A MOMENT OF MAGIC

This was a perfect summer hike on a Saturday in late May. We went to Dirty Harry’s Balcony Trail in the Snoqualmie region. I remember it being a mild day, but our backs were still sweaty when we rested at the top. We munched on potato chips and sandwiches as cliff swallows snatched bugs out of the air high above the tree line. On our way back down, we could see turkey vultures floating above the tall trees as a cool breeze made it a comfortable descent.

At the very bottom of the trail is a bridge over the Snoqualmie River. After the hike, I went down to soak my feet. My wife, Noreen, immediately went to work on her favorite hobby, searching for heart-shaped rocks. The late afternoon sun was behind her and I watched as she searched, stooped low on the shore with water up to her ankles. She stood up to proudly show off this smooth black rock when I snapped this shot.

Noreen isn’t crazy about how often I make her pose for photos on hikes, so catching a candid moment like this was fun. I love how the focus in the picture makes her fingers and the stone stand out right as she shows it off.

We love hiking as an opportunity to be active, spend time together without distractions and get to enjoy stunning views of nature. The mountains here never get old! I love packing a camera on the trail to try and capture just a single drop of the magic you can experience.

— Ben Beehner