*** Best viewed in "Original" size! ***

This is a full 360 degree panorama, taken from a sandy promontory jutting out into the Sandy River
Canyon. The Sandy River forms in two main branches from Reid Glacier, on the west side of Mount Hood
(obscured by clouds). The primary branch rushes down the canyon to the right, over the falls to the
right of the forested knob, and joins the other branch just below this overlook. The canyon is
formed from highly abrasive volcanic sand; hence the name of the river.

This is the most dangerous picture I have ever taken. The day was unsettled, and down-canyon winds
of 30 to 40 mph carrying dense clouds of sand and dust tended to hit the overlook full-force. I
chose a lull between dust storms and set up well out on the sandy peninsula, (see next picture)
which dropped off steeply on both sides. I managed to shoot the full 360 degrees (12 frames) of this
panorama without incident, but you can see another dust storm coming down the upper part of the
canyon in the distance. I decided to shoot one more set of frames as a backup, and started with the
cliffs to the left, with my back to the canyon. When I came around to face the canyon the dust storm
was upon me. I didn't have time to even try to run back to the rim; all I could do was hunker down
over my tripod, cover my camera with a dust rag, and try to stay standing in the wind. It lasted a
good two minutes, and several times gusts almost blew me over. Miraculously, my camera (Canon
Powershot Pro 1) still functioned perfectly, although I could hear grit when the lens was zoomed.
Even this eventually worked itself out and the camera served me well for the rest of the trip.