Favorite mountain ranges (live, place, pictures)

[Verseau]

Some photos of the mountains in New England:

[THE ITALIAN HARDBODY]

These mountain ranges have nothing on the Alps in northern Italy, ya know?

[Widowmaker2k]

Sierra Nevada. Ridiculous amounts of snow, the largest trees in the world, and the tallest measured waterfall in North America, not to mention the highest of any mountain range listed in the poll (plus, the Sierra Nevada is my home). Not to nitpick, but the Sierra Nevada (along with the Cascades) ais technically part of the Pacific Mountain System, much as the Rockies and Appalachians have several sub-ranges.

I'd also like to mention the White Mountains, which in CA also get over 14,000 feet. They, along with the Sierras, sit on either side of the 4,000 foot Owens Valley, making it one of the deepest in the nation. The White Mountains also contain the oldest living things on earth, the bristlecone pine, which can reach ages of well over 4,000 years (and indeed nearly 5,000).

I've heard many folks say that, while the Rockies are taller than the Appalachians, the relative heights above surroundings are almost equal. The Sierras However, rise like a wall on their Eastern side, gaining 10,000 feet in only a few miles. Sierra Escarpment from Wikipedia (wikimedia commons):

[mattyj46]

Sierra Nevada range for me, absolutley stunning area as with the rest but I just love the area.

[bob rulz]

I'm so glad you posted that picture Windowmaker, that is one of my absolute favorite pictures of all-time! Absolutely stunning.

I find it odd that you split the Appalachians into northern and southern sections and even specified the Adirondacks and the Berkshires, and lumped the Rocky Mountains all together! Every major mountain range in the lower 48 is represented but it could use some more consistency.

Some of my favorites include the Wasatch Range (a bit biased, I must admit), the Tetons, the San Juan Mountains, the Sangre de Cristo Range, the La Sal Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada, which are absolutely stunning. Out east I'm also quite fond of the southern Appalachian region. The Appalachians in general are very beautiful, but the Blue Ridge area especially.

Of course, the Alaska Range pretty much trumps all of these, but it's not a fair competition.

[Widowmaker2k]

Originally Posted by bob rulz

I'm so glad you posted that picture Windowmaker, that is one of my absolute favorite pictures of all-time! Absolutely stunning.

I love it too...I actually have some pictures that I took a few years back which are very similar, but I they aren't on this computer at the moment. Interestingly enough, the picture really doesn't do it justice. Standing on the floor of Owens Valley, staring up at the mountains 11,000 feet above you is a truly humbling experience, and really has to be experienced to be fully understood.

Of course, the Alaska Range pretty much trumps all of these, but it's not a fair competition.

I actually have to disagree with you here. The Alaskan Range is certainly taller then any of these listed, but there's more to a mountain's majesty than it's height. For example, in the Sierra's and Cascades, due to the heavy precipitation and mid latitude location, the vegetation is both dense and enormous, and the sequoias/redwoods are an attraction all unto themselves. There's always a taller mountain. For example, the Alaskan mountains are taller than the Californian mountains, which are trumped by the Andes, which are beaten by the Hindu Kush, which are in turn beaten by the Himalayas, which are themselves beaten by Olympus Mons (on Mars), etc.

[bob rulz]

Originally Posted by Widowmaker2k

I love it too...I actually have some pictures that I took a few years back which are very similar, but I they aren't on this computer at the moment. Interestingly enough, the picture really doesn't do it justice. Standing on the floor of Owens Valley, staring up at the mountains 11,000 feet above you is a truly humbling experience, and really has to be experienced to be fully understood.

Wow. I really hope I get the opportunity to drive through the Owens Valley someday. One of the most unheralded natural masterpieces in this country.

Originally Posted by Widowmaker2k

I actually have to disagree with you here. The Alaskan Range is certainly taller then any of these listed, but there's more to a mountain's majesty than it's height. For example, in the Sierra's and Cascades, due to the heavy precipitation and mid latitude location, the vegetation is both dense and enormous, and the sequoias/redwoods are an attraction all unto themselves. There's always a taller mountain. For example, the Alaskan mountains are taller than the Californian mountains, which are trumped by the Andes, which are beaten by the Hindu Kush, which are in turn beaten by the Himalayas, which are themselves beaten by Olympus Mons (on Mars), etc.

I can appreciate your point, but the Alaska Range truly is incredible. The Sierra Nevada is the only (major) mountain range that competes with it in terms of majestic beauty. Some smaller Rocky Mountain ranges do as well (such as a few of the ones I mentioned). Of course, there are numerous foreign mountain ranges that America couldn't even compete with.

Another good one that hasn't been mentioned is the Hawaiian Island chain! Surely a very beautiful mountain range.

[Tim Rankin]

Originally Posted by bob rulz

Wow. I really hope I get the opportunity to drive through the Owens Valley someday. One of the most unheralded natural masterpieces in this country.

Bob, I've been lucky enough to visit peaks on both the west and the east side of the Owens Valley, and both are absolutely spectacular areas.

A note to the original poster: If the Rockies are one choice, you should have made the Appalachians one choice also. At this point, the Apps are leading the Rockies overall by 13 to 12, but with the Apps broken down, it would seem the Rockies are leading the pack.

p.s. Personally, I prefer the Rockies by a slim margin, but fair's fair.

[Future Trooper]

i believe that the Adironacks and the Rockies are the most beautiful mountain ranges in North America. The Adirondacks in the Winter are beautiful!! especially looking at the reflections in the waters of Lake Champlain. The Rockies are also beautiful especially in winter also. seeing a bear in its natural habitat is awesome.although one draw back is that most of the roads in the Rockies close for the winter unlike the Adirondacks.i dream of living in a house built like a huge mountain lodge and sipping a cup of hot chocolate and looking out the front window and just enjoy the breathtaking scenery.

[miamiman]

Sangre de Cristos. I am fascinated with high mountain ranges in the southern tier of states (New Mexico, Arizona, Southern California). The top of the mountain ranges stand in such stark constrast to lower elevations.