Phato and Wyeast fought for beautiful Loowits’ favor, causing the earth to rumble, and by hurling molten rock at each other. Angered at the great chief’s destructiveness, Creator separated the rivals by causing the bridge to fall.

The most popular version of the tale is that Great Spirit changed the principals of the love triangle into mountains. Wyeast became the lofty symbol of Portland, Oregon, Mount Hood. Phato became Adams, the hidden-one, often mistaken for St. Helens or Rainier when viewed from afar. The coyish, young, Loowit became St. Helens.

The winner differs according to what tribe the legend comes through. If you are not of the Cowlitz tribe, living in the shadow of Loowit, but say Klickatat tribe, then the ending has a different twist. It goes like this from the eastern tribes: They (Phato and Wyeast are brothers in this version), continued to fight until Phato, the larger of the two defeated Wyeast. It was decided that Squaw Mountain (Loowit) should take her place by the side of the victor. Because it was Wyeast she truly loved, her heart was broken. She laid herself down by the feet of Phato, falling into a deep sleep from which she has never awakened. (Maybe she awoke in May of 1980?) She is now known as the Sleeping Beauty (near Trout Lake), and she lies where she fell. It is said that Phato once had a straight head like Wyeast, but when he realized the fate of his bride, he dropped his head in shame, never to raise it again.
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