There is a saying that mountains make their own weather. I’ve experienced this many times and there is a scientific reason that it is true. During the summer months, the slopes of the mountains heat up. The air surrounding all sides of the mountains flow upwards and meet around their peaks. Clouds form because, as the air rises, it tends to cool due to the saturation that is created when the warm air meets the cooler air. This phenomenon is best shown when photographing a mountain from a distance from a high elevation. This photo illustrates the clouds forming on Reynolds Mountain at Logans Pass. To get this vantage point, we had hiked the Highline Trail, which is one of my favorite trails.