2024 seemed to fly by, and once again I feel incredibly lucky to have had another great year full of so many incredible moments with so many great people! Last spring we took advantage of less wintery than usual weather to get out on some amazing ski traverses, and then enjoyed several trips to the east side of the Cascades for climbing and biking, the mountains over there seemed even more full of spring flowers than usual. Despite travel to exciting places including Singapore, Japan, and Costa Rica, the most important and memorable part of last year took place close to home: Becca proposed to me after a great day of climbing in Index after watching the Aurora the night before, and we’re super excited to get married this coming summer!
Last summer went by quickly as well, with great trips to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the Adirondacks, and climbing in the Bugaboos with some good friends. Fall brought amazing colors in the mountains and the lowlands and some great backpacking trips with friends and family, and then winter arrived in time for some fun in the snow before an end-of-year trip to Mexico for climbing over the holidays.
It’s always hard to pick, but here are some of my favorite photos from last year! Let me know what you think, and here’s to a great 2025!
Sunrise on Mount Rainier during a great traverse of the Tatoosh Range. Mount Rainier NP, WA, February 2024.
Matt making the most of a mediocre midwinter snowpack on a sunny day. Dorado Needle and Eldorado Peak in the background. Mount Baker-Snoqualmie NF, WA, February 2024.
Primus, Eldorado, and Dorado Needle as seen in this panorama from the summit of Ruby Mountain. North Cascades NP, WA, March 2024.
Icy Peak shrouded in cloud, as seen from the summit of Ruth Mountain on the first night of our amazing traverse over to Mount Shuksan. North Cascades NP, WA, March 2024.
Adam and Matt gazing at our route across the Nooksack Cirque before climbing Mount Shuksan (summit in distant upper right). North Cascades NP, WA, March 2024.
Adam and Matt skiing the Upper Curtis Glacier in a disorienting whiteout on the final day of our three day traverse. North Cascades NP, WA, March 2024.
Dunlin riding through a hillside of Balsamroot Flower. Leavenworth, WA, April 2024.
The Northern Lights over Mount Index and the Skykomish River, the night before Becca and I got engaged. Index, WA, May 2024.
Spring flowers at Kegon Falls during a quick solo trip to Japan on the way back from a conference in Singapore. Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, May 2024.
Sunset at Grand Portal Point on the shore of Lake Superior, during a great backpacking trip with Serena. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI, June 2024.
Becca climbing Like Honey at Index, with Mount Index lit up with the evening light behind. Index, WA, June 2024.
Lenticular clouds form over Mount Rainier at sunrise ahead of an incoming storm. I took this photo on a short solo overnight to shoot some film panoramas. Mount Rainier NP, WA, June 2024.
Helene and Becca descending towards the Blue Glacier after an extremely stormy ascent of Mount Olympus. Olympic NP, WA, June 2024.
Becca at sunrise with Snowpatch Spire in the background, during an amazing climbing trip in the Bugaboos, highlighted by an ascent of the classic NE Ridge of Bugaboo Spire. Bugaboo Provincial Park, BC, Canada, July 2024.
Sean, Becca, and Eric carefully traversing the exposed summit ridge of Bugaboo Spire, with the Howser Towers in the background. Bugaboo Provincial Park, BC, Canada, July 2024.
Morning light on grain bins in the Palouse region of eastern Washington, during a stop on my road trip to Wyoming. Whitman County, WA, July 2024.
The Milky Way over a grain elevator in eastern Washington, where I camped before heading to Wyoming. Whitman County, WA, July 2024.
Adam and Becca ascending what remains of the Colonial Glacier on a blustery late summer day, enroute to climb Snowfield. North Cascades NP, WA, August 2024.
Sunrise light on Paul Bunyan’s Stump, with some late summer flowers in the foreground. North Cascades NP, WA, August 2024.
Mike climbing Ragged Edge on Vesper Peak on the one smoky weekend of the summer. Mount Baker-Snoqualmie NF, WA, September 2024.
Stormy light on Three Fingers and Whitehorse Mountains on an abortive attempt to climb Mixup Peak. Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA, September 2024.
Sunrise over Stiletto Lake on a great backpacking trip with friends. North Cascades NP, WA, October 2024.
Adam riding through a golden larch forest on a birthday celebration trip. Sawtooth Mountains, WA, October 2024.
Fall colors at Elowah Falls on McCord Creek. Columbia River Gorge NRA, Oregon, November 2024.
Clouds filling the Alpental Valley pour over the Snow Lake divide on a post-Thanksgiving ski trip. Alpine Lakes Wilderness, WA, December 2024.
Adam getting a little airtime on an early season ski trip near Stevens Pass, WA, December 2024.
Adam enjoying some turns in the sun on an early season ski trip near Stevens Pass, WA, December 2024.
Becca climbing a route called Nosferatus in the stunning Tecolote Cave in El Salto, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, December 2024.