Sunday, May 14, 2017
Mountains!
Although we saw lots of beautiful and interesting things on this short trip (we packed a lot into three days!), the biggest difference from home here in Ontario is the ever-present mountains in the distance. Such awesome scenery compared to our low hills and rolling or flat fields!
We could see some snow-capped peaks in the distance from the Tulip fields themselves, just west of Mt. Vernon in Washington, but couldn't figure out which ones they are.
Rather than hitting the Interstate, we wandered east of Burlington to find Hwy. 9. Then we followed it on the west side of the Cascades, anchored here by Mount Baker, all the way to Sumas, on the border. The mountains played games, peaking out from behind the foothills and disappearing again, all the way north. We're looking east here, toward Mount Baker, but I think this line of peaks may be a lower group that shows up on Google Maps as South Twin.
Whichever it is, a close look reveals some pretty steep slopes!
As we neared Sumas, suddenly a Canadian peak appeared in the distance, beyond the slopes of Abbotsford where the houses march upwards. I think this may be Mount Robie Reid, about 50 km. to the north.
It had been a stunningly clear day; we even had a clear view northwards in B.C., a rare day indeed in our limited experience. This is another peak, but I'd be guessing if I tried to name it.
We got almost the same view of Mt. Robie Reid from Abbotsford as from Sumas, just 20 km. closer.
And then we drove downslope to a viewpoint we've come to know, to see Mount Baker on this brilliant clear day. It looms above the southeast horizon about 40 km. away, and can be seen from many points in Abbotsford. Talk about a landmark! Ironically we got a better view of it from Canada than from the U.S. where its located.
It turns out that it's a lot harder to identify these mountains than I had expected. This blurry screen shot of Google Maps shows Mount Baker in the southeast, and Twin Peak just to the left of it and south. It also shows the south edge of a widespread cluster of snow-capped peaks north of Abbotsford in B.C. Sorting out exactly what direction you are looking, and which peak you're looking at is going to take me some time to learn!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Such beautiful country, FG. You shot great photos!
ReplyDeleteAll those mountains (except for Baker) look unfamiliar to me, but it's often the angle that you're looking at it than makes it look different. I love our mountains! I see Golden Ears in Canada all the time from Bellingham. Sometimes they're even lit from the sun and look magnificent. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think mountains are the greatest and I always so much look forward to seeing them each year when we head for the southwest. I never tire of seeing and having mountains around. Not often we see snow capped ones like you did though and snow on a mountain is just like frosting on a cake giving mountains that finishing touch. The Canadian Rocky Mountains are also bigger than the mountains we are accustomed to seeing in Arizona, California, and New Mexico. I've driven through the BC and Alberta Rockies half a dozen times many years ago and I think that is where and when I developed my overall love for mountains and mountain ranges.
ReplyDeleteSpectacular mountain views! I would love to do that drive into Washington State from BC some trip out there.
ReplyDeleteThose mountains are magnificent.
ReplyDeleteFantastic mountain views. So pretty to see the snow and ice on them.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos . Such pretty scenery . Looks cold up on those mountains . Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteIt's so good to see so much snow in the high country this year. - Margy
ReplyDeleteSpectacular Scenery! Those are real mountains, not like the 2,000 high hills that are called mountains here.
ReplyDeleteI always wonder what the first settlers thought when they came to mountains like this, or say the Grand Canyon!
ReplyDeleteAstonishing shots, Stew - classic mountain shapes! Somewhat bigger than the ones in the UK, too...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots. It is so hard to find and name the mountains because to me it is hard to know how close or far away they are. some are hiding behing others---it is crazy and beautiful. I think The twins are also called the Sisters.
ReplyDeleteMB