Winter Flight to the Pickets for Sunset

Last January, I had another incredible opportunity to take a scenic flight over the North Cascades to watch the sunset. We had a perfectly calm and clear day for it, and the views were unreal, climaxing in two incredibly close passes past the Southern Pickets just as the light was peaking. We then continued past Shuksan and around the north side of Baker before heading out over the San Juans as the light was fading.

The steep East Face of Three Fingers peak, with the fire lookout barely visible on the south (left) summit.

Boston and Sahale Peaks, with the Quien Sabe Galcier beneath. Sharkfin Tower at left, below Buckner which is inline with Goode at upper left.

The Triad, with Johannesburg and adjacent peaks behind. Spider a

The Triad

Prmus in foreground left, Tillies Towers in middle with sun. Silverstar, Gardners, Black, and Logan in background.

Pt 7740 just north of Primus in foreground. Ragged Ridge in background. Tower above the shoulder of Cosho. Silverstar in background at right.

The Trapezoid in the foreground, with Little Devil on the next ridge. Snowking in the middle of the frame, on or just below the skyline. Horizon peaks in the distance from left to right include Daniel, Hinman, Big Chief, Overcoat and Chimney Rock, and Sloan with distinctive profile.

Panorama of the Southern Pickets. The Chopping Block in lower left corner. Closer ridge in sun, from left to right, includes Ottohorn, the Twin Needles, The Rake, and Terror (above the Barrier), with Degenhardt and Inspiration at right. More distant ridge is anchored by Fury at right, with Swiss and Spectre Peaks to the left, and remaining peaks stretching towards Challenger less distinct. Mount Redbout is in the distance, shaded on the right.

Degenhardt, the Pyramid, and Inspiration at the right, with impressively steep South Face.

The East Peak of Fury, with Outrigger Peak and Luna behind.

The two summits of Fury, with the spectacular and infamous Mongo Ridge at left, dropping a vertical mile into Goodell Creek from West Fury. Luna with sun at upper right, and Ottohorn in the foreground.

The Crescent Creek Spires: the Pyramid, Inspiration (with steep, rocky South Face) and McMillan Spires. Redoubt, the Moxes, and Spickard in distance.

Degenhardt, the Pyramid, and Inspiration at the in middle with impressively steep South Face. West McMillan at right.

Southern Pickets from the Northwest. Frenzel Spits at lower left, with Ottohorn and other peaks inline.

Mount Challenger and Crooked Thumb, with Redoubt, Custer, Rahm, the Moxes, and Spickard in the distance.

Mount Ruth in the middle, and (I believe) Seahpo in the foreground.

Shuksan's summit pyramid, with Canadian and American Border Peaks at left, along with Larrabee.

Colfax Peak and the Deming Glacier of Mount Baker.

The Black Buttes: Seward, Lincoln, and Colfax, guarding the Deming Glacier. Mount Baker and Sherman Peak in the foreground, with the Squak Glacier.

Mount Rainier and Anacortes oil refineries at dusk.

An eastbound ferry about to pass through Thatcher Pass, between Decatur and Blakely Islands. Sylvan Cove is just above (south) of the ferry.

I owe an absolutely huge “Thank You” to Peter Gaylord for piloting such an awesome flight, and an equally large (if not larger) apology to him for taking so long to get these photos together.

Oh and also, Dan Helmstadter skied that couloir on the East Face of Three Fingers from the first photo, solo, in March of 2013.