Few places spark awe and grandeur for me, like the Paradise area of Mount Rainier on a clear winter’s day. Situated on the mountain’s mighty snow-cloaked flank, Paradise transforms into a glistening wonderland. It’s one of those magical places made for evocative black and white landscape photography.
I awoke to clear skies at home, a rare clarity after heavy storms. In the lowlands, Mt. Rainier can vanish in seconds behind clouds. But that morning, I knew somehow, the weather would hold. I set off to capture the magic.
Arriving in Paradise, sunlight glittered across the hushed meadows. I stepped into the air so crisp it almost sparkled, unlike the bitter cold from my last visit (see my “Snowshoeing Reflection Lakes” blog post). Stillness filled the land, not a sound besides the crunch of my boots. Yet despite the chill, the climbing sun radiated warmth on my back—another beautiful dichotomy of Paradise.
I aimed to ascend Mazama Ridge, but the avalanche warnings gave me pause. With its steep slopes loaded with new snow, the forecast warned of moderate risk in the backcountry. While the untouched ridge beckoned, I didn’t want to trigger a slide alone.
Strapping into my snowshoes, I passed the snow-laden Paradise Inn, just beyond Mt. Rainier’s towering magnificence. I visualized the landscape photographs to come, stark and soul-stirring in black and white. As I climbed, the valley’s immense silence descended, broken only by my tracks through knee-deep powder. I paused longer than planned, trying to imprint the memory to recreate it later through my art. Quiet moments connecting with the landscape nourish my creativity.
The innate risk in Mt. Rainier’s beauty reminded me to balance my longing for the next photograph with respect for this wilderness’s power. While a tinge of regret pulled at me, I found inspiration in the mountain’s dignified embrace of forces beyond my grasp or understanding. This landscape exists not for me alone but as a shared treasure.
Descending to Paradise as the low sun set the snow ablaze, I felt alive. I wandered the meadows, absorbing that magical golden hour light before it faded. At dusk, Mt. Rainier bid me a glowing farewell as if promising dazzling dreams of the next visit.
As I drove the winding road down from the mountain, I pulled over several times to capture Rainier aglow. My last stop of the day was at Christine Falls.
Paradise had once more lived up to its name.
Let my art transport you to Paradise’s enchanted winter charm, evoking memories of this mystical realm daily. Let it carry you to another time and place, even for a fleeting moment. Click on the photos above to buy a fine art print, or visit my Online Art Shop to explore more captivating black and white landscape photography.
