Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Old Postcard Wednesday on EARTH DAY--Mount Shasta, California



Daisies

It is possible, I suppose that sometime
we will learn everything
there is to learn: what the world is, for example,
and what it means. I think this as I am crossing
from one field to another, in summer, and the
mockingbird is mocking me, as one who either
knows enough already or knows enough to be
perfectly content not knowing. Song being born
of quest he knows this: he must turn silent
were he suddenly assaulted with answers. Instead
oh hear his wild, caustic, tender warbling ceaselessly
unanswered. At my feet the white-petalled daisies display
the small suns of their center piece, their - if you don't
mind my saying so - their hearts. Of course
I could be wrong, perhaps their hearts are pale and
narrow and hidden in the roots. What do I know?
But this: it is heaven itself to take what is given,
to see what is plain; what the sun lights up willingly;
for example - I think this
as I reach down, not to pick but merely to touch -
the suitability of the field for the daisies, and the
daisies for the field.

-Mary Oliver




Geological Facts about Mt. Shasta

  • Mount Shasta is 14,179 feet (4,322 m) high.
  • It is a stratovolcano.
  • It has an estimated volume of 108 cubic miles (450 km³), making it the most voluminous stratovolcano of the Cascade Range.
  • It is the second highest peak in the Casade Mountain Range, the highest being Mt. Rainier, Washington, 14,410 feet (4,392 m).
  • It is the fifth highest peak in California, the highest being Mt. Whitney 14,505 feet (4,421 m).
  • It is part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, a range of volcanoes from Northern California to Southern Canada.
  • It is located in Siskiyou County, California, United States of America, North America, World.
  • It has one of the largest base-to-summit rises of the world's mountains, from 10,000 to 11,000 feet above the surrounding area.
  • It one of the great singular mountains, rising alone from the surrounding countryside, unconnected to other mountain peaks, like Mt. Fuji in Japan (12,388', 3,776m) a stratovolcano, and Mt. Kilmanjaro in Africa (19,340', 5,875m) a stratovolcano.
  • It has a satellite cone, Shastina, 12,330 feet (3,758 m) to the west of the main peak.
  • There are seven named glaciers on Shasta, with the four largest (Whitney, Bolam, Hotlum, and Wintun) radiating down the from high on the main summit cone to below 10,000 ft (3,000 m) primarily on the north and east sides.
  • Experts estimate that the last eruption on Mt. Shasta was in 1800 CE.


    Much more information available at:
    Mt. Shasta, California's Sacred Mountain -

    Bibliography, Links, Lore, Resources, Quotes, Notes





    Read my previous post about Mt. Shasta
    .

6 comments:

dianasfaria.com said...

my mother used to grow Shasta daisies in her garden. I wonder if they originated in Mt. Shasta?
great post for today Lydia, thanks. I love the pretty postcard.

Looking to the Stars said...

Beautiful card! A much needed touch of beauty for this ole soul of mine :)

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

Such a pretty little poem,
"as one who either knows enough already or knows enough to be
perfectly content not knowing" I love that part.

Happy Earthday!

Batteson.Ind said...

There is something so achingly innocent about old postcards, as if all the joyous moments of an age have been captured in the ink. I love these posts and the fact that you delve into a well of things to accompany the cards.. thank you!-)

Unknown said...

It also have an excellent ski slope.
I went there about three years ago.
Breath taking!

Lydia said...

@Lily- Interesting you would mention Shasta daisies, because as I was working on this post I Googled to see if I could find a correlation between the daisy and the mountain. In the brief reading I did I couldn't determine if that is so....

@Looking to the Stars- Glad it soothed on Earth Day.

@Wayfaring Wanderer- The poem appealed to me because it focused on the simplicity of the daisies (tho' they aren't really simple) rather than the grandeur of the mountain (and oh, is it grand).

@the watercats- I think your description of old postcards is just rich! So glad you enjoy them.

@Buddha- That's news to me. When i stayed in the town overnight a few years ago I drove around after dinner and then walked around the next morning, but I didn't come across that info. I love the free spirits that live and visit Mt. Shasta!

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