Pico Blanco, the “White Peak,” is sacred in the native traditions of the Rumsien and Essalen. One of the few stories that survives from these cultures involves the destruction of the world in a great flood.

When the waters rose, this summit was the only land that remained exposed. Here, Eagle, Crow, Raven, Hawk, and Hummingbird met. Hawk plucked a magical feather from the head of Eagle, and carrying it, dove to the bottom of the sea, and planted the feather in the Earth. This caused the waters to recede and recreated the world.

Photo No. 311L04 ©2000 Marc Shargel
Photographed at Pico Blanco, Big Sur, CA

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