- Mount Shuksan (wa100.dnr.wa.gov)
Visitors new to Washington may never have heard of Mount Shuksan, but it is one of North America’s most iconic peaks. Situated on the western flank of the rugged North Cascades National Park, the mountain is capped by glaciers and surrounded by picturesque alpine lakes and meadows. The area offers a wealth of outdoor activities year-round, including hiking, camping, mountain biking, fishing, climbing, mountaineering, skiing, and snowshoeing. Mount Shuksan is frequently photographed from nearby Picture Lake, which provides a reflecting pool for this striking summit. The peak is widely regarded as one of North America’s classic mountaineering routes, renowned for its technical difficulty. For those seeking a more relaxing pursuit, accessible trails around the mountain, including the aptly named ‘artist point’, offer unparalleled views of Mount Shuksan as well as nearby Mount Baker and the surrounding peaks of the North Cascades.
- Urubamba River (Wikipedia)
The Urubamba River or Vilcamayo River (possibly from Quechua Willkamayu, for “sacred river”) is a river in Peru. Upstream it is called Vilcanota River (possibly from Aymara Willkanuta, for “house of the sun”). Within the La Convención Province, the name changes to Urubamba. A partially navigable headwater of the Amazon River, the Urubamba rises in the Andes to the southeast of Cusco. It originates on the slopes of Cunurana in the Puno Region, Melgar Province, near the La Raya pass. It flows north-north-west for 724 km (450 mi) before coalescing with the Tambo River to form the Ucayali River.