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Larch Mountain shield volcano, Oregon, as seen from Washougal, Washington.
Image taken July 3, 2003.
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Larch Mountain, Oregon ...
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Larch Mountain, Oregon, is a 4,061-feet-high shield volcano of the
Boring Lava Field, with the uppermost lookout area being called "Sherrard Point". Larch Mountain rises above Multnomah Falls (but is not visible from there) at approximately Columbia River Mile (RM) 136. There is a 6.8 mile U.S. Forest Service trail which connects the two.
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Larch Mountain, Washington ...
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Larch Mountain, Washington, is a 3,480-feet-high peak in Clark County, Washington, located 10 miles north (as the crow flies) of the Columbia River community of Washougal. In September 1902 the eastern flank of the mountain was scorched by a major forest fire, now called the "Yacolt Burn". Larch Mountain is within the State of Washington's "Yacolt Burn State Forest".
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No "Larch" in the Larch Mountains ...
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Both Larch Mountain, Oregon, and Larch Mountain, Washington, are covered with Noble Fir, a tree first collected and named by David Douglas in 1825 in the high mountains near the Cascades of the Columbia River.
The timber industry however referred to the Noble Fir as a "larch" to emphasize the good quality of wood (most firs are not good for lumber) resulting in the names of both mountains.
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View of Larch Mountain, Oregon ...
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A good view of Larch Mountain, Oregon, is from the Tunnel Point Pullout on the west-bound lane of Interstate 84, just east of Portland, Oregon.
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Larch Mountain shield volcano (background), with Crown Point (foreground), as seen from Tunnel Point, Interstate 80, Oregon.
Image taken June 15, 2003.
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Sherrard Point ...
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The U.S. Board of Geographic Names made "Sherrard Point" the offical name for Larch Mountain's highpoint in 1946.
From Oregon Geographic Names (McArthur and McArthur, 2003):
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"
Sherrard Point was named in honor of Thomas H. Sherrard, who was associated with the USFS for more than 40 years. It comprises the viewpoint on the northeastern extremity of the summit ridge of Larch Mountain and is marked with a bronze plaque. During his tenure with the USFS, Sherrard served as supervisor of the Mount Hood National Forest from 1907 to 1934 and took a keen interest in the development of recreation facilities as well as assisting in the establishment of the Bull Run water preserve. ...
"
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Sherrard Point bronze, Larch Mountain, Oregon.
Image taken August 3, 2008.
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Wildflowers ...
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Wildflowers galore can be found along the quarter-mile U.S. Forest Service trail from the picnic/parking area at Larch Mountain to the overview at Sherrard Point.
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Paintbrush, Larch Mountain, Oregon.
Image taken August 3, 2008.
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Woodland Penstemon, Larch Mountain, Oregon.
Image taken August 3, 2008.
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Bunchberry (Dwarf Dogwood), Larch Mountain, Oregon.
Image taken August 3, 2008.
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Views from Larch Mountain, Oregon ...
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View of the Columbia River Valley and Mount Adams from Larch Mountain, Oregon.
Image taken October 11, 2004.
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Mount Rainier, Washington, from Larch Mountain, Oregon.
Image taken October 11, 2004.
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Mount St. Helens, Washington, from Larch Mountain, Oregon.
Steam and ash are visible from the crater and drifting east.
Image taken October 11, 2004.
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Mount Adams, Washington, from Larch Mountain, Oregon.
Image taken October 11, 2004.
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Mount Hood, Oregon, from Larch Mountain, Oregon.
Image taken August 3, 2008.
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Mount Jefferson, Oregon, from Larch Mountain, Oregon.
Image taken October 11, 2004.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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