Saturday, August 12, 2006

"First There Is a Mountain. . .

. . .then there is no mountain, then there is. " ~Donovan


Mount Rainier absolutely dominates the Seattle landscape, looming large in the skyline when its view is unobscured by rain clouds, summer haze, or the shroud of its own mists. Some visitors to Seattle don't even get a glimpse of it during their stay in the city. It has a habit of playing "peek a boo." On clear winter days when the air is pristine, the mountain's image is sharp and huge against the blue sky. On clear summer days a haze can minimize it. When I was driving in the University district at sunset one afternoon this week I noticed a clearer view than I had seen in days and snapped this shot for you from a freeway overpass. When you visit Seattle, be sure to include a visit to the mountain and the spectacular Mount Rainier National Park in your plans. Mount Rainier is in the Cascade Range and is an episodically active volcano. Unlike its southern neighbor, Mount St. Helens, it has not had any eruptions since the 1840s, and before that it is thought not to have had any for 1000 years.

9 comments:

Jean said...

Love the photos and the comments.

Eric said...

Isn't there a phrase or saying about the "mountain being out today" or something like that?

Oleanderman said...

A seat of the gods. Very impressive and imposing - nice picture.

Ame said...

No Eric...the saying is that "the MOON'S out!" heheheh ;-)

Beautiful shot Kim...love the colors, it looks like a Monet!

And let's hope the eruptions stay that way!

Ryan said...

I moved from the Seattle area 9 years ago but still have family there. Everytime I visit I notice the mountain. When I lived there I stopped noticing it like I do now as a visitor. Nice photo.

Kim said...

Eric, yes, I think folks express it that way.

Neo, seat of the gods indeed. . .although when you said that I had to laugh thinking of the fat marmots that were seated eating in the meadow I hiked up to last August. :-)

OCP, I know what you mean about "seeing it."

VDP, Ame, & Christina, Thanks much for your kinds comments. I love visiting each of your sites.
-Kim

Unknown said...

its like a painting!

lovely, lovely...

John Nez said...

I saw Mt. Rainier today from the Whidbey Island ferry at Kingston and I have to say it never looked larger than it did.

Once you actually shrink all of Seattle into the picture at a distance of 15 miles, and Mt. Rainier STILL looks gigantic... the mountain actually somehow even looks bigger than when it's just seen from Seattle.

Kim said...

John, that's just what Dan, our pastor who was just at Whidbey a few weeks ago said! I've gotta go see that view.
-Kim