OUTLINE:  Mount Hood, Crater Lake, Oregon and Washington Coasts, Olympic National Park, Seattle, Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens, plus wildlife and abundant wildflowers.
World travel is something we all crave, but gathered together in the corner of the United States is a vast array of photographic jewels summarized as the magnificent Pacific Northwest. The wildflowers are ‘ripe’ at high elevations during late July, and that is when Idaho-based photographer John Baker of Travel Images will guide a group of 7 photo travelers around the west’s most inspiring scenery. This Pacific Northwest itinerary is diverse and spectacular. From crashing surf to wildlife, snow capped peaks to cascading waterfalls, and wildflowers to the catastrophic devastation of a violent volcanic eruption. Point your camera at Mount Hood, Crater Lake, the Oregon and Washington Coasts with a sprinkling of lighthouses, Olympic National Park, Seattle, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, ocean sunsets, and dawn excursions to the best of the west. Top all this off with wildlife such as Black Tail Deer, Roosevelt Elk, and Marmot etcetera, and the world can wait!

OVERSEAS TRAVEL
<> It is recommended, but not imperative, that you arrive a day early to be fresh and on time for the trip!
<> Early arrival also enables you to explore the gateway city should you wish.
<> A late flight arrival on day 1 of the trip might entail you having to find your own way to the first hotel, if not close to the airport.
<> Please note that the ending date of the trip is the day of your departure flight. Please arrange your flights accordingly.

Clients from Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and Australasia should depart their home country a day or two prior to Day 1, so that the commencement of this photography tour isn't missed.

DAYS 1 and 2  |  To OREGON
Late morning arrivals into Portland Airport are required to get in our shooting along Columbia Gorge, which will include several very different waterfalls, and wind surfers riding the Columbia breezes. We turn south at Hood River and head for Lost Lake for a classic Mt. Hood scene. Over Lolo Pass to Mount Hood for our 2 night stay.
Early risers on both mornings are likely be blessed with great light on 10,495' Mt. Jefferson to the south. The start of day 2 will find us just above Timberline Lodge where great shots of skiers and snowboarders come easy . . . even in July! There will also be plenty of striking landscapes to be composed on and around the mountain during the remainder of our time here.
MOUNT HOOD, 2 nights

DAYS 3 and 4  |  CRATER LAKE
On day 3 we'll head south through Oregon's high desert country shooting Cascade peak vistas, and the Lava Lands volcanic terrain on route. Always lots of ground squirrels to photograph here, along with a Mt Bachelor backdrop. Crater Lake will give us plenty to drool over during our stay, which will include a loop trip around the rim of this ancient volcano.
CRATER LAKE, 2 nights

DAY 5  |  CRATER LAKE to the OREGON COAST
Out past Diamond Lake this morning, and along the Umpqua River we'll shoot. Hitting the coast at Coos Bay, we'll shoot aplenty at Sunset Bay, and Shore Acres State Park. The latter offers bird life, great waves, and colorful flowers in abundance. Our first taste of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in late afternoon/evening . . . and on to Florence.
FLORENCE, 1 night

DAY 6  |  OREGON COAST
More dunes creations this morning, and a nice smattering of coastal scenes and experiences today with Seal Rock, Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, and Cape Kiwanda waves high on the menu. The latter is a classic situation and worth the trip over one dune type ‘obstacle’. We’ll return the short distance to Lincoln City for a one night stay.
LINCOLN CITY, 1 night

DAY 7  |  OREGON COAST
We’ll take the Cape Meares loop in the morning, but our focus after midday will be on spectacular Cannon Beach. Haystack and Needles rocks make excellent subjects if sunset and afterglow cooperate, and then there’s Ecola State Park nearby.
SEASIDE, 1 night

DAY 8  |  OREGON to WASHINGTON
We’ll make an early morning excursion to Ecola state park to glean the glories and vistas of the peninsula, plus the glowing greens of the old forest. We’ll cross the Columbia River at Astoria around midday and take the Fort Canby loop once inside Washington. Much of the day will take us through the remnants of old forest clear cuts cut with methods that the Washington State no longer adopts. Plenty of foxgloves to master on route! On the edge of Olympic National Park is Quinalt . . . lots of evening photography here and our one night home.
QUINALT, 1 night

DAYS 9, 10 and 11  |  OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK
Heading out from Quinalt, Ruby Beach will be a scheduled stop followed by the glorious Hoh rain forest inside the park. There is immense quality to be captured here, especially with a tripod and an overcast sky. Back to the ocean at La Push and Rialto beaches, then on to our three night base in Port Angeles.
Days 10 and 11 will be spent in the Sol Duc and Hurricane Ridge areas. The latter is worth at least two visits, one early, and is laden with wild flowers, deer, marmot and snow-capped peaks.
PORT ANGELES, 3 nights

DAY 12  |  SEATTLE
Leaving Olympic National Park today, we'll move east via Poulsbo to one of America's most spectacular cities, Seattle. We’ll cross Puget Sound by ferry to save a long drive and check in to our hotel two blocks from the Space Needle. An evening excursion will yield the spectacle of the Seattle skyline with a Mt Rainier background.
SEATTLE, 1 night

DAYS 13 and 14  |  MT. RAINIER
A morning visit to bustling Pike Street market in the morning, and then off to Mt Rainier. On route we'll pause at North West Trek near Kapowsin and photograph many North American species of wildlife that we haven't got close to so far. Birds of prey, badger, beaver, lynx, and wolf, etc. are all here in very photographable situations with a little patience. Mount Rainier will loom, and we'll frame it with various creative juices on the way to our home on the side of Washington's highest peak at 14,410'. The Skyline Trail early in the morning on day 12 will yield many a wild flower and black tail deer, plus exquisite landscapes. There’ll be more as we explore the mountain during the remainder of the day.
MT. RAINIER, 2 nights

DAY 15  |  MOUNT ST. HELENS
More doses of Rainier in the morning, and then we’ll move south to Mount St. Helens to photograph and witness first hand the awesome devastation that took place in 1980. Windy Ridge is a great place to be in respect of the undisturbed devastation.
MORTON, 1 night

DAY 16  |  MOUNT ST. HELENS and PORTLAND
We’ll head west from Morton in the morning, and cut back in to Mount St. Helens on the new road to take in the visitors center, if only because the electronic exhibits are spectacular. More photography of the mountain, and then on to Portland for hotel check in. There will be an option to visit Portland’s famed Rose Gardens in the late afternoon, prior to our last night dinner together.
PORTLAND, 1 night

DAY 17  |  Flights home
Everyone will be transported to Portland Airport this morning for flights home.