It’s hard to beat the soaring majesty of mountains. It’s also apparently hard to define exactly what a mountain is. Countries around the globe use factors such as height, elevation, relief and volume in a vain attempt to define them. The Oxford English Dictionary settles for something suitably vague: “a natural elevation of the earth surface rising more or less abruptly from the surrounding level and attaining an altitude which, relatively to the adjacent elevation, is impressive or notable.” Merriam-Webster doesn’t do any better: “a landmass that projects conspicuously above its surroundings and is higher than a hill.” Look up ‘hill’ in the same dictionary and you will find that it is described, helpfully, as “lower than a mountain.”
However you define them, mountains are some of the best places to look for snow. For the past two years winter has seemed determined to pass me by. Last year, New York was unseasonably warm and disappointingly snow-free; this year Seattle‘s rain and suggestion of frost has been equally underwhelming so I decided that if winter wouldn’t come to me, I would go to winter. Yesterday, my friend Sylvia and I headed north to the mountains near Granite Pass and there, in all its snowy glory, we found winter. Here are some of the snow-capped peaks that greeted us.
“Mountains have a way of dealing with overconfidence.” – Nemann Buhl
“No matter how sophisticated you may be, a large granite mountain cannot be denied – it speaks in silence to the very core of your being.” – Ansel Adams
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountain is going home; that wildness is necessity; that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.” – John Muir
Have you seen any soaring summits or peaked pinnacles recently? If you would like to join in the travel theme (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:
- Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Mountains
- Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
- Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
- Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS.
Looking forward to your mountainous post.
xxx
Ailsa
Where's my backpack? 
Hi Ailsa,
Mountains are so beautiful in so many ways: wonderful theme this week.
http://jennhammerphotography.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/weekly-travel-theme-mountains/
Really wonderful post, I love those brightly coloured houses and that fabulous blue shot of the mountain lake is stunning 🙂
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What magical pictures!!! These are all beautiful work! 😀
Thanks kelihasa – although the real credit should go to Mother Nature 🙂 xxx
Beautiful shots—
Thanks Elizabeth 🙂
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Hi Ailsa, Love this theme! Gorgeous mountain shots you have. Here is my contribution:
http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/mountains/
Amy, what a lovely post, I can’t stop looking at that bottom shot, with the stately trees and the tiny houses nestling at the bottom of that wonderful lake, and behind it all, those amazing mountains.
amazing pics and nice blog…loved to read the way you write….happy blogging
Thanks so much, Kavita, I’m glad you’re enjoying my adventures. xxx Ailsa
Love that second image and you have reminded me that I am long overdue a trip to our own wonderful mountains – only an hour’s drive west (or less.) I’m due a mini road trip. 😀 – Suzan –
Do it, Suzan, min road trips are so much fun. I may have to plan one myself now I think of it! 🙂
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Hi Ailsa,,here are the interesting mountains that you can find in Oman
http://smartntrendymom.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/travel-theme-mountains/
Ooh, how lovely, Riah, thanks for giving us a glimpse into the mountains of Oman, beautiful. xxx
Love your mountain photos. Here are mine: http://wp.me/p23TG1-2cF
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Oh what a wonderful train journey, Francine, and oh boy, those eagles are gorgeous. xxx
Hi Your mountain photos are hard to beat! Here is my entry
http://scsurfbutler.com/2013/02/15/travel-theme-mountains/
Have a good day
Oh Lake Tahoe looks amazing, your photos make me even more determined than ever to visit! Lovely. 🙂
Lake Tahoe is a must for your travel bucket list.
I went on a road tip this weekend to San Luis Obispo Highway 101. Per your blog you were traveling farther North on the 101, Salinas Monterrey Ca.. You should visit the Aquarium. You spoke about the El Camino Real California coast route. I drove along El Camino Real from San Luis Obispo to Monterrey Calast Novemeber. It is a beautiful ocean view scenic route. Travel safe!
I went on a road tip this weekend to San Luis Obispo Highway 101. Per your blog you were traveling farther North on the 101, Salinas Monterrey Ca.. You should visit the Aquarium. You spoke about the El Camino Real California coast route. I drove along El Camino Real from San Luis Obispo to Monterrey Ca last November. It is a beautiful ocean view scenic route. Travel safe!
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Hi Ailsa,
Thanks for another great challenge. Here is my response:
Oh Naomi, what a joy-filled journey you just took me on, I loved every single minute of it.
Thanks, Ailsa. This was a subject close to my heart!
