MT. SAINT HELENS WILDFLOWERS

The day started with a couple laps up Pilot Butte, then back home for breakfast. Scrolling and eating, I saw online the wildflowers were in full swing in the Helens area. I hurriedly finished breakfast, packed my camera gear + some energy bars, checked weather up in that area (it was good; sunny/low winds) and started the drive north. I stopped for gas and plugged in the location to maps, the road to where to I wanted to go was closed due to a landslide. Plan B, hike up there.

I arrived at a trailhead and began the 4 1/2 mile hike up; it was beautiful and hot with very few people. Reaching the desired destination around 4:30pm I had time to find where I wanted to shoot+kill time until the 9pmish sunset. I laid down in the shade periodically and relaxed. // 8:30pm came and I set up to shoot. Hummingbirds were flying around, coyotes were howling and this sunset was awesome. Have wanted to shoot this for years. St. Helens was introduced to me at 4 years old when we had ash at our house.

Finished shooting and hiked out in the dark as fast as I could because I was supposed to meet @kai_huggin at 5am to go hiking and fishing. Arriving back at the trailhead at 10:15pm I was still convinced I could get 2hrs. of sleep to go fishing. I began driving, knew I was going to be too tired to meet Kai, texted him the trip was off and that I was sorry; probably could have gone, but I’ve been trying to listen to my body/mind more.

I arrived home at 2:45am beat, but fulfilled. The injured back was truly tested and felt great. 10/10 20+hrs.