  A number of crickets jumped from the trail in front of me as I climbed.  I could smell a little smoke in the air from the forest fires east of the wilderness and it contributed a red glow to the clouds even late at night.
    Milky Way over Mt Rainier-Sourdough ...jpg
  • This wonderful Tiger Lily bloom was along the trail and only a few inches above the ground.  Two crickets were on the pedals and helped to accent the yellow color and orange of the anthers.  I focused in close to highlight the flower.
    Tiger Lilly Bloom-Naches Peak Loop-M...jpg
  • The mother ground squirrel was scolding me as I stood in the trail. It looked like the young didn't understand why mum was upset.
    Columbain Ground Squirrels-Pacific C...jpg
  • The clouds shifted rapidly across Lake Janus as the sun prepared to set.  The lake formed a wonderful mirror for the changing sky.  I found a good rock to sit and watch.
    Cloud reflection on Lake Janus-Lake ...jpg
  • The mist was rising from the left side of the lake and drifting across the lake.  The morning clouds were wispy and delicate.  The tranquil setting inspired me for the day's hike.
    Mist rises from Lake Janus-Lake Janu...jpg
  • The rain during the night left droplets on the fireweed blooms (above) and buds ( right).  I liked the soft texture these flowers have and how they glowed in the early morning light.
    Fireweed-Black Lake Trail-Pasayten W...jpg
  • Fire had moved through this forest in the Pasayten Wilderness in 2003.  Most of the dead pines had fallen and young lodgepole pines were more than 10 feet tall.  Evidence that bark beetles invaded the fire killed trees is abundant.  I found this intricate design formed by beetle larva in one of the down snags.
    Tracks of Boring Beetles in a lodgep...jpg
  • I hiked down to the edge of Deception Creek near where I camped to look for stars.  I found a great rock that allowed me to climb out into the creek. I sat watching the stars for 30 minutes.  The creek gurgled softly by as the night unfold including a few shooting stars.
    Stars over Deception Creek-Deception...jpg
  • Looking southeast from Grassy Top Mountain, I can see across wilderness quality lands into Idaho.
    View from Grassy Top Mountain-Grassy...jpg
  • I found aplpine flowers in full bloom around the Naches Peak.
    Lupine & Heather Meadow-Naches P...jpg
  • Twilight on Watson Lake.
    Twilight on Watson Lake-Watson Lakes...jpg
  • The golden western larches provided a good frame for looking south to Glacier Peak, one of the stratovolcanoes in Washington.
    Glacier Peak-Maple Pass-Stephen Math...jpg
  • Mt Adams drifted in and out of clouds as I climbed toward high camp.
    Mt Adams-Killen Creek Trail-Mt Adams...jpg
  • The tide was going out and I found this ochre sea star on the side of a rock with various algae.  The sea star didn't move in the 20 minutes I stood nearby watching.  I was intrigued by the design formed by the sea star and the brown algae.
    Purple Sea Star with algae-Scotty�...jpg
  • Yellow aspen leaves had drifted down to the moss covered rock, creating an interesting pattern.
    Aspen leaves on moss carpet-Twisp Ri...jpg
  • Cutthroat Peak (left) and Whistler Mountain (right) glow in the evening light.  The Pacific Crest Trail climbs around the left side of Cutthroat Peak
    Cutthroat Peak and Whistler Mountain...jpg
  • Sun attempts to burn through clouds along McCue Ridge in Alpine Lakes Wilderness
    Sun Burns Through-McCue Ridge-Alpine...jpg
  • American Diver, or Water Ouzel, walks through the snow above Bagley Creek.
    American Dipper-Bagley Creek-Mt Bake...jpg
  • The wind was strong and snow was coming down briskly.  I headed for the Nisqually Vista to see what i could find.  The trees were cloaked in fresh snow and gradually disappeared into the falling snow.  I looked for a way to capture the moment.
    Trail to Nisqually Vista-Paradise-Mt...jpg
  • The water tumbles over a series of rocks as it comes down the falls in the Boulder River Wilderness Area.  I liked the texture of this photograph and how it makes both the water and moss covered rocks glow.
