Mount Si – July 4th 2009
On the eastern end of the most heavily-populated county of Washington State, prominent Mount Si (pr. “Sigh”) rises roughly 4,000 feet off the valley floor of the Snoqualmie River. Named for Josiah “Uncle Si” Merritt, an early settler, Mount Si marks the beginning of the Cascade Range as seen from Interstate 90 as you travel east into the range. Its prominence evokes your attention.
Mount Si may have been the visual source of inspiration for the name Twin Peaks, a 30-episode television show that aired in the early 1990’s. Scenes from Twin Peaks and the expansive movie version, “Twin Peaks – Fire Walk With Me,” were filmed in a couple of small towns nearby Mount Si. Misty Snoqualmie Falls, the lodge above the falls, railroad cars at Snoqualmie, and a restaurant located in North Bend served as props in both shows. Indoor scenes were typically filmed inside a studio elsewhere.
It is a fascinating mountain. What strikes most people about Mount Si is its abrupt rocky face. I especially like photographing it in the late in the afternoon when it is fully illuminated by sunlight. This mountain has many different looks. Mount Si takes on different appearances depending upon angle of sunlight, time of year, and weather. I only began photographing Mount Si this past year or so, even though I have lived close by for more than 20 years, a testament to the abundance of subject matter the Pacific West Coast of America has to offer. Mount Si on Wikipedia. See more mountains!
