Along the Cascade River

 

At Marblemount, the Cascade River joins the Skagit. We took the small road that follows the Cascade for a few miles to see what we could see (still looking for eagles wit).h no luck).

Everywhere is upholstered with moss and the occasional bush filled with bright red fruits of their season long labors. The moss covered stones themselves seem to be growing out of the ground. It all feels alive but the time scales are all much too long for us mere mortals to detect. We are as the buzzing of flies to the stones and chirping of birds to the bushes. The lichens seem not to notice us at all.

But the river communicates more. It is a more varied, expressive place with moving parts and swaying trees. The sunlight plays a central role in waking the the scene. Dispelling the fog comes later as if the river is wiping the sleep from it eyes.

The scale of life is different here as well. Even people are small and, at least as individuals, they are insignificant in the scheme of things.

Trees, alive and dead, dominate the tableau. Like bodies carried downstream after a some wild battle in the mountains, they lie randomly in the river bed while the living on the shore stand erect and mourn their loss.

With the trees,the licken, moss, people, and river have purpose in being here. The circle of life here pivots on a tree stump.