    Lower section of the falls-Boulder R...jpg
  • The Evening Grosbeaks flew up into the mountain hemlock.  They had been feeding on something on the ground.  I stood still and they went back to feeding.  Different individuals would fly up for a few seconds look around and then go back to feeding.
    Evening Grosbeaks-Naches Peak Loop-W...jpg
  • The water tumbled down the rock face creating a wonderful soothing sound.  I sat on a moss covered rock for a long time just enjoying the music.
    Small falls on Watson Creek-Watson L...jpg
  • The Milky Way reflected across Lake Dorothy.
    Milky way over Lake Dorothy-Lake Dor...jpg
  • Fuzzy horned bumblebee hangs from the bottom of a flower.
    Bumbus mixtus-Lake Janus Trail-Henry...jpg
  • Water droplets and splider web strands formed a fascinating design on this baneberry clump in the Salmo-Priest Wilderness.
    Water droplets and Baneberry Fruit-S...jpg
  • Frost covered the ground and ferns along the trail. The fall aspen leaves with frost created a fascinating pattern in the trail.
    Frost Covered Aspen Leaves-Twisp Riv...jpg
  • By 2AM the Milky Way is right over the summit of Mt Rainier and looks as though it is coming out of the volcano. Three parties climb the north side of the volcano and at least three more are climbing the ridge along the east side.
    The Milky Way rises over Mt Rainier-...jpg
  • Vine maples have turned color and give a nice contrast to an old stump.
    Old stump and vine maples-Rampart Ri...jpg
  • Mt Adams from Pinnacle Saddle-Pinnac...jpg
  • A black bear checks me out along the trail to Comet Falls in Mt Rainier National Park.
    Black Bear-Comet Falls Trail-Mt Rain...jpg
  • Sunset behind Mt Rainier from Naches Peak Loop Trail. The red in the sky is partly from the smoke from the many forest fires burning in Washington.
    Sunset at Naches Peak-Naches Peak Lo...jpg
  • Big Dipper over Mt Adams-Bird Mounta...jpg
  • Lillian River flows through a bottomland forest ina step sided the ravine.
    Lillian River and bottomland forest-...jpg
  • The Elwha River at Mary Falls.
    Elwha River at Mary Falls-Elwha Rive...jpg
  • Watson Lakes.
    Viista of Watson Lakes-Watson Lakes-...jpg
  • Whistler Mountain on the left and looking northeast through Sawtooth Roadless area into Liberty Bell Roadless Area.
    Lake Ann Valley-Maple Pass Trail-Saw...jpg
  • The trail drops down a small grade as the snow shower increases in intensity.
    Nisqually Vista Trail-Nisqually Vist...jpg
  • The light filtered down through the hemolocs in Mt Rainier National Park.
    A Hemlock Old Growth stand-Ohanapeco...jpg
  • In the mid afternoon sun the yellow leaves on the ash stood out briiliantly.  I was facinated by design formed by the dark branches and yellow leaves.
    Ash-Wenatchee River Park-Wenatchee-4...jpg
  • When the wind blows strongly, the yellow colors begin to blur together forming an interesting abstract of colors.
    Maple-Deception Pass State Park-Whid...jpg
  • The brillant reds and yellows of the vine maples creates an interesting pattern.  I made a fine art abstract of the scene by moving the camera during the picture.  The lines and swirls of color are fascinating.
    Vine Maple in soft light-Deception P...jpg
  • The wind russels through the aspens and creates a pleasant sound, making one stop and listen to the sounds of nature.
    Yellow Aspen-SR 410-Mt Rainier Natio...jpg
  • In the dark understory of an old growth forest in Mt Rainier National Park, an interest design is formed by the trunks of massive trees and the yellow leaves of the understory maples.
    Yellow maple and Old Growth trunks-O...jpg
  • Yellow maples within a forest stand-...jpg
  • The gray trunks of the trees along with the yellows and greens along the creek created a fascinating design that caught my eye.
    Yellow along the creek--Mt Baker Sno...jpg
  • The air was crisp and cool in the early morning.  First light reflected the colors in an interesting pattern.
    Autumn reflection-Deception Pass Sta...jpg
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