On rare occasions, multiple factors come together and create a perfect moment in the mountains. As adventure photographers, we seek out these times and do whatever we can to capture them.
When I first heard of this place more than 2 years prior to visiting, I was blown away by the impressive mountain peaks sitting behind one of the most unique natural pools I'd ever seen. Due to its placement, the pool almost creates the illusion of a natural infinity pool fully surrounded by the incredible Cascade peaks.
A couple of years later, I finally had the chance to make the trek out there. The trail was largely a route-finding mission with nearly 4,000 feet of elevation gained over the span of 2 miles. As we started the hike we were fully engulfed in fog, though we had predicted that an inversion may take place, one can never be certain and there was a good chance we would never be able to see the mountains through the clouds.
That fear dissipated as we neared the top and climbed above the cloud level. For the next few hours, we witnessed one of the most spectacular weather occurrences on Earth in a place like no other. As the sun began to reach the horizon the light, clouds, mountains, and reflection all aligned creating a perfect moment when both the views and vibes were Infinite.
Location: Central Cascades, Washington
In Frame: Nathanael Billings