VN #062: Pipe Organ Mountain
Posted February 9, 2025
Pipe Organ Mountain
On the western flanks of British Columbia’s West Chilcotin and within the Ilgachuz Mountains is Pipe Organ Mountain, an ancient volcanic cone. Since its dramatic creation about 5,000,000 years ago, it has been cut into intricate shapes by several ice age glaciers followed by the most recent10,000 years of polishing by erosion and gravity.
While photographing for my book Motherstone, I, along with Rita and friend Mike Duffy, had the honour of hiking all around this astonishing mountain. It’s rich palette of shape and colour was laid down when volcanic vents lying side by side erupted at different times with different mixtures of lava cooked underground for varied lengths of time.
As I photographed the mountain, and as the changing light revealed features of extraordinary beauty, I was often overcome with the power of its unimaginable influence.
The gift of Light
Light reveals ‘pipe organ’ columnar basalt.
These ancient basalt columns form a map of the land; the map we used to travel here.
On the southern slopes of Pipe Organ Mountain, we hike over coloured cinders. Each is a different eruption with a completely different texture.
Minutes later, a herd of mountain goats follow our trail.
From across the valley, we see an approaching blizzard. It is one of the many forces which continues to shape the Ilgachuz Volcano.
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