Love your shots Ailsa, I just love the snow. http://rainbowbakery.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/travel-theme-mountains/
Thanks Georgia, I love your perky little mountain rock of Gibraltar, I never knew the origin of its name, see, I just learned a new thing. Love it. xxx
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Let’s just say, I’m thinking outside the box for this week’s theme: http://brain.queenkv.org/2013/02/19/travel-theme-mountains/
Haha, I love it, Kris, a very modern mountain indeed! 🙂
Alas, it has been too long since I have seen a mountain. I’ve often thought there are two things that can remind me of how tiny we really are; stars and mountains.
I love the quotes.
Ahh, my wish for you, Jean, is that you get to see a mountain soon. I agree, stars and mountains remind us of the greater things in life. xxx
What wonderful photos!
Thank hyou, Srdjana, I’m glad you enjoyed them. xxx
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Love your mountain photos Ailsa.:)
Here’s my views, http://chikawithyeneyes.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/♥travel-theme-mountains♥/
Thanks, and have a lovely blissful day y’all,
Yen-Yen
Lovely series, Yen-Yen, the Hollywood sign made me grin, and Yosemite stole my heart. xxx
Pingback: Travel Theme: MOUNTAINS part 2 | The Rewild West
Here’s Part 2, enjoy!! =)
–Love and Liberation–
Jan @ TheRewildWest
Gorgeous, Jan, isn’t Mount Hood amazing? xxxx
Oh yes! A few years ago I roadtripped to Portland where a friend lived and we went hiking about 1,000 feet up, starting at the Timberline Lodge (which they used for the outdoor shots of the hotel in The Shining!)
Your photos make winter look so lovely!
It’s a really beautiful part of the Cascades, WH, and the snow makes it look all the prettier. 🙂
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I decided to revisit New Zealand and Korea for my mountain trip, hope you enjoy…
Wow, every time I see photos of New Zealand my heart beats just a little bit faster, pommepal. what an amazing landscape. And oh boy, that looks like quite a hike up Seoraksan Mountain. Congrats on reaching the summit!
That was in 2004, I think I would be a lot slower now. But I was surprised at the age of some Koreans I saw on the mountain. They seem to be a fit population. I put it down to sitting on the floor for meals and most of the train stations do not have escalators but lots of steps to get up and down
Nice photos! I love the Muir quote.
Muir is kind of a hero of mine, he was way ahead of his time. Glad you enjoyed my post. xxx 🙂
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lovely photos of mountains.. and here’s my entry for this week’s theme http://starlight427.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/travel-theme-mountains/
Ahh, there’s nothing like getting out of the city and cutting a track through the mountains, is there, elizz? 🙂
so true, a wonderful break from the city life and a breath of fresh air 🙂
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This mountain and my camera…
Cheers!
Whew, I’m so glad you were able to fix your camera, that would have been awful. Lovely photo, and what an amazing train journey that must have been. xxx
It was great. Getting my camera back was also great 🙂
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Unfortunately, the only mountains I’ve been seeing lately are “mountains” of snow!! http://ididitforjohnny.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/travel-theme-mountains/
Haha, that made me laugh, oh dear, Mother Nature can be a little devil sometimes, can’t she? Hope you managed to dig your way out!
Had to dig out again this morning. Soon enough, we’ll be whining about the heat (and humidity!).
I loved seeing the Rockies and the quotes you used with them! Thanks for another great idea.
I shared photos of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia from fall 2011:
http://livingtheseasons.com/2013/02/19/travel-theme-mountains/
Nancy
What a lovely getaway with your boy toy, Nancy 🙂 Those fall colours are splendid, and I adore that Muir quote. xxx
Thanks Ailsa!
Thanks Ailsa! BTW, I have an idea for a theme – graffiti. Some of it is really good.
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The mountains of my heart are in Montana: http://twoscamps.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/travel-theme-mountains/ Thanks Ailsa!
Wow, twoscamps, I can see why they’re in your heart, what a wonderful photo (and how did you know I love Yeats? ) xxx
Aw thanks Ailsa! We love Glacier and we love Yeats! The two seem to go hand in hand! Happy travels!
Haha, you too! xxx
Xxx Ailsa:-)
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Here goes my entry on himalayan ranges of Kashmir valley,India
http://njoyeverymoment.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/travel-theme-mountains/
Wonderful, thank you so much for showing us the beautiful mountains of Kashmire, njoy! Love it. xxx
Thanks a lot for stopping by 🙂
Thankooo thankooo 😎😊😊
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While driving through Death Valley…
http://iplaycamera.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/travel-theme-mountains/
Love it, tell me it wasn’t in summer? It would be awfully brave of you to have the window down at that time of year. I drove across the Mojave in August and nearly melted. 🙂
Hi Ailsa…
Unfortunately snow very rarely found here….:-)
here’s my post for this week..
Ooh, these are so cool, 4otomo, that night time shot is brilliant,
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