Beargrass plumes lit by sunset rays in a subalpine meadow of lupine and pink mountain heather at Paradise, with Mount Rainier in cloud and shadow beyond a ridge of subalpine fir.

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

Collector Edition

Tears of the Sun

Paradise • Mount Rainier National Park

Collector Edition of 25. Signed, numbered, registered.

I drove up from Oregon, set up camp at Cougar Rock and spent a hot, sunny afternoon on the Skyline Loop. At sunset the clouds started moving in, and the sun came through them onto the beargrass, my favorite mountain flower, while the peak stayed in shadow. I didn't see the mountain again until the last morning of the week.

Latitude: 46°47′ N
Temperature: 75 °F / 24 °C
Season: Summer
Reach: 12.7 miles that day