Near Fort Klamath in Klamath County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)
Ancient Spirits
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 6, 2020
1. Ancient Spirits Marker
Captions: (left) Vision Quests As a sacred place, Crater Lake was often the destination of vision quest. Young men journeyed alone to the lake, seeking spiritual guidance for their future. Later in life, men might return on a search for skill, power, or the answer to a crisis. This practice continues today.; (right) Crayfish Story Llao controlled lesser spirits appearing in animal form. One was a giant crayfish that would pluck away visitors from the rim and drag them into the chilling depths. Such stories were a lesson to be respectful when visiting the caldera.
Inscription.
Ancient Spirits. . Stories from the Klamath Indian tradition tell of the many battles here between Spirit chief Llao (of the below-world) and Skell (of the above-world). In one visit to the above-world, Llao fell in love with the chief's daughter. He promised her eternal life if she would live with him below the mountains. She refused, and in anger Llao threatened to destroy her people, rushed up through the opening of his mountain and hurling fire down upon them. Skell took pity on the people and stood on Mount Shasta to defend them. They waged battle, hurling red hot rocks as large as hills, making the earth tremble, causing fiery landslides. The people fled to the waters of Klamath Lake. Two holy men offered to sacrifice themselves by jumping into the pit of fire on top of Llao's mountain. Moved by their bravery, Skell drove Llao back underground.When the sun rose, the mountain was gone. It had fallen in on Llao, leaving a large hole. Rains came, filling it with water. The lake became known as Giiwaas (a most sacred place).
Stories from the Klamath Indian tradition tell of the many battles here between Spirit chief Llao (of the below-world) and Skell (of the above-world). In one visit to the above-world, Llao fell in love with the chief's daughter. He promised her eternal life if she would live with him below the mountains. She refused, and in anger Llao threatened to destroy her people, rushed up through the opening of his mountain and hurling fire down upon them. Skell took pity on the people and stood on Mount Shasta to defend them. They waged battle, hurling red hot rocks as large as hills, making the earth tremble, causing fiery landslides. The people fled to the waters of Klamath Lake. Two holy men offered to sacrifice themselves by jumping into the pit of fire on top of Llao's mountain. Moved by their bravery, Skell drove Llao back underground.When the sun rose, the mountain was gone. It had fallen in on Llao, leaving a large hole. Rains came, filling it with water. The lake became known as Giiwaas (a most sacred place).
42° 56.925′ N, 122° 2.944′ W. Marker is near Fort Klamath, Oregon, in Klamath County. It is on Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, aka Rim Drive near Pinnacles Road, on the right when traveling south. The marker is at the Skell Head pullout. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Klamath OR 97626, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the High Desert and in Southern Oregon. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, in the Cascade Range, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 858 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 7, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
