Glacier Peak Backpacking

Toward the end of August 2022, I set off on my first three night backpacking adventure in the incredible and remote Glacier Peak Wilderness. I chose a loop which runs about 40 miles minimum, but added a side trip over to nearby Image Lake. Along with various exploring along the way it ended up being 54 miles with 10,700ft vertical elevation gain total, including six pases over the course of four days. Definitely one of the most difficult trips I've done but incredibly rewarding. The scenery here is some of the most spectacular in the Northwest, or even the world...and close views of Glacier Peak like this cannot be obtained without backpacking. I was really grateful to have clear skies and no smoke the entire time, despite fires raging all over the US west, including one only about 20 miles away. I was even able to capture stunning and rare image of the Milky Way over Glacier Peak from just below Image Lake, though it required carrying a tripod and extra lens for all those miles, plus walking a quarter mile in the dark with a bear known to be nearby (saw him the next morning)!