The world looks different above 8,000 feet.
As the Easton Route up Mount Baker climbs toward its 10,781' summit, subalpine meadows teeming with wildflowers give way to ancient glaciers and barren slopes.
Life that does climb above tree line faces new obstacles. Rather than thick forest or rocky meadows, it is met with wild weather, frigid snowy winters, and deep holes in the glaciers. This is one such hole. I was the middle member of our rope team, which allowed me some safety to stop on this snow bridge to stare into this crevasse. My husband Darin was in front and my father-in-law Phil in the back, with their ice axes ready to arrest in case the bridge gave.
I find crevasses fascinating. They display recent years, potentially centuries of snow and deposits that contributed to the formation a glacier. As I stare into them I feel like I'm staring back in time. In this image the layers of ice are visible, almost like a tree ring.
That is Colfax Peak in the distance, and up and to the right is Mount Baker's summit, where we arrived a few hours later.