A view from the Olympics

"Lake Cushman", 18x24, pastel, @Alejandra Gos, $225, Available

This painting's reference photo was taken on my last hike to the summit of Mt. Ellinor.

The first 3 hours of the hike is in the woods. After coming above the tree line, at about 4,500 feet, the trail opens up to wildflower meadows, and then veers to the left of a steep avalanche chute. This takes you all the way to the 5,944-foot summit. That takes one more hour.

From the top you can see Mt. Rainier, St Helens, Baker and even Hood. On a very clear day you can see Seattles' skyscrapers way out there.In the view in the painting I was looking south west over Lake Cushman. The water after that is the Puget Sound close to Hoodsport on Highway 101. A bit more to the left is (not in the painting) Mt. Rainier. The trees on the bottom left are on Mt. Washington. 

It is a spectacular view totally worth the hike.

Me sitting at the top of the world