Mt. Hood at Sunset

Late this afternoon, I decided to walk to a local park. Prise, my pup, was due for her evening walk and I was keen to be in location where I could watch the sun set. Council Crest seemed the logical choice.

Council Crest is thought to be the highest point in Portland at 1,073 feet above sea level. Originally known as Talbot's Mountain after its pioneer settlers, it has also been known as Glass Hill and later as Fairmount, the name of the road that encircles it. According to legend, Council Crest got its name because it was here where Native Americans held meetings and built signal fires. According to McArthur's Oregon Geographic Names, however, it was named in 1898 by delegates to the National Council of Congregational Churches, who met on the top.

The water tower that now stands atop Council Crest used to be a 77-foot-tall wooden observatory, part of the Council Crest Amusement Park which operated from 1907-1929 and was torn down in 1941. From the top of the hill, one can see five mountains in the Cascade Range: Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, Mt. Jefferson, and Mt. Rainier. In addition, the park boasts a fantastic 180 degree view of Portland and surrounding towns.

The mountain in this image is Mt. Hood. The picture is a bit grainy (my camera has poor zoom capabilities), but I was drawn to the colours in the image.