Columbia River Gorge
The scenic Columbia River Gorge was our companion all day long. We viewed it from several different vantage points, studied its rich history by means of the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and shipboard interpretation, and biked and hiked a restored section of its historical scenic highway. Some of us even aided the Gorge economy by shopping in stores in Hood River, Oregon. The Gorge is as rich in scenery as it is in history.
At one time the location of The Dalles, Oregon, was a significant gathering place for Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest. The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through the Gorge in 1805 and again in 1806. With the discovery of gold in what became Idaho, the Gorge saw a steady stream of gold seekers headed for the Rocky Mountain diggings. The Dalles became a major outfitting center for the miners as well as a crucial transportation hub in the era of steamboating on the Columbia River.
After this afternoon’s lunch, as we cruised from Hood River down the Columbia toward the sea, the rains that make the Pacific Northwest famous for its greenery fell steadily. Mist rising from dark evergreen forests and silhouettes of distant mountains combined to cause the Columbia River landscape to take on the appearance of an impressionistic painting. It is easy to see how the majesty of the Gorge captivated generations of painters and photographers.
As we gazed at the passing scenery, I am certain that each of us sought to make meaning of what we saw from the decks of the Sea Bird. For those of us inclined to comparisons, the Columbia Gorge resembled scenic portions of the Hudson River or the Rhine. Others noted the commerce passing along the Gorge on the railways lines that dart in and out of the forests along the river, or traveled by barge. It was hard not to notice the barge traffic today because we shared the lock at Bonneville Dam with a tug and several barges. It was a tight fight, but skilled captains make it all fit together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Finally, but not least important, there are the pleasing aesthetics of the Gorge.
The scenic Columbia River Gorge was our companion all day long. We viewed it from several different vantage points, studied its rich history by means of the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and shipboard interpretation, and biked and hiked a restored section of its historical scenic highway. Some of us even aided the Gorge economy by shopping in stores in Hood River, Oregon. The Gorge is as rich in scenery as it is in history.
At one time the location of The Dalles, Oregon, was a significant gathering place for Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest. The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through the Gorge in 1805 and again in 1806. With the discovery of gold in what became Idaho, the Gorge saw a steady stream of gold seekers headed for the Rocky Mountain diggings. The Dalles became a major outfitting center for the miners as well as a crucial transportation hub in the era of steamboating on the Columbia River.
After this afternoon’s lunch, as we cruised from Hood River down the Columbia toward the sea, the rains that make the Pacific Northwest famous for its greenery fell steadily. Mist rising from dark evergreen forests and silhouettes of distant mountains combined to cause the Columbia River landscape to take on the appearance of an impressionistic painting. It is easy to see how the majesty of the Gorge captivated generations of painters and photographers.
As we gazed at the passing scenery, I am certain that each of us sought to make meaning of what we saw from the decks of the Sea Bird. For those of us inclined to comparisons, the Columbia Gorge resembled scenic portions of the Hudson River or the Rhine. Others noted the commerce passing along the Gorge on the railways lines that dart in and out of the forests along the river, or traveled by barge. It was hard not to notice the barge traffic today because we shared the lock at Bonneville Dam with a tug and several barges. It was a tight fight, but skilled captains make it all fit together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Finally, but not least important, there are the pleasing aesthetics of the Gorge.
