Twin Sisters Mountain Range

Another of my favorite mountains to photograph is actually a separate mountain range.   The entire range is composed of rock, which is actually a fragment of the subcontinental mantle, which has thrust up through the crust.  Because the range is made entirely of rock, it is quite different from the other mountains that surround it, the Cascades.

On our ride last weekend this was our first view as we drove down the Mt. Baker Hiway

The Twin Sister Range is the largest body of exposed Olivine (Magnesium Iron Silicate) in the Western Hemisphere.

North Twin Sister and South Twin Sister - often this range is simply called "The Sisters"

South Twin Sister, the tallest of them all, at 7,000 ft (2134m), on the right, Skookum Peak, 6,616 ft (2,017m)

North Twin Sister - 6,640 ft (2024m)

When we got to Acme, WA (yes, they used to have a Roadrunner statue on the little store there) we turned down a side road, and there they were again.  

A little different view - we had traveled over 30 miles by now.  Left, South Twin Sister and then Skookum Peakm (appears to be very small),  the next two - going right, are Hayden and Little Sister and to the right of the tree, Twin Crest Peak

A better view of Little Sister and Twin Crest Peak

Hayden, 6,480 ft (1,975m) and Little Sister 6,600 ft (2,012m)

From a side road - more views - I just never get enough of our mountains.  South Twin Sister and Skookum Peak - you can see one of the remaining glaciers to the right of the tall tree.  The largest of the three remaining glaciers is just over a mile wide and all will be completely gone within 10 years.

North Twin Sister - this is an unusually small amount of snow for this time of the year - usually the mountains are completely covered, it's been a dry winter so far 

Close up of Little Sister 

South Twin Sister and Skookum Peak

 Skookum and Hayden

South Twin Sister

Farther down the road there is a pull out, put there just so people could safely get off the road to look at the mountains.  We decided this was the perfect spot to have our picnic - in the car, because it was only 42 degrees.  We get a wonderful view across this valley of the Twin Sisters Mountain Range.  Just out of the picture - to the left, is a farmhouse with this fabulous view.

Another perspective of South Twin Sister, Skookum Peak and Hayden

Little Sister on the far right.  The peaks are easier to pick out from this view.  Skookum Peak on the left and Hayden in the middle.

Very close, close-up of South Twin Sister

First ascent of South Twin Sister was August 1, 1891 by J.M Edson, E.A Hegg, and P.J Parris.

North Twin Sister, with just the top of Mt. Baker peeking up on the left.

Close up of Mt. Baker

And even closer,showing the small peaks in front of Mt. Baker, and foothills in front of that.

It was a glorious mountain day!

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