2023 - Waiting for the light to hit. *Pixel 4A*

Ten years. That’s how long it took to make this picture happen. The entirety of my photographic journey, several jobs, relationships, houses, and my kids entire life all fit inside of that time frame. Sometimes a bit of dedication is required!

The idea was sparked while at work, sitting in a steel shipping container office and staring out the window in boredom at the silhouette of Mt Baker across the border. After a procrastination powered flight on Google Earth, I found myself looking at a nearby provincial park that might have better view of a glaciated peak. A bit of planning and an expensive trip to MEC later, I was off on my first backpacking trip!

While it was beautiful camp and amazing experience for a first backpacking trip, it turns the summit of MacDonald Peak is in the way of the view I was after. Having zero climbing experience at the time and the 1600m or so of elevation gain getting to camp already proving ambitious for a first timer, I went home after what I would call a very successful failure. Being armed with an old Canon point and shoot and zero talent, even if I saw the peak I wouldn’t have done is justice anyway.

2013 - The first time, ten years ago. *Canon Powershot S95*

A year later, still very determined but equally useless in the alpine, I setup camp on the col again. I scrambled up the neighbouring Mt Webb to get the view I was after. Figured that was a better choice since it was more of a steep hike than a scramble. Stopped short of the summit due to snow, but at least I had finally caught a view of Baker! Trusty point and shoot in hand I managed to capture that moment ... somewhat poorly, but it was a start.

2014 - Finally a view of Baker! *Canon Powershot S95*

A few more years passed. Learned how to climb and got a better camera. The Fuji X-E1 and XF 35/1.4 were a fantastic combo, but still far from a practical landscape setup. Turns out that wouldn’t matter anyway. Though I made it to the top of MacDonald Peak this time, the wildfire smoke was socked in so badly that I might as well have used an old Nokia phone.

2017 - At least you can still see it? *Fuji X-E1 | XF 35/1.4*

Back again! Just don’t quit do I? Main difference this time was I had discovered the joys (and frustrations) of film and brought my trusty Minolta SRT 201, but still with a 50mm lens. I love the focal length and stubbornly didn’t want to admit that it might not be the best choice for landscape photography. No matter, because again there were no views to be had! Swap smoke for swirling soupy clouds, so no summits or Baker.

2018 - I should really go through my old negatives with my new scanning workflow. *Minolta SRT 201 | MC Rokkor X 50mm/1.4*

Another year another trip. It’s 16km of hiking each time so the odometer for this one photo is starting to add up. Yet again, foiled by the weather! At least it makes for a moody dramatic setting to enjoy an evening beer and morning coffee.

2020 - A moody hangout if nothing else. Fuji X-T4 | XF 16/1.4

At this point the thought of actually getting this photo was pretty far in the back of my head, and had just settled into this trip having become simply an ongoing tradition of sorts. Yet again foiled, this time by the completely socked in skies, but also unusually persistent snowpack. I’m the only one who thought to bring crampons, and a zero visibility solo summit seemed pretty pointless.

2021 - Really no point in even trying for the summit in this soup. *Fuji X-T4 | XF 16/1.4*

I think I may have even missed a trip or two in there, and at this point I’ve spent more time camping on this col than anywhere else. A few years had passed since the last trip, but the stars and universe were aligning to make yet another attempt. The forecast was for clear skies, there were no fires burning (which is a nice thought while choking on smoke writing this), there was no snow and ice to get in the way, and armed with a new to me XF 50-140 I even had the right tool for the job.

The hike and setting up camp were uneventful as could be. Enjoyed the good company before an early bedtime in preparation for an alpine start. The 4am wake up was a challenge, but once moving everything felt good. After gaining the lower ridge on MacDonald I realized there wouldn’t be enough time to reach the summit before sunrise, but the ridge had a perfect little plateau to set up shop on. The sun hit the glacier, the timer counted down, and the shutter opened. Ten years later, I had finally captured what I had been envisioning in my head all along.

2023 - First Light on Baker - *Fuji X-T4 | XF 50-140 f2.8*

I love subtle hues of the gradient dawn ranging from the blue sky to warm orange on the glacier and back to the cool blue of the shadows in the valleys below. The only change I’d make would have been to turn off the OIS on the lens! Mounted to the tripod it introduced a bit of softness, but with 50km or so of atmosphere between the camera and the subject so it was never going to be razor sharp anyway.

There’s a beautiful A3+ print on the wall that I have the pleasure of looking at everyday. Brings back fond memories of the rotating cast of characters that have joined me up there of the years, and a reminder that some things take time, dedication, and persistence. I guess now I have to go climb Baker?