Yesterday, I posted a photo of the Mt Bachelor ski area looking South from Tumalo Mountain. Looking North from the same location near Bend, Oregon, are some other ancient inactive volcanoes. On the left is South Sister, in the center is North Sister, and to the right is Broken Top. There are many more majestic snow-covered peaks along the spine of the Cascade Mountains, including Mt Hood, Mt Rainier and the famous Mt St Helens, which violently erupted in 1981. This countryside is an outdoor person's paradise. There are numerous trails accommodating all levels of hikers and mountain bikers, plus abundant crystal clear lakes and streams for fishing. Animals still abound, especially deer, elk and bears, of course ever more concentrated, but not to the extent found in more urban areas, where wildlife habitat is massively degraded. When I gaze from this spot, the world doesn't look overpopulated. In fact this view seems almost timeless. Then again, I know there are no Paiute hunting parties out there, no villages where natives sit, telling stories or roasting meat. There are only finely equipped backpackers, who have parked their SUV's in forest service campgrounds, embarking on a modern excursion into nature.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Quiet time
Yesterday, I posted a photo of the Mt Bachelor ski area looking South from Tumalo Mountain. Looking North from the same location near Bend, Oregon, are some other ancient inactive volcanoes. On the left is South Sister, in the center is North Sister, and to the right is Broken Top. There are many more majestic snow-covered peaks along the spine of the Cascade Mountains, including Mt Hood, Mt Rainier and the famous Mt St Helens, which violently erupted in 1981. This countryside is an outdoor person's paradise. There are numerous trails accommodating all levels of hikers and mountain bikers, plus abundant crystal clear lakes and streams for fishing. Animals still abound, especially deer, elk and bears, of course ever more concentrated, but not to the extent found in more urban areas, where wildlife habitat is massively degraded. When I gaze from this spot, the world doesn't look overpopulated. In fact this view seems almost timeless. Then again, I know there are no Paiute hunting parties out there, no villages where natives sit, telling stories or roasting meat. There are only finely equipped backpackers, who have parked their SUV's in forest service campgrounds, embarking on a modern excursion into nature.
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7 comments:
So lovely! I can imagine a gentle breeze and the whispering of the pines. Are they Juniper pines?
Hey, don't forget Mt. Baker!!
Excellent shot recalling times past. No Ghost Dancers out that way, eh? MB
So majestic! And your love for the land and the mountains comes through loud and clear.
Time changes things in ways beyond our control and as I get older I find I have a growing dislike for most change - which is often unnecessary or change for its own sake, or to make the rich richer.
That is such a fabulous part of Oregon and I do miss it! And like Jacob, I can feel your love for the land and mountains. It is sad to see how things change with more towns/cities, more people who could care less about the land because it's all about them instead.
Thanks for the beauty and for the reminder of what is really important.
Sylvia
Beautiful...timeless
Hmmmm... A Paiute hunting party would be interesting to watch. Listening to the stories too. But then, what would whites understand (me being white and very aspirin white at that)?
Another lovely photo of Oregon's outstanding beauty. Asl always, I really enjoyed your commentary. You took us from "Yeah, nice mountains," to someplace rather thoughtful.
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