Our New Year's Eve pilgrimage to Avalanche Mountain, a tradition since 2013, found its zenith in 2021. The perfect alignment of inversion and weather unveiled the most spectacular sight of the basin's treasured gem: Snow Lake.

#avalanchemountain #snowlake #alpinelakeswilderness #onehikeaweek

Afternoon light paints the dramatic ridgelines of Mount Garfield and Treen Peak above the Middle Fork Snoqualmie. Rooster, Goat, and Dog Mountains in the backdrop complete the stunning vista.

Sharp summits of Chikamin and Thomson emerge amidst a swirling mass of colorful clouds within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Overcoat Peak's jagged, glistening tip breaks through dense clouds behind Burnt Boot Peak in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Colorful afternoon sky illuminates the peaks of Alpine Lakes Wilderness overlooking the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and Burnt Boot Creek.

Even a DSLR struggles to capture the full majesty of these snowy peaks. Nothing beats experiencing the wintry scenes firsthand.

#avalanchemountain #alpinelakeswilderness #middleforksnoqualmie #snowlaketrail #mountthomson #overcoatpeak #mountgarfield #onehikeaweek

An afternoon sky ablaze with color illuminates Hemlock, Bryant, Chair, Kaleetan, and Mount Roosevelt, while a thick inversion shrouds the Snow Lake Basin below.

The north face of Snoqualmie Mountain, a jagged, intimidating wall of rock, looms over the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River.

The color-strewn afternoon sky illuminates the peaks of Stone Kingdom, overlooking the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and Burnt Boot Creek.

Annual New Year's Eve pilgrimage to Avalanche Mountain via Snow Lake Basin. Outing #102 of 2024, over and out.

#hiking #snowshoe #avalanchemountain #snowlake #southcascades #landscapephoto #landscapephotography #onehikeaweek