It’s New Year’s Eve and 2020 is finally coming to an end. The year ended quietly in the Hike Mt Shasta household, with snowshoeing, skiing, much merry making and lots of sunrise and sunset chasing. It has been a beautiful week since Christmas and I was able to get out on multiple occasions to imbibe the beauty. It ended with a fresh layer of snow and a beautiful sunrise and sunset. While the year was crazy in so many ways for so many people, it is satisfying to finish it quietly watching the color fade from the snow flanks of Mount Shasta. That said, I would like to review a few images from the week:
The moon has been rising in the vicinity of Mount Shasta. I never seemed to be able to time its breaking the horizon with my being in a position to photograph it but I did enjoy views of the mountain in near proximity. The warm light of sunset contrasting against the silvery moon is always a glorious sight.
I went out to the Shasta Valley on Tuesday to capture the sunset and while the color built up in the sky around Mount Shasta, I found my eyes drawn to the massive fires building up on Willow Creek Mountain. Though plumes marked the locations of the fires, the dancing flames were visible to the naked eye. Through my telephoto lens, they looked fearsome, especially after the year of the inferno that was 2020. Fortunately these were controlled fires burning slash. It is still disconcerting to see from afar.
In spite of the flames, I still managed to look at the mountain around me:
-
- Mount Shasta glows in the fading light of sunset.
-
- Alpenglow lights of Mount Eddy and the surround clouds.
The light on Mount Shasta was not great but the glow over the entire Shasta Valley was beautiful and eerie. I love the winter view of the mountains on all sides of the valley, crowned by the snowy majesty of Mount Shasta.
The next day featured a large “lenticulish” cloud that was heralding a shifting weather pattern and the onset of more snow. This set up a what proved to be a beautiful sunrise on the final day of 2020.
The glow on the billowing snow was sublime and the mountain seemed to glow to be exhaling powdery plumes with each breath, only to see them alight by the rising sun. It was a magical morning and the snowy scenery only added enchantment:
-
- Castle Spire pierces the swift moving clouds.
-
- The snowy meadow is silent witness to Mount Shasta’s beautiful glow.
I kept an eye on the weather all day and eventually slipped out for a quick look at the sunset. The sky had become overcast, so the potential for color was significantly diminished. Nonetheless, Mount Shasta managed to brew up something interesting and make the sunset beautiful.
In the end, 2020 ended with a subdued but lovely sunset. Something makes me think 2021 is going to start off with a bang. I am excited to see what lies ahead!
Hike Mt. Shasta 
Hello from Canada! I am wondering who took the photo with the caption: “The glow on the billowing snow was sublime…” I would like to contact them re possibly using this image for a CD cover. Thank you.
Hi Joanna. Sorry it has taken me a few days to respond. If you are still interested, you are welcome to use the image. If you can email me, I can respond and sent you are higher resolution image. Thanks!
Thank you so much. I would very much appreciate a higher resolution image of this picture and should it end up being the CD cover, I will be happy to promote you and your work. The record company does have a final say in which image is used on one of their CDs, but this is a very strong contender. All the best for a happier, healthier new year.
Magic Mountain