Instagram story viewer> @alpine_explorer> Posts

Cherlyn | PNW Adventure Photographer

@alpine_explorer

2.6K

followers

1172

following

mountaineering + hiking + skiing + travel
👩‍💻 Engineer / 👩‍🍳 @vanillawhisk /
💍📸 @cherlynelizaphoto elopements
↓ blog + guides

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

2026 calendar is live!

Wahooo and if you’re on my email newsletter, this morning you got a steep 20% discount!! And if you’re not on my email list, get on it now, discount only exclusive to my email list, no spamming I promise! Just wholesome emails in your inbox

Anyway, some of you guessed correctly, and yes I was inspired by @taylorswift releasing her new TS12 album and there’s 12 months in a year, I had to do a little color palette matching!

And for those of you not Swifties, that’s okay it’s still very much alpine themed, but for the Swifties, I think you’ll get a great kick out of this special 5th edition of my annual calendars

More to come in the inspiration behind which photos I chose for this calendar

💚💛💜❤️🩵🖤🩷🩶🤎💙🤍❤️‍🔥

Link in bio, as always 🫶

https://www.alpinewanderlust.com/product/2026-calendar/ taken in Washington by @alpine_explorer

28

1

a year ago

Welcome to my page, @alpine_explorer aka the writer behind the Alpine Wanderlust blog!

I acknowledge while I am nowhere near the average influencer on Instagram with 100k+ or even 10k+ followers, I believe that even having even the slightest social media presence is still a way of influencing people. And thus, I want to do my part of contributing something positive to the world through social media.

My goal is to break down barriers of entry for people to get outside, particularly by creating resources to advance your hiking skills & independence and by inspiring others through my personal stories in the PNW mountains.

Many have told me their desire to try more scrambles (more technical hiking that edges on climbing). However, there’s always something holding them back from not knowing where to go and not knowing where their ability lies. And while there’s definitely better hikers and climbers than me, I feel that most of them seem to live on a different level, doing things seemingly unattainable. And I want to help bridge the gaps because I love scrambles so much and want to provide a way for others to find joy in navigating technical terrain!

Anyway, I’ve been blown away by the level of interaction with my account lately and I really appreciate it! It’s a good reminder for myself to keep interacting with all your accounts too instead of lurking because that’s what it’s about in the end, right?

Shoutout to all my hiking buddies and particularly these ones who took these awesome pics of me…sensing a theme that Hannah takes all my pictures 😆 Adventures would not be the same without hiking friends who can lift your spirit when your feet want to claim otherwise. taken in Washington by @alpine_explorer

286

22

2 years ago

This is one of my favorites in my 2022 calendar and intentionally selected for October. I likely posted this one before, but couldn’t resist sharing it again. Did you know that in Washington, larches tend to prefer growing in north facing slopes? On certain hikes like in the Teanaway, you’ll start from the south and head north to a ridge and won’t start seeing glades of larches till you’re really on the north side where it’s nice and cool. It doesn’t mean that larches won’t grow on south facing slopes, there just usually are a tad fewer of them. These are all from the same hike where the larches are growing north facing!

BTW, I’m currently working on the 2023 calendar and getting it all set up for orders soon! So stay tuned ☺️

.
.
.

#womenwhoexplore #sheisthewild #larch #larchmadness #pacificnorthwest #outdoorwomen #radgirlslife #pnwproject #pnwow #wanderwashington #cascadiaexplored #pnwphotographer #exploretocreate #wildernessculture #keepitwild #thatpnwlife #liveauthentic #outside_project #findyourselfoutside #whyihike #pnwcollective #pnwcrew #pnwproject #destinationpnw taken in North Cascades by @alpine_explorer

571

15

4 years ago

Larch madness doesn’t have to be mad if you know where to go! Usually that means: avoid maple pads and find less crowded hikes and trailheads. It’s actually possible!

