North Cascades

North Cascades

Washington

Photos & Text by Brittany J. Reid

Weekend mountain getaways are one of my favorite parts about living in the Pacific Northwest. This particular weekend, my fiancé and I (and our pup) set out to explore North Cascades National Park which is about a three-hour drive from Seattle. North Cascade Highway winds through the park, alongside rivers and lakes and underneath foggy peaks. We pulled over at the first sign for an overlook and were greeted by the glorious Gorge Lake, with its turquoise water against a background of misty, layered, pine-covered mountains. Further along is the Diablo Lake viewpoint, which had been on my must-see list for quite a while and was a main reason for this adventure. It did not disappoint.

Diablo Lake is well known for its bright blueish green hue, which is attributed to glacial sediment that runs into the water and reflects light. Our campsite for the weekend was right on the edge of the lake – a prime spot at this first-come first-served campground. We were quick to set up camp and get a fire blazing. We don’t skimp when it comes to campfire cooking, as I’m a firm believer that meals cooked over an open fire are some of the very best.

Spending a few days amongst the beauty of the North Cascades was the perfect way to refresh and to discover a little bit more of what this incredible corner of the country has to offer.

All photos (C) 2014 Brittany J. Reid

Brittany Reid is a native New Englander currently living in Seattle, Washington. She works in medical billing and lives to adventure on the weekends with her fiancé and their dog. You can find more of her photos on her website and follow along with her travels on Instagram and Tumblr.