Moving Mountains

Song - Mountain Music by Alabama

Why are mountains so important?  

The snow cross on Mt. Tallac

Guide posts while traveling?  

Viewpoints?  

Sacred energy?

Different ecosystems? 

Recreation? 

Safety from enemies?

"More than any other natural phenomenon, mountains suggest the soaring of the human spirit and its expansion into new worlds." - Revd Phillip Parker

Mt. Tallac from across the lake

Living in California all of my life, I am used to hills, valleys and mountains.  It just comes with earthquake country.  Land is always shifting around here.

I have always lived at the base of Mt. Diablo.  It is considered a sacred mountain to California
Indian people. Just about every California Indian community who viewed Mount Diablo would, at
one time or another, make a pilgrimage to the summit area for ceremonies and the reason is that it was the creation point for the Miwok people or genesis for some California Indian people.

Walnut Creek is located at the base of Mt. Diablo

I am sure it has something to do with some kind of "home base" for me.  I know when I have been traveling and I catch a glimpse of Mt. Diablo in the skyline and I know I am close to home.

Also, weather seems to gravitate around mountains.  When it rains near my home, I look to Mt. Diablo for the hills to turn green or for those rare snow storms.  

Clouds seem to "snag" on it.  It's also one of the first areas to go "golden" as the grasses seem to dry up there first. 

Mountains reflect beautiful sunsets and moon glow.

Mt. Tallac from across the lake

But lately I have been thinking about Mt. Tallac, located in Lake Tahoe.  It is 9,735' above sea level and there is Washoe Indian folklore that goes with it.

I love the cross that is almost always showing.

Old postcard from the Tahoe flea market

The Washoe Indians felt that if there was no snow in the cross, it would mean that there would be a season of drought. 

Over 55 years ago, my grandparents bought a cabin at the base of Mt. Tallac on Forest Service land.

There have been many years of fun up at Lake Tahoe.  As kids, every summer we would climb part way up the mountain to little Floating Island Lake.  When I had my own children, they went to the lake as well.

Andy pushing off from shore on an "island"

Floating Island Lake has these incredible bog islands that detach from the shore and we would climb on them with a big pole and float around the lake on our own little island.  Over the years there are fewer islands but what sweet memories.

Oh yeah....back to mountains.....

Mr. B has climbed up Mt. Tallac at least once.  My older brother Dave, climbed it many times.  My younger brother Tim has climbed it while I waved at him through binoculars from the Baldwin Beach.  I have not had the pleasure of the climb, but I enjoy the majestic sight and beauty of this incredible mountain. It is on my "bucket list"!

Mt. Tallac from the beach

Mt. Tallac reflecing in the swamp

A great day to paint the mountain in the early morning.

View from Baldwin Beach

There is a beautiful meadow near the cabin.  My friends and I have spent days painting from this wonderful viewpoint.  I always dreamed that I would get married in this meadow but that was before practicality came into being.

The wildflowers in the Springtime

Marcy Wheeler painting in the meadow

It amazes me that there is a cross on the mountain almost all of spring & summer and it usually remains until the first snowfall of the next season.

The cross of snow on Mt. Tallac

My cousin Billy and brother Dave with Mt. Tallac in the background - love those old cars! circa 1957

"Every time I have some moment on a seashore, or in the mountains, or sometimes in a quiet forest, I think this is why the environment has to be preserved." – Bill Bradley