More on my blog
https://www.alpinewanderlust.com/a-larch-guide/

Thanks @sarahand72 for the trailhead clips as I was driving taken in North Cascades by @alpine_explorer

85

0

6 days ago

Yosemite at sunset

It was a total race to see all the sights because I only had one evening up here. I had just enough time to set up camp and take a shower prior to the one hour drive to the viewpoints. Ambitiously, I decided I could hit up all the spots but a little too ambitiously because I had to run in between everything. Highly recommend giving yourself ample time to explore everything so you’re not running around frantically.

Here’s just a few vertical images from this night, more to come with the landscapes! And thanks to the gals who took a photo of me on their phones. They thought it was cool I was so brave to stand on the “edge” haha

More on the blog: https://www.alpinewanderlust.com/solo-sunset-mission-glacier-point-at-yosemite/ taken in Yosemite National Park by @alpine_explorer

37

7

10 days ago

Sneaking in a larch hike. With a bunch of traveling and other happenings, it was a little harder to fit one in this year! We’ll see if we fit in more!

I loved that all the stars aligned and I found a hiking buddy (plus two more!) and an alternate trail in an area I’ve been to multiple times. We avoided the crowds and found the crowds and it was a glorious time. I think this one might be going on the blog soon, but for now, here’s a few photos.

PS I still think there’s 2 whole weekends left of larches. Find out more on my blog
https://www.alpinewanderlust.com/a-larch-guide/ taken in Alpine Lakes Wilderness by @alpine_explorer

59

2

12 days ago

Thanks to @tarahgilbreth and @collinbarraugh for getting married in Breckenridge and giving me the excuse to go see these pretty aspens! And congrats to you both 💍🥂🍂

Apparently this year with the dry weather in Colorado, the aspens were suffering a bit more. Many had burnt edges on their leaves but it was cool to see that they don’t just turn yellow and sometimes they turn gold just like larches. And please don’t tell Collin how many times I literally said “larch” out loud instead of “aspen” oops. I promise I like aspens too!! taken in Breckenridge by @alpine_explorer

43

12

17 days ago

Ever wonder what it’s like to go canyoneering in Zion? It’s quite fun! Obviously it is technical and has its risks but here’s just a glimpse of Mystery Canyon

I absolutely love canyons for the twists and turns and it feels so exploratory, vastly different than hiking or climbing and 100% adventurous. This one is famous for its long rappel into the little oasis and permits are required for canyons in Zion btw

And if you’re still curious, read more on my blog
https://www.alpinewanderlust.com/a-mystical-oasis-mystery-canyon/ taken in Zion National Park by @alpine_explorer

42

3

a month ago

Party in Yosemite! Had the best time celebrating @goatsonropes and giving her the best surprise, props to @sarahand72 and @lizolas for planning and keeping it a secret. And @mia_climbs_ and @bennettrahn for all the climbing gear.

More about the trip (or if you just want to read about climbing and backpacking in Tuolumne) on the blog!

https://www.alpinewanderlust.com/tenaya-peak-to-cathedral-lakes/ taken in Yosemite National Park by @alpine_explorer

56

7

a month ago

Fall is here! I was amazed by all the red foliage already visible in the mountains. These were taken just last weekend from a couple hikes and it’s got me so excited for all fall things.

Pro tip: to photograph the full redness of huckleberry plants, view them backlit. If the sun is behind you, they look dull. If the sun is in front of you, they’re the most vivid shade of red! taken in North Cascades by @alpine_explorer

109

6

a month ago

Alpenglow, Golden hour, and Daylight

Which is your favorite?

I say to friends over and over that literally what gets me backpacking is alpenglow views. If not for that, I’d gladly hike most trails with a light day pack. But there’s something glorious about the fleetingness of alpenglow. It lasts about 10 minutes depending on the season, sometimes only 5 minutes and sometimes longer but it’s a beautiful show that never repeats itself twice

And bonus points for backpacking is to not have to hike in the dark! taken in North Cascades by @alpine_explorer

107

4

a month ago

Scenes from an overnight trip. If you want the house tour, you’ll have to read more in the trip report!

https://www.alpinewanderlust.com/house-on-the-hill-hidden-lake-lookout-overnight/ taken in North Cascades by @alpine_explorer

105

6

2 months ago