Completing the Myth, Seeing the Last Great Mountain

There are three mountains which prevail as the tallest, most prominent and popular in the Columbia River Gorge. They are as follows:

Mt. Hood-

Mt. Saint Helens-

Mt. Adams-

All of these mountains seem to have a personality of their own, each with their snow capped tops and glaciers.

I titled this completing the myth because there is a legend that these three mountains were the result of a lover's quarrel, one which ended in permanence.

It is said by Klickitat tribal legend that the father and his two sons came to find a home to settle. They came across the Columbia River Gorge, and thought it was the most beautiful land they had ever seen. Yet the two sons could not agree on who got what stretches of land, therefore the father shot two arrows, one landing north of the Gorge, one landing south. These respective places were where the brothers would settle. The father built a natural bridge made out of stone and earth so that his sons and their relatives could join, meet, and celebrate together from time to time.

One day a beautiful woman appeared in the Gorge, and the two brothers both took very envious eyes towards her. They both began to try to court her, and woo her into their respective sides of the Gorge. The woman liked both of the sons equally, and could not decide on which one to go with.

While courting the woman, the brothers got into a heated argument. It became so intense, that they actually started wrestling with each other to see who could win the woman over. During this match, the earth shook violently as the brothers cascaded through the Gorge. Both became fatigued and came to rest on their sides of the rivers. In the heated battle, the brothers had caused the natural bridge to collapse into the river, damming it and destroying the land link that had held their families together for so long.

The woman was so ashamed of these two fighting, she turned the men into mountains, tall and prideful, but separated and permanent. One brother was transformed into the modern day Mt. Hood, standing straight and prideful as to try to still win over the woman with his pride.

The other became modern day Mt. Adams, still very tall, but with his head bowed in respect and love towards the woman he so dearly loved.

And the woman? As for her, she too turned into a mountain, also known as Mt. Saint Helens in modern day. She would always be within eyesight of the two other mountains, but doomed to be just as permanent as they were, always fastened to the earth, never to move.

As for the bridge? The legend has lived on in the modern day bridge at the place where the natural bridge was said to have been formed. The modern bridge has been aptly named "The Bridge of the Gods" and to this day links both sides of the river for collaboration and celebration.

I felt this myth today as I visited Mt. Adams and Klickitat County. Yes, I was out for work and visiting organizations in Goldendale and White Salmon. But for some reason I seem to have an affinity for Mt. Adams, on the edge of two worlds, two biomes, ever vigilant on the dichotomy of the area, yet tucked away and not consuming the limelight. There is something so majestic about that mountain, towering over the high plains, creating a grand scale of just how small we are in comparison to the natural world...

(Mt. Adams from 50 miles away.)