First light on the summit of Mount Rainier above a subalpine meadow of purple lupine, magenta paintbrush and western pasqueflower seedheads, framed by subalpine fir on Mazama Ridge.

More from Lowlands

See the room

A subalpine meadow of lupine below conifers at Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, with morning light on lifting fog.

Field Edition

Moment We Come Alive

Mazama Ridge • Mount Rainier National Park

Field Edition. Signed, not numbered.

I packed up camp in the dark on the last morning, with a flight out of Seattle that afternoon. The sky was full of stars, so I hiked up Mazama Ridge for sunrise, and the first light hit the mountain with the meadows below it in full bloom. I made this, took a quick hike, and drove to the airport, leaving on the best morning of the trip.

Latitude: 46°47′ N
Temperature: 65 °F / 18 °C
Season: Summer
Elevation: 5,974 ft / 1,821 m