Friday, July 14, 2017

#Snoqualmie Tunnel Trek - #SaturdaySnapshots

I've hiked along city streets beside Lake Union, on paths in Mount Rainier National Park, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, and more, but yesterday was my first time to hike through a tunnel. What a great experience! The Snoqualmie Tunnel (part of the 110-mile-long John Wayne  Pioneer Trail) was cool -- both in awesomeness and in temperature. The high temp at Snoqualmie Pass was probably in the mid-70s, but inside the tunnel I needed layers of clothing - 
a t-shirt, long-sleeved cotton shirt, and light jacket. Just right for the damp and breezy hike. 
[Click on photos to enlarge.]

That's me, looking dorky with my headlamp,
trekking poles, and waterproof jacket.

The tunnel is 2.3 miles long and was originally used by trains. The tracks have been removed, of course, and the walking surface covered in asphalt. Occasional drops of water seep from overhead. We all wore headlamps so we could see in the darkness, and the far end of the tunnel was visible as a tiny light far ahead. I had been concerned about feeling claustrophobic, but that wasn't a problem at all. 

Here's the view as I neared the tunnel's end.



Literally the light at the end of the tunnel.

Afterwards, we all stowed our coats and other gear in our backpacks and looked back at the mountain we'd walked under. 



Wow! We walked underneath a mountain!

Nice view for our lunch break.


Not a single cloud, and the sky really was this blue.

At trail's end I experimented with my camera's shutter speed a little bit to see if I could capture the movement of flowing water. 


First attempt:


Slower shutter speed:



I'm not sure which photo I like better. Any comments?

Video too:





More info:  Snoqualmie Tunnel

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20 comments:

  1. The first photo captures the flowing movement best, but the light is better in the second :-)

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    1. Thanks for your feedback. The first photo shows what the stream really looked like (deeply shaded) but I like the detail that shows up in the second one, too. Even though I've had my camera for quite a while, I'm still learning what it can do.

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  2. What a cool hike! I've never hiked under a mountain myself, and I'm not sure I'd do it in real life, but I enjoyed traveling with you today.

    https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-madeleine-project-uncovering.html

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    1. I was uncertain about this hike but decided to challenge myself. I'm so glad I did!

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  3. I really enjoyed that hike when I took it 15+ years ago. I think a headlamp and trekking poles would have added to my enjoyment--otherwise, couldn't see much inside the tunnel. I think the first picture of the stream better captures how it looks, but the second has nice effects also.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Janet. I appreciate your feedback on the experiment with my camera. The headlamp did help a lot in the hike and so did the poles. I also put reflective tape on my backpack so bicyclists could see me. It was definitely an unusual hike.

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  4. My vote is for the second one, but I loved them both. That video was great. How fabulous was the sound of the water.

    Beautiful shots. I don't think I could spend that much time in a tunnel, though. Claustrophobia!

    Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for leaving a comment, Laurel-Rain. I was concerned about claustrophobia, too, but the tunnel was large and didn't feel confining. Besides, I focused most on the floor in front of me. It wasn't completely smooth, and I didn't want to trip. I'd do the hike again.

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  5. What a cool experience! It looks like an amazing hike. Funnily, as I was reading along I was thinking about whether I would feel claustrophobic in a situation like that- and then you talked about that very thing! I am glad that you did not feel that way, and that the light was visible.

    Of the two photos, although I really like both, I like the second better - it has more action and oomph, if that makes sense! :)

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    1. The tunnel hike was definitely a one-of-a-kind experience for me, and I'm so glad I did it. I'd go again in a heartbeat!
      Thanks for giving your opinion on the two water photos. I think the second one has more movement, too, but I also like the splashing water and deep forest mood in the first one.

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  6. I love that last picture! It looks like you had a great time- I know I would have been very nervous entering a tunnel!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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    1. I'll admit that I was nervous too, but I psyched myself up for it.

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  7. I like photo 1. It looks like the water is boiling.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Grace. I'm having fun with hiking and photography.

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  8. What a great hike, and your photos and commentary are so lively! As to the bottom photos, I like the rapid shutter speed pic best.

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    1. Thanks for your kind words. The hike was a great experience. I appreciate your opinion about my photo experiment, too.

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  9. It looks fantastic!Amazing place. Thank you for sharing.

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  10. Definitely the second picture! Thanks for sharing.

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