Diablo Lake is one of several reservoirs in the Cascades used to produce power for Seattle.
A Valley Like This
Sometimes you look at an empty valley like this,
and suddenly the air is filled with snow.
That is the way the whole world happened –
there was nothing, and then. . .
But maybe some time you will look out and even
the mountains are gone, the world becomes nothing
again. What can a person do to help
bring back the world?
We have to watch it and then look at each other.
Together we hold it close and carefully
save it, like a bubble that can disappear
if we don’t watch out.
Please think about this as you go on. Breathe on the world.
Hold out your hands to it. When mornings and evenings
roll along, watch how they open and close, how they
invite you to the long party that your life is.
– William Stafford
(Written on plaque at Cascades lookout)
Highway 20 from the Seattle area climbs into the northern Cascades and is part of the Cascades Loop, a 400-mile scenic drive.
Liberty Bell is the peak as seen from Washington Lookout, the highest point on the drive.
The Skagit River, below, is dammed several times.
The suspension bridge leads to a rain forest-like walk along the river.
Just beautiful!
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What a great idea to place a Stafford poem next to that view. He’s an amazing poet who describes our relationship to nature in much of his work and always in a way that makes me say, “yes, that’s it. That’s it, wholly.”
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Thank you, Cynthia. I thought of you when I saw the poem, expecting that you would like his work.
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Spectacular! N Cascades- some of the hardest and best hikes we’ve ever done, and a few hairy drives too. The poem is perfect. Stafford nails it! Thanks.
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Nice to hear from you, Pat! We did not have time to do much hiking…perhaps that is for the best, for now at least. Hi to Greg!
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Such a beautiful collection of photos- love seeing what you share on your blog!
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Thanks Jamey. Time for us to catch up…
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