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Haley | Adventure Elopement Photographer

@hales_trails

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📸 Love stories for adventurers
✨ Elope under the Milky Way
🌟 The nation’s BEST Adventure Elopement Astrophotographer

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South Sister for my birthday in June! I’ve always wanted to sleep on top of this volcano and it was super cool to wake up another year older up there - made infinitely greater alongside wonderful friends. 🥰 I took some camera photos but these iPhone shots will do because it’s all I have time for, as we can see by my posting 3 months later. 😂

Not pictured: horrific wind whipping us from sunset to sunrise 😂🤪 (but the first photo is of the snow pit we dug to protect the tent lol)

Also not pictured: highlight of the weekend which was seeing Chey experience her first glissade! ❄️🪓

After the summit we camped for a night at Hosmer, had an incredible feast of steak, asparagus, and bread (and campfire ding dongs) and paddled the following day! It was a magically fulfilling weekend, thank you to @leah_sandoz8 @diana.in.wanderland @cheyfreckles and her @andrwbowers. by @hales_trails

One of the most magical places in my world was lost on 7/31/26; reduced to ashes in a scarred forest. Despite the best efforts over multiple days by firefighting crews, Flag Point became a casualty of the Grasshopper Fire.

What was once the crown jewel of the Oregon Fire lookouts is no more and never will be again. A torrent of lightning strikes assaulted the cascades and high desert; fires burned hot and fast, fueled by high winds and low humidity.

I had the good fortune of staying overnight at Flag Point twice but visited many more times and in all seasons. The views were a magnificent multi-volcano buffet: Mt Hood dominating the skyline to the West, Jefferson and the Sisters to the South, and Helens and Adams across the mighty Columbia to the North. Simply delicious.

Though there is a bed at flag point, I’m hard pressed to sleep while I am there. The ever-changing beauty is so captivating that I watch out the glass pane windows with wide-eyed attention as the night unfolds into blue dawn. From my terrarium in the sky, the stars feel close enough to touch.

I’ve been lucky enough to witness the aurora borealis from Flag Point lookout not once, but twice, in my life. The northern lights are beautiful anywhere you get to see them, but the phenomenon is even more magical at a fire lookout tower - a warm, private slice of heaven four stories up as if suspended from the stars. The memories and awe will last a lifetime.

As a fire lookout enthusiast I have been to and stayed at many lookout towers, but none compare to Flag Point in my own backyard. This loss will reverberate throughout the lookout community through the ages.

Flag Point Lookout
1973-2026 (1924, 1932)

(Caption written by me, not AI)

#flagpointlookout #lookouttower #auroraborealis #mthoodnationalforest #grasshopperfire by @hales_trails

Another Mt St Helens summit sunrise - one of my favorite activities. It was extra special getting to take @leah_sandoz8 on her first snow ascent, complete with her first self-arrest and first glissade!

We headed up with extra time to snag some early morning milk 🥛 ✨ and were treated to crystal clear skies, calm conditions, comfy temps in the 20s, and firm snow. We waited a couple of hours to descend to let the snow soften for glissading - definitely worth it!

4/26/26
#mtsthelens #mountsthelens #mountsainthelens #wanderwashington #pacificnorthwest

Shots of me by @leah_sandoz8 by @hales_trails

Better late than never…
2025 adventures, you were beautiful. I got to spend time with most of my favorite people in the most stunning places.
2025 elopements video coming soon! by @hales_trails

Engaged under the full moon 🌕 💍

What a splendid summer adventure this was with Charlotte & Dylan as we spent the night at Winchester Mountain lookout! Luck was in the cards for this first-come, first-served stay, a spectacular sunset, and partly-clear night skies!

This photo has been blended in Photoshop from two very real, single-exposure images that I took.

#fullmoonengagement #fullmoonelopement #nightelopement #mtbakerengagement #mtbakerelopement #mtbakersnoqualmienationalforest #winchesterlookout #washingtonelopement #washingtonengagement #wanderwashington #mtbaker by @hales_trails

TLDR; I may have ripped my pants and busted a lens while blinded by GOAT-STOKE, but I’d absolutely do it all over again.

Sahale Glacier Camp was an alpine fever dream of skies ablaze, goats galore, tantalizing tarns, and a haze-draped layer cake of peaks… with my best friends.

