Happy belated birthday! I thought I didn’t have a favorite mountain, but then I thought of how I kept missing the turn off for my mom’s house until I realized that when you get the largest mountain centered perfectly in view, the turnoff to her road is coming up on the right. I don’t know the name of the mountain (though now that I think about it I’ll have to find out), but I like that she guides me to my mom.
Happy belated! I cannot choose a favorite mountain; I'm surrounded by them and they're all perfect. But walking all around (not up) Uluru in central Australia many years ago was something else.
Also: carnivorous sundews! I never knew these existed until last fall when I met them in a fen and am fascinated by them.
I would like to see Uluru someday, from however afar. I'm so angry at how mining companies destroy Native Australian petroglyphs. Like much of the American prairie that was lush before cattle destroyed it, Australian was a very different place before sheep were unleashed across it and the natives were forbidden to perform prescribed burns. I recommend the book Dark Emu to get a picture of what once was.
I haven't read that one but it sounds like one I should and want to! Thank you.
The entire Red Centre is almost beyond description. We lived in Australia for a couple years but went back because we hadn't even made it to the interior of the continent. I'm glad to have been able to go.
I live at a mile high (yep, Denver) BUT I’ve ridden and driven the Blue Ridge Parkway and your story made me miss it even more than Eisenhower Tunnel and the Continental Divide! I’ve been contemplating a trip to see family in Asheville - you pushed me over the edge! Thanks, ThomasPluck! How much to subscribe? I’ll be looking for that new translation of “Metamorphoses”.
Well, according to Wikipedia, Ben Bulben is merely "a large flat-topped nunatak rock formation", not a proper mountain. Nevertheless, scaling it had deep spiritual import for me!
Happy belated birthday! I thought I didn’t have a favorite mountain, but then I thought of how I kept missing the turn off for my mom’s house until I realized that when you get the largest mountain centered perfectly in view, the turnoff to her road is coming up on the right. I don’t know the name of the mountain (though now that I think about it I’ll have to find out), but I like that she guides me to my mom.
That's really sweet. Mama Mountain.
Happy belated! I cannot choose a favorite mountain; I'm surrounded by them and they're all perfect. But walking all around (not up) Uluru in central Australia many years ago was something else.
Also: carnivorous sundews! I never knew these existed until last fall when I met them in a fen and am fascinated by them.
I would like to see Uluru someday, from however afar. I'm so angry at how mining companies destroy Native Australian petroglyphs. Like much of the American prairie that was lush before cattle destroyed it, Australian was a very different place before sheep were unleashed across it and the natives were forbidden to perform prescribed burns. I recommend the book Dark Emu to get a picture of what once was.
I haven't read that one but it sounds like one I should and want to! Thank you.
The entire Red Centre is almost beyond description. We lived in Australia for a couple years but went back because we hadn't even made it to the interior of the continent. I'm glad to have been able to go.
Happy Birthday! 🥳
Sandia Mountains - I never took their beauty for granted growing up in Albuquerque. They really do turn watermelon pink at sunset. 🤩
They sound gorgeous!
I live at a mile high (yep, Denver) BUT I’ve ridden and driven the Blue Ridge Parkway and your story made me miss it even more than Eisenhower Tunnel and the Continental Divide! I’ve been contemplating a trip to see family in Asheville - you pushed me over the edge! Thanks, ThomasPluck! How much to subscribe? I’ll be looking for that new translation of “Metamorphoses”.
Thank you, Dana! I hope you enjoy your trip. I think I have subs set to $40 a year. I need to visit Colorado... I'll write about it here when I do.
Happy Birthday, Tom!
Happy Birthday! 🎂
My favorite mountain?
Well, according to Wikipedia, Ben Bulben is merely "a large flat-topped nunatak rock formation", not a proper mountain. Nevertheless, scaling it had deep spiritual import for me!
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43298/under-ben-bulben
Thank you! That's one I need to visit.
Here's a random photo I took of Ben Bulben in 1996. It is a great formation.
https://substack.com/profile/2872116-jm-austin/note/c-58595917
Great photo!