Monday, August 27, 2012

A Purging of the Land

North Fork Toutle River Valley, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved  (Velvia slide film)


Reminiscent of a Dantesque landscape, shaped by purgatorial smoke, ash and fire, what once was a densely forested river valley was dramatically purged by the violent eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. Although it will take many lifetimes to restore this valley to its former lushness, life is slowly, persistently returning, offering hope for the return of a renewed paradise among the mountains of the Cascade Range.

at

24 comments:

  1. OlaAugust 27, 2012 at 4:05 AM

    amazing nature!

    Blog about life and travelling
    Blog about cooking

    ReplyDelete
  2. John "By Stargoose And Hanglands"August 27, 2012 at 5:21 AM

    Was that really 32 years ago? Wonderful to see how life slowly returns to the mountain.

    ReplyDelete
  3. JoeAugust 27, 2012 at 5:48 AM

    So breathtaking Doug. You have captured such depth in this landscape. Brilliant.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cezar and LéiaAugust 27, 2012 at 6:35 AM

    A movie scenery, a place of dream...Wonderful image!
    Léia

    ReplyDelete
  5. Roland TheysAugust 27, 2012 at 7:35 AM

    wow,excellent photo! GREAT Doug!

    ReplyDelete
  6. ZielonaMilaAugust 27, 2012 at 9:03 AM

    Extraordinary face of the nature, fantastic photograph. I am greeting

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousAugust 27, 2012 at 10:07 AM

    I don't agree with the comparison with Dante. From this scale the Earth looks like a living, growing organism in this image. A criss-cross of veins and arteries, axions and neurons. More life than death. Maybe I just like nature more than people.

    ReplyDelete
  8. yzAugust 27, 2012 at 10:11 AM

    fantastic light and color

    ReplyDelete
  9. MelissaAugust 27, 2012 at 10:31 AM

    Wow, you got a lot of nice contrast, and I love the size of the river compared to the river bed. You visited at a very nice time of year!

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousAugust 27, 2012 at 3:29 PM

    Superbe paysage,une lumière et des couleurs fantastiques.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousAugust 27, 2012 at 3:33 PM

    My Compliments Doug!
    Have a wonderful new week :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. ChristopherAugust 27, 2012 at 5:42 PM

    Amazing display of nature's destructive force--while strikingly desolate it's a gorgeous result Doug

    ReplyDelete
  13. georgeAugust 28, 2012 at 8:02 AM

    It's remarkable how nature reclaims even the most desolate of places...and it's a remarkable how you have imbued the image with a great feeling of depth.

    ReplyDelete
  14. RonAugust 28, 2012 at 9:27 AM

    WoW! That's a fantastic shot!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Monica S EngellAugust 28, 2012 at 10:09 AM

    What an amazing view, and fantastic captured!I really admire your work!
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. franzAugust 28, 2012 at 1:42 PM

    what a captivating document! amazing how much of life has returned already. i was there in 1989, and compared to then it looks like a rainforest today ...

    ReplyDelete
  17. DomLOrthaAugust 29, 2012 at 12:16 PM

    Wonderful landscape!! Specially, I like the winding brook. Beautiful picture again!
    Have a nice day.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Traveling HawkAugust 29, 2012 at 3:46 PM

    The landscape is spectacular! You must have had a good observation point.

    ReplyDelete
  19. RIZALENIOAugust 29, 2012 at 10:03 PM

    Breathtaking. Made me think of this scene during the 1980 eruption.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Karen @ Pieces of ContentmentSeptember 1, 2012 at 1:47 AM

    Wonderful photo, it includes so many aspects of the landscape. Great to see the plants slowly returning to stabilise and rebuild the area.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Cezar and LéiaSeptember 2, 2012 at 7:55 AM

    A very impressive landscape, would love to see it for myself!
    God bless you!
    Cezar

    ReplyDelete
  22. rianSeptember 7, 2012 at 9:35 AM

    i guess all the emission from that explosion nurtured & fortified the land for even more lush growth.. i see it's starting now.. such a beautiful landscape.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Andrew Graeme GouldSeptember 25, 2012 at 9:09 PM

    A beautifully detailed image with lovely light, Doug.

    ReplyDelete