Gold Over Anvil Peak

For a few minutes, the whole sky caught fire behind Anvil Peak.

Standing at Chinook Pass on the east side of Mount Rainier, I watched a heavy ceiling of storm cloud split open just as the sun dropped. Molten gold poured through the gap, lighting the layered clouds from beneath and outlining the jagged crown of Anvil Peak against the glow. A lone subalpine fir stands guard on the right, and the forested valley below has already slipped into shadow.

Gold Over Anvil Peak is a bold, warm statement piece for a living room, office, or mountain cabin — a reminder of how quickly the Cascades can turn an ordinary evening into something unforgettable.

The storm was the price of admission. The light was the reward.