Locals know just what a delicacy it is to get a great sunset in the mountains. It’s a PNW rarity (another lottery win, if you will). The smoky sky threw brilliant reds and oranges; no lens was wide enough the capture the firestorm of radiance.

The alarm came early. However, when we saw the makings of a ridiculous sunrise we rocketed out of the tent. The sky burned intensely and then mellowed into spectacular pastels for much, much longer than anticipated.

We seemed to win the lottery yet again as several mountain goats wandered into our camp, completely unaware of their majestic beauty as they drank from our campsite tarn. The goats had me wide-eyed and utterly enraptured; they were supremely unbothered. They didn’t even seem to care that I slipped spectacularly, ripping my pants and thrashing my lens. I didn’t, either, because who can be upset when the view is as beautiful as this?

#sahale #sahaleglaciercamp #wanderwashington #northcascades #northcascadesnationalpark #mountaingoat #mountaingoats #peakbaggers #nikoncreators #nikonoutdoors #nikonoutdoorsusa

@nikonoutdoorsusa
Nikon z6ii & 24-70, 70-200 by @hales_trails

THIS OR THAT ✨ Which sky style do you like better: sharp, pinpoint stars, or glowy, out-of-focus stars?

If you love the idea of incorporating stargazing into your elopement day but don’t want to be limited by South-facing locations to achieve Milky Way core alignment, photos under the “regular” stars are a ✨STELLAR✨ option!

No matter which style speaks to you, make sure to work with a photographer (like me!) who can confidently and expertly capture your magical experience under the night sky.

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#nikoncreators #nikonoutdoorsusa
@nikonoutdoorsusa
Nikon z6ii + Nikon 24-70mm
@neewer #neewer LED panels

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Backpacking elopement, elopement under the stars, elopement at night, stargazing elopement, milky way elopement, elopement in Washington, magical elopement, vesper peak, vesper peak elopement

#washingtonelopement #vesperpeak #vesperpeakwa #pnwelopement #milkywayelopement #stargazingelopement #elopeunderthestars #backpackingelopement #wanderwashington #pnwonderland by @hales_trails

From the moment Caitlin and Austin reached out and told me about their plan, I knew we were going to be great friends. The vibes were vibing and the stoke was high. I couldn’t be more honored to be alongside these two rad souls as they said their vows at 6,000’ in the Washington backcountry. They’ve traveled ALL over the world and yet they still chose to elope right here at home on Vesper Peak.

Where their plans ended, my suggestions began - and maaaan it was epic. What started as a day hike and vows at sunset turned into a full-blown backpacking trip complete with golden hour & sunset vows, stargazing, and getting up before sunrise to take in the incredible colors.

Their day simply couldn’t have been more beautiful: their first look blazed in a haze of golden light, a smoky sunset burned orange as they promised forever, and blue hour melted into a moonless sky illuminated by the Milky Way. As darkness enveloped us we enjoyed dinner at a five (billion) star restaurant, featuring Mountain House (and gourmet cinnamon rolls for dessert).

The alarm came early but we nearly jumped out of our tents when we saw cirrus clouds draped across the eastern sky. We marveled in anticipation as the last of the stars faded from the heavens and the sky exploded in color.

Thanks for the memories and especially for all the puns. 💕

Nikon z6ii
Nikon 24-70 2.8, 70-200 2.8, 180-600 5.6
@nikoncreators

#backpackingelopement #washingtonelopement #adventureelopement #wanderwashington #milkywayelopement by @hales_trails

10/10/24 will forever live rent-free in my mind.

I knew there was going to be a good chance for Aurora based on the models from the morning - the sun’s severe X-class flare produced a CME (coronal mass ejection) that was earth-directed. Every Aurora chaser around the world was prepped and ready: batteries charged, car gassed, snacks packed. Me? I had an Enchantments Core permit. Not only was it peak Larch week, but Aurora was forecast for night 1.

We hit the top of Asgaard Pass after dark which afforded breathtaking views of the Aurora dancing over Colchuck Lake; STEVE (strong thermal emission velocity enhancement) also joined the show. I was significantly faster than my group which afforded me the opportunity to hike ahead, set up my tripod and camera, and get some shots before the group caught up.

As we crested into the Core I became preoccupied with finding a campsite. We made camp and had dinner. It seemed the light show was done, so we went to bed.

