Okay, let's just say hypothetically that I might be able to convince my wife to take a trip to the PNW sometime this year and let's also say (again, hypothetically) that she'd let me turn it into a legitimate photo trip. With my prime interests, in no particular order, being Mt. Rainier, the Olympic Peninsula, the Oregon Coast and the Columbia River Gorge (and yes, I know that's insanely ambitious), what would be the best time to hit the area? I haven't spent any meaningful time in the region since the summer of 1991--before I got serious about photography--so any and all advice from you folks would be most appreciated.
Thanks.
Posted by Mark Windom on December 30, 2008 at 12:39 AM
If you want to do all of the above in one trip I would suggest Autumn, say the first week of October.
Mount Rainier, in a normal year, should be looking good with fall color, the Oregon coast shouldn't be too crowded as kids are back in school, and there should be a nice mix of overcast (Columbia River Gorge, Hoh Rain Forest) and sun (coast of Oregon and Olympic Peninsula).
Otherwise, I would pick late July to early August for Rainier (wildflowers) and May for all the other areas.
Posted by Ned Fenimore on December 30, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Definitely agree with May for the waterfall areas of the CRG to be at their prime..
Posted by Jack Graham on December 30, 2008 at 3:40 PM
Kerry-
Just sent you an email
JG
Posted by Bryan Swan on December 30, 2008 at 5:02 PM
August. Yes, you'll hit the crowds, but you'll also hit the wildflowers in Rainier and Olympic (Hurricane Ridge area) and snow in the mountains shouldn't be a problem unless we have another freakishly high snowfall this winter. May is good for the Gorge and the Coast, but you won't be able to get much at all at Rainier (and you may or may not be able to get to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic if that is an intended destination too).
Posted by James Walley on December 30, 2008 at 10:34 PM
I've always found Hurricane Ridge to be a few weeks ahead of Rainier in terms of wildflowers -- mid-late July rather than August.
Posted by Bryan Swan on December 31, 2008 at 6:05 AM
Definitely is, but the flowers last more than a couple weeks, so they should be out at the same time.
Discussion
7 repliesThanks.
Mount Rainier, in a normal year, should be looking good with fall color, the Oregon coast shouldn't be too crowded as kids are back in school, and there should be a nice mix of overcast (Columbia River Gorge, Hoh Rain Forest) and sun (coast of Oregon and Olympic Peninsula).
Otherwise, I would pick late July to early August for Rainier (wildflowers) and May for all the other areas.
Just sent you an email
JG