I took this dusky photo in the late afternoon with the city
streetlights of Portland just beginning to come on. I was standing off a main road in Vancouver.
I am lucky. About three miles from where I live in Vancouver, Washington is this beautiful view of Mount Hood which is located in Oregon. I looked up the mileage between where I live and Mount Hood and it was sixty road miles. And, I would approximate it is about 40 miles -- as the crow flies.
Mount Hood is the highest peak in Oregon -- it being twenty miles from Portland, Oregon which is just across the large Columbia River from Vancouver. According to Wikipedia, Mount Hood is considered to possibly have an eruption in the next 30 years -- it is informally considered dormant for now.
Early Native American cultures had various spirit tales about the mountain. Wy'east is the name given to Mount Hood by the Multnomah tribe.
Right now, as one can see in the above photo, the mountain is deep in snow while here in Vancouver, where I live, it has been rainy with moderate temperatures.
Out west on a trip? I recommend motoring or hiking up to Timberline lodge near its peak -- it is full of beautiful rustic designs and furnishings handmade by Great Depression employed artisans.
Visit this blog, Pacific Northwest Seasons, to enjoy interior shots of the beautiful Timberline's craftsmanship.
Mount Hood is a National Forest managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Mount Hood is a National Forest managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
My daughter lived in Portland for several years and loved the whole area. We visited her a couple of times. The traffic was miserable but the scenery was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteYou got that right -- traffic is miserable in Portland. But the town is vibrant and the landscapes are terrific. Populations are increasing in the Portland - Vancouver area which really puts a crush on services. thanks for stopping -- barbara
DeleteLOVE this! Such a beautiful landscape....as you know, so very, very different from Alabama :) I would love to know more about the Native American spirit tales of the mountain
ReplyDeleteStarr -- Coming here from KY I realize what you are talking about when comparing AL to WA. Night and day difference. Here is a link to an online source for the different tribal tales about Mt Hood;
Deletehttp://volcano.oregonstate.edu/education/livingwmsh/hr/hrho/nam.html
Thanks for the nice comment -- barbara
Barbara, thank you for the link to the wonderful legends of Mt. Hood. What a wonderful story of the two brothers fighting over the lovely maiden; but the last story about the two jealous wives made me laugh!!! Thank you for sharing these.
DeleteGreat picture. I like the layers of trees, cityscape(?), sky and mountain - a textile landscape in the making.
ReplyDeleteclaggle -- I like your idea of my photo -- a textile landscape in the making. I hadn't looked at it that way -- cleaver analogy by you. thanks -- barbara
DeleteA feast of beauty today--the red tree in your header is gorgeous and the mountain is ethereal -- it's very wonderful to live where you can visit such a wonderful mountain and can occasionally glimpse it when you are going about your business.
ReplyDeleteJune -- thanks for your nice comment -- in many ways the Pacific Northwest landscapes are ethereal to me. I believe you would enjoy this area. Of course each area in our country offers interesting environments. By the way the view I show in my photo is just a hop, skip, and a jump from my Vancouver library -- so I get wonderful books and views all rolled up into one.
DeleteAn iconic photo of an iconic mountain. I can almost hear trumpets and angels singing! Great shot.
ReplyDeleteSo one can understand how Native American tribes in this area set about telling spiritual tales about the mountain. It surely is mystical and awe inspiring to many folks that live here or visit. thanks -- barbara
DeleteIt looks very spiritual & ethereal in your gorgeous photo...I can see why there are talesYou are lucky...I think it does something to our body chenistry when we view such sights, or any beautiful natural wonder...I saw it on a high school cross country trip, but only from a distance...
ReplyDeleteWill it harm people who live below if it erupts?
Rita - Every time I ride past my view of Mt Hood I glance over at its beauty. Now that you mention it -- I too think that mother nature contributes to the health of our body and mind. I am finding natural wonders in this large city which I did not expect when I moved here. Perhaps the camera has trained my eye to be more observant. Reports about the eruption of Mt Hood, if it were to happen (only a 3 to 9 percent of a chance) would mean Portland a nearby city would only experience air born ash. I would assume the same for Vancouver which is a neighbor of Portland. -- thanks barbara
DeleteThat is one beautiful mountain, and we have enjoyed some adventures there.
ReplyDeleteHattie -- Because you lived in the Pacific Northwest, and still have a place here, you have had many opportunities to visit Mount Hood. I lived in Corvallis for several years once upon a time which is where I experienced most of the Pacific Northwest. thanks -- barbara
DeleteIt looks beautiful from here, but I'm not quite sure that I liked that sentence about an eruption within 40 years. These things are very unpredictable.
ReplyDeleteRunE -- Studies predict there is only a 3 to 9 percent chance it will erupt during the time-frame I mentioned. But as you know volcanoes have a mind of their own. After all that don't call it a volcanic mountain without reason.
Deletethanks -- barbara
Flying into Portland Mt. Hood is quite a site. What a way to spend an afternoon at Timberline!
ReplyDeleteBirdman -- Mt Hood is quite a site from the air. Timberline craftsmanship is absolutely fantastic -- worth the trip to Timberline let alone to experience Mt Hood. thanks barbara
DeleteOh, my! Lucky you to have that available for gazing at! Such beaut!
ReplyDeleteVicki -- I find great pleasure in viewing Mt Hood as I am sure other city residents in this area do. thanks -- barbara
DeleteBeautiful photography as always, Barbara, always makes me wish I could be there. And thank you so much for your kind support.
ReplyDeleteCarole Anne -- Don't most of us have places that we would like to visit. I know I have always wanted to visit Europe -- a place I would like to tour taking photographs. thanks -- barbara
DeleteWhat a beautiful view you have. And yes a few years back during our visit to my cousin in Portland we had dinner in July at the Timberline. What a view from our table next to the window....:)
ReplyDeletetroutbirder -- I figure that you had to have enjoyed Timberline. Its architecture, history, craftsmanship, and surrounding environmental beauty is difficult to beat. -- barbara
DeleteHey thanks for the link to my blog! Just found this a couple years late. I was just down in Portland area this past weekend with no sign of Hood, too much rain and cloudy weather. But I'll be back. It's positively enchanting at the holidays! Happy trails and happy holidays! jill from Pacific Northwest Seasons.
ReplyDeletejill -- your post was absolutely fascinating with all the WPA art work. Your photos caught the beauty and craftsmanship of the place. Thanks for stopping by -- till we meet again along the trails of blogging -- thanks -- barbara
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