The most common of all is to start... “Once upon a time there was this beautiful mountain named Loowit,” (the spelling is in dispute also) otherwise known today as Mount St. Helens.

According to what may be the authentic legend, without the unembellished editing by those raised with Walt Disney animated classics, Tah-one-lat-clah, or “fire mountain” was inhabited by an old crone named Loowit. Long before Europeans appeared on the scene, native tribes could cross the Columbia dry-shad. But when the tribes became greedy and quarrelsome, “Coyote” took steps that eventually led to the bridges destruction.

First he caused all the fires in lodges to go out. Only the fire maintained by Loowit remained burning so that all her neighbors came to her to re-light their campfires. When the Great Spirit asked Loowit to name her reward for peaceful sharing, she coyly suggested her transformation to “youth and beauty.”

And so it came to be, but once the transformation was complete, she inadvertently rekindled the fires of war. This now lovely young lady attracted the attention of two great chiefs —Phato who ruled over the north side of the Columbia, and Wyeast, who led the Multnomah people, south of the river. Mind you this was many years before the rivalry created by being an Oregon Beaver, or a Washington Cougar. (continued next page)