One of the things I like about living in Southern California is the variety of topography and climates within a close distance. Within less than a two hour radius of most points, you can get to beaches, desert, farmlands and mountains. Here in Palm Springs, we are surrounded by the beautiful San Jacinto and San Bernadino Mountains. They are massive, yet serene and calming. I enjoy going to the top of the San Jacinto mountain on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. It's a 15 minute gondola ride in the world's largest rotating tram car. It offers stunning views of the desert and the majestic San Jacinto Mountain. If you ever visit Palm Springs, I highly recommend taking a tram ride to the top. There are wonderful trails throughout the San Jacinto State Park, with incredible vistas of the desert floor and across the valley. For some reason I am drawn to mountains and find them fascinating. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to see many mountains in my travels. This brings me to another scintillating edition of: The Saturday Seven: Most Beautiful Mountains (in the US).
#1 Mount McKinley, Alaska: 20,320 feet high. This truly stunning mountain is the highest in the US.
#2 Mount Whitney, California: 14,494 feet high.
#3 Mount Elbert, Colorado: 14,443 feet high
#4 Mount Rainier, Washington,: 14,410 feet high. I've flown over this a few times in our private jet and have had some incredible views.
#5 Pikes Peak, Colorado: 14,110 feet high
#7 Mount San Jacinto, Palm Springs, California: 10,834 feet. Ahhhh my favorite, right here at home in the desert. I have a great view right from my back yard.
Do you have any favorite mountains, large or small? Recent research shows that leaving comments on this blog helps reduce stress, and induces spontaneous smiles-so go ahead, comment away!
-Rick Rockhill
I like the Great Smokey Mountains myself, been part of my life for what seems like forever.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I have always LOVED about The Desert--Palm Springs, La Quinta, etc...Is the BEAUTY of those mountains...The way they change as the Sun moves....The late afternoon sun is just gorgeous on them with the shadows that are created....!
ReplyDeleteI first went to Desert Hot Springs back in 1958 and Palm Springs in 1961....I use to spend quite a bit of time there---On & Off, when my father had a little house in La Quinta, back in the mid and late
60's....I wanted t buy that little house of his when he was going to sell it, but he wouldn't let me...! (Don't ask!!!)...And over the years I have spent a week here and there, and weekends, too, occassionally....It is always the mountains that--as you said---were so very peaceful. Tranquil and just BEAUTIFUL! So, these are my favorite mountains, Rick.
There is another thing about the Desert. Driving down from L.A., as I would get closer to Palm Sprinfs, I could feel my body relaxing...the tension falling away. By the time I would get to my Motel or little house or whatever...It would just feel soooo wonderful....And there would be those mountains, kind of cradling me and protecting me...It's a really very special place, as you know.
aw drat, you don't have my mountain in podunk!
ReplyDeletesmiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
I've always liked McKnight mountain in New Mexico (its in Sierra County) and is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteEven though its small, Camelback mountain in Phoenix has such a nice shape to it
The only mountain Ive been up was Mount Washing in New Hampshire when we visited Maine/New Hampshire back last summer.... I was totally gobsmacked by the views from the top....
ReplyDeletex
Definetly a spontaneous smile!
ReplyDeleteThey are stunning!
I am so curious to find out what do they mean by "world's largest rotating tram car"? I'd love a stunning view like the one you describe; however, if the car is actually rotating while it moves, I probably would want to jump off :o)
ReplyDeleteThe most beautiful mountain that I've ever been is in Macchu Picchu, Peru. It's called, Huayna Picchu (8,860 ft)... Amazing!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huayna_Picchu
Cheers!
Your list of majestic mountains is way too short. But then I don't think a posting to include all of them would do, either. My favorite mountain is always the one that I'm seeing at any particular time or location.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog to see Longs Peak. Somewhere back in previous postings are photos of the Smoky Mountains from which I live an hours drive away.
From my deck I can see some itty bitty foothills of the Sangre de Cristos. Most soothing to gaze at.
ReplyDeleteThe ones you have posted are far more majestic.
Nice blog. I wandered over from Whim's place. Had to cross the Rocky Mountains.
Hi Rick - wow great mountains!!! My mountain is booming and crashing this morning - a couple of sonic blasts have rocked the house!! I am so over volcanoes - give me one of your quiet mountains any day!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love Mt. Ranier. I took a ride on your tram and was scared to death! I think I had my eyes closed for most of the ride.
ReplyDeleteMt. McK isn't that far from me. I love it-- but I'd like to see yours as well. They are beautiful!
ReplyDeletemount minsi and mount tamanny stand on either side of the delaware river and form what is know as the delaware water gap. it's really a beautiful, rugged scene.
ReplyDeleteThe Appalachians, The Rockies, the ones in Wyoming and Mt.Weialeale in
ReplyDeleteKauai!
Hey Rick, here's a COUPLE MORE ;-)
ReplyDeleteReciprocal interest - and nice pictures of YOUR mountains. At the moment, my favourite mountains are all in New Zealand, although I've never climbed any. They're just beautiful enough to gaze on from a distance.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. I remember Palm Springs from my earlier days - probably still as hot, I suspect...
Nonny Mouse
The Appalachians are gorgeous but I'm sorry, just not as stunning as the incredible beauty of mountains west of the Mississippi.
ReplyDeleteAnd McKinley -- should really be referred to as Denali, it's proper name!
20,320 -- what an amazing climb!
Zooomabooma- thanks for the info on McK also known as Denali.I remember hearing that when I was in Alaska a few years back.
ReplyDeleteYes, I live in them. They are called the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains. They are green, rolling, ancient mountains. Nothing like the rocky young upstarts you have listed here. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhenever I lay down, I have the most stunning view of the Elasticwaistbandlady Mountains!
ReplyDeleteOoh how beautiful. All the mountains assembled in one place, perfect for comparison.
ReplyDeleteIt's a refreshing change from always seeing them individually!
Before I was even old enough to drive I went on a 62 mile backpacking trip up and over Mt. Whitney.
ReplyDeleteI even posted a blog about it.
That was good times. But that wasn't the most beautiful mountain / pass. That would be Colby Pass and just watching as the valley below just opened up.