“Guardian”

Location: White Salmon, Washington (2021)

Evening captures the glow of Mt. Hood as the town of Hood River transitions to night during calm and clear spring like weather.

Mt. Hood had a different name, Wy’east, before Europeans arrived to rename the stratovolcano after a man, British Royal Navy Admiral, Samuel Hood.

Prior to the renaming, the volcano held a deep spiritual and religious significance to the local people. It embodied the persona of a god. Capable of bringing forth both life and crushing death.

As I stood along the northern bank of the Columbia River looking south toward Hood River, I couldn’t help but see not just a mountain, but a spiritual being watching over the land. Like a shepherd guarding a flock of sheep, I saw a god named Wy’east silently keeping watch over the people of Hood River.