The Elusive Giants

These elusive giants are so very easily seen from the air.  They rise above the clouds without any effort. I could not look away from the peaks.  The ground was pretty enough, but the power of rising above gave the mountains the allure of invincibility. You cannot miss such a site. Yet, by their sheer size, they could still be hidden at times.  I could stare at this view all day.  It was a moment of excitement to enter a new state. This site was a welcome to my vacation to Oregon and Washington.  It was the best picture I have ever seen from the air.  I can still remember the day fondly.

 It was quite a site coming into the airport. This is the picture taken from the plane coming into Portland, Oregon.  Mount Rainier is in the middle of the mountain.  The left mountain has been said to be Mount Baker. The third mountain, which barely rises on the right, is Mount St. Helens, the famous mountain that erupted in 1980.  This United States area is breathtaking and has stunning views from the air and ground.  There are so many beautiful mountains, and these just lined up perfectly for that day.   They are a distance from each other and even in different states. Yet they look so close together at the level of the air.  The massive size can be seen by the difference in the ground below.  They stand stoic to the beauty of nature and the power that it holds.

It was a beautiful landing and day coming into Oregon to continue my journey for all fifty states.  I have been to that side of the country, including California.  Being closer to the East does lend to a more extended plane flight, but the different quilted grounds change as I come across the country.  I have always loved mountains, and this trip was much anticipated.  We traveled to Oregon first and then to Washington state.  It was a smooth flight across the many smaller mountains and flat lands of middle America.  We arrived to see the mountains and the Oregon coast.  Washington state was also on the itinerary with Mount St Helens and other sites.  It was quite a different place since crime was much higher, and precautions had to be taken.  It is a lovely section of the country to visit with the mountains inland and the beauty of the beaches on the coast.

Oregon was beautiful with its waterfalls and visiting Mount Rainier National Park.   We went and tried to hike every day.  My brother's friend lives in Oregon and hosted us for part of the time. He brought us to a few places with some pretty hikes.  Finally, we reached Mount Rainier, which was cold and cloudy.  We could not see a thing from the ground. We stayed inside the building the entire time due to the colder weather at the higher altitude. It was disappointing after seeing the picture from the air.  The trail was said to have snow, and the clouds covered the mountain view completely.  It is such a huge spectacle that it became elusive on the ground.  Eventually, on another day, it was much more apparent on a boat ride. It engulfed the scenery hugely, and it was pretty impressive to witness its presence.  I could admire its beauty. All the other mountains shrunk around it. I did show the picture to the tour guide on the boat and was remarked that Mt St Helens used to have a pretty peak.  It was also interesting to see Portland and the extended area. We went to an old-school restaurant.  

Washington state was also so beautiful with the previous site of the swinging bridge at Puget Sound and the mountain view skyline. The Puget Sound had great views of water and mountains. The marine life was quite visible, even with their stench. The main scene was Mount St Helens, with its flatter peak that was never seen from the ground. It was another disappointment at that National Park, too. The clouds hid it from any vision, seeing a better view from the video at the center. The eruption history was so fascinating, as was hearing the stories of those who witnessed it and were killed by it.  The photos were salvaged by a photographer who covered the film with his body. He tragically did not survive even miles away.  It was interesting to see some of the cars that survived the blast.  Even a cabin that was damaged but only had a surviving structure.  Even while traveling back from Washington state, I did not see Mount St Helens from the ground, so the photo was the only time I witnessed it from the air. The power of the mountains can even be derived from an eruption.  The devastation was extensive, and it even changed the landscape.

We traveled back to Oregon for the coast and the Pacific Ocean. It was not the first time for the Pacific, but it was still very pretty.  We went to several beaches and even collected some sea glass. It is more difficult to find it in the ocean.  I tried to see the mountains from there, but it was too far away.  It was a more relaxing part, and the drive was beautiful. The curves did not lend to an easy feeling after the accident in Arizona. It was a lovely trip away from the danger of Portland.  I did try to enjoy my time off and forget about the stress of work.

The drive back to Portland was another chance to find Rainier, but he was not seen again. I did not plan to go on one of the longer trips to see Mount Baker.  It was a wonderful trip clearing the west side of the country except for Nevada.  It was a different part of the United States.  Being the last night, it was difficult to leave, but I had to go back home.  I hoped to see the Olympic National Park, but it was too far away.  I was out in the woods and on the beaches.  I want to return to Mount St. Helens, but it's not on the cards this year either. 

It stands in my memory as such a beautiful trip. The sites were great except for the clouds that amazingly covered such giants in the sky. The days were full of excitement with the many hikes and tours.  I have always loved to travel, and this trip was one of my favorites. Getting away to see another part of the country with my time off was nice.  The picture will be remembered and looked at again and again.  The mountains are impressive to see in person and made me feel so small. It is a good feeling to realize that beauty is in the world and to have the chance to admire it.

Looking at this photo gave me a sense of wonder.  I did see all these mountains despite my attempt at the ground.  It will be one of my favorite pictures from vacation. It taught me about the power of the mountains as they stand and even after an eruption.  All these mountains are volcanoes, and Baker and Rainier could go off.  I also learned that the clouds can hide even the most prominent mountains.  They are giants in the end that must be admired for their beauty but headed for their power.   I will never forget this adventure and wish to return on my quest to witness these mountains again.  Each peak stands as a testament to the area they stand.