The Okanogan valley in north central Washington has been a bit smoke choked from fires in the North Cascades.
The valley has been shaped by glacial ice. The Okanogan ice lobe flowed down this valley to the Columbia Valley where it blocked the Columbia River and covered the northern half of the Waterville Plateau. As the ice retreated, ice margin terraces were formed along the valley sides and have been further enhanced by the erosion from the Okanogan River.
One of the terraces in Omak is used in a horse race. A race that Disney made famous with the movie Run Appaloosa Run. I visited the starting line area of the race that is still run as part of the Omak Stampede.
Start line
View from start
Approaching the edge of the terrace
The plunge to the river
Getting a sense of the steepness of the Suicide Run slope
Galloping a horse down this slope into the river is hard to imagine. But it is an old tradition with deep cultural roots. It takes a special horse that can tolerate a steep run, a swim across a river, and lots of distractions.
An old tradition with deep cultural roots!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many other acts of outright abuse and cruelty we'd abide were those our only criteria.
Not as steep as I remember.
ReplyDelete