Of all the mountains in Washington State, few peaks exemplify the area’s combination of rugged and pristine natural beauty better than Mount Shuksan. Here are several images of Scott Kranz’s snowcamping trip in the Mount Shuksan area.

The reward for pushing your lungs and legs to the limit in the mountains is the opportunity to experience natural beauty like no other. We trekked up to the foot of Mt. Shuksan and camped beneath its rugged southwest face. Here are our first views of the “Fisher Chimneys” from the ridge above Lake Anne, as Mt. Shuksan hid in the clouds.

The clouds eventually lifted allowing us to explore the area around our snow camp and enjoy the views of two of Washington's greatest peaks, Mount Baker (pictured) and Mount Shuksan.

Exploring under the bright moonlight, we could see Mount Shuksan in all of its glory. Mount Shuksan’s complex structure and its distinct summit pyramid lure tourists and climbers alike.

Come morning, we woke up to beautiful blue skies and, of course, a warm sun rising over Mount Shuksan to our east.

Text and Photography by Scott Kranz