I woke up in the middle of the night to use the facilitrees. As I stepped out of my tent, my eyes were blasted with the most insane Auroral display I can possibly image. Shrieking with pure stoke, I woke up my friends.

I can only compare the brightness and pulsing to a Las Vegas laser light show. Normally we see the Aurora slowly dance across the sky in a slow, waving, and muted fashion. On 10/10 the lights pulsed and changed every second; nearly 360 degrees of brilliance at 8,000 feet. I felt that light in my veins - wide-eyed and electromagnetically intoxicated.

Capturing the show on my camera challenged what I knew about photographing the Aurora because it was moving SO DAMN FAST. Even though I nailed it, this is one of those times where the pictures and videos will NEVER compare to being there and losing my mind under a magnificent, pulsating sky. As a photographer, that fact is both heartbreaking and achingly beautiful. 10/10 is a night I’ll relive over and over for the rest of my life.

@nikonoutdoorsusa z6ii + Nikon 24-70mm 2.8

#wanderwashington #adventureelopementphotographer #pacificnorthwest #auroraborealis #enchantments #theenchantments #leavenworthwa #leavenworthwashington #nikoncreators by @hales_trails

One of my favorite things about my career is that I get to spend quality time outside with the most incredible people - and then keep them as forever friends. 🥰

Happy anniversary, Hayley & Brent! 💜

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#artistpointelopement #mtbakerelopement #artistpoint #artistpointwashington #washingtonelopement #mountainelopement #mountaineers #mtbakersnoqualmienationalforest #mtbakerskiarea #hikingelopement #bohowedding #bohobride #bohoweddingdress by @hales_trails

The lake glassed up as blue hour faded into darkness - slow togetherness glowing in the inky black. ✨

Dallas and Joe were mesmerized by my magical Milky Way work and knew that they wanted their special day to involve spending time under the night sky. They placed full trust and creative vision in my hands; “you know best”.

For two people who love spending time on the water, saying yes to this experience was a no-brainer. So we loaded up our beautiful 17-foot canoe (seriously, check out that wood inlay), drove it to the lake, and made some magic together under the stars.

If you’re looking for an incredibly unique elopement experience and magical photos to remember it by, look no further. Website link in bio. ✨

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For the Milky Way photographers out there, most of the images I share of couples under the night sky are blue hour blends.

I believe in providing transparency between real photos and digital art, not because one approach is right or wrong but because it is getting harder and harder to determine what is truly real these days.

Despite categorizing these additional images as digital art I NEVER, EVER use fake or AI skies - any compositing work is done using the skies I captured on the night we were there.

Listed below are the images that fall into the digital art category:

Both are drone shots (photographed in legal airspace by a member of my team who is a licensed Part 107 pilot).

1. Drone shot of the lake composited with an image of the sky taken from ground level that night
2. Drone shot of the canoe composited with an overlay of the sky taken that night

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#adventureelopement #adventureengagement #oregonelopement #washingtonelopement #adventureelopementphotographer #mounthood #mthood #milkyway #milkywayelopement #milkywayengagement #wanderwashington #oregonexplored #starryskies #stargazing #canoeing #canoetrip #canoetrip #kayaking #kayakadventures by @hales_trails

I spy with my little eye… 🦌

In my professional sunset-watcher opinion, this day at Rainier was the best sunset of 2024. These two really threaded the needle with the weather, as it poured torrentially the following day. But leading up to that storm… oh my.

Witnessing these Floridians enjoying the massive landscape of Mt Rainier National Park as the backdrop for their love story was a truly special experience. We all marveled in wonder at the scene that unfolded around us in ever-changing and increasing beauty. The sun bathed us in golden tones as we exclaimed at every viewpoint and turn in the trail. As the warmth of the day faded the sky exploded in a riot of color and we stayed until the light was nearly gone from the sky.

Allowing our eyes to adjust to the darkness, we made our way down the trail until it was dark enough for stargazing - we snapped a quick couple of photos under the Milky Way, flicked our headlamps on, and headed back to the cars.

It means everything that you placed your trust in me - from all the way across the country. It was truly an honor to create with you, laugh with you, and wander with you. ✨

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#mtrainierelopement #rainierelopement #washingtonelopement #pnwelopement #mountrainierelopement #mountainelopement #pacificnorthwest #wanderwashington #pnwphotography #adventureelopement #milkywayelopement #astroelopement #nationalparkelopement by @hales_trails