Valley before the Top

This mountain (Mount Hood) an active volcano is 80 km east of Portland, Oregon, USA. Its peak is nearly 3500 m and is the highest mountain in Oregon which is part of the Cascade range spanning from Canada to California. On rare clear days the magnitude of its ruggedness is simply amazing. It is the only ski resort in the US that is open year round on natural snow which is actually a glacier. The picture was taken at an altitude of approx. 300 m