A Beacon for the Corps of Discovery
Mother nature pulled the 'curtain' of the morning fog as we entered the west end of the Columbia River Gorge. Our masterful captain and expedition leader could not have choreographed a better start to another day. In passage we were awed by the gorge's natural beauty and enlightened on the historical significance that the gorge and its river played in the Corps of Discovery's expedition. Soon we were taking our first elevator ride in one of the other Corp's concrete masterpieces, Bonneville Dam. Throughout the morning, landmarks cited in Lewis and Clark's journals were noted indicating we were on the right course retracing this historic expedition. One of the most prominent geologic markers where the expedition first noticed the tidal impact of the Pacific Ocean was that of Beacon Rock (See Photo).
After a refreshing hike on a section of the old Columbia River Gorge Highway and a visit to the Discovery Center we headed 'home' to the Sea Lion. As the day's light slowly dimmed behind Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams, it became apparent that the mighty Columbia offers a wealth of history, geology and a special lesson on how we humans are still trying to discover the best way to use its valuable resource.
Mother nature pulled the 'curtain' of the morning fog as we entered the west end of the Columbia River Gorge. Our masterful captain and expedition leader could not have choreographed a better start to another day. In passage we were awed by the gorge's natural beauty and enlightened on the historical significance that the gorge and its river played in the Corps of Discovery's expedition. Soon we were taking our first elevator ride in one of the other Corp's concrete masterpieces, Bonneville Dam. Throughout the morning, landmarks cited in Lewis and Clark's journals were noted indicating we were on the right course retracing this historic expedition. One of the most prominent geologic markers where the expedition first noticed the tidal impact of the Pacific Ocean was that of Beacon Rock (See Photo).
After a refreshing hike on a section of the old Columbia River Gorge Highway and a visit to the Discovery Center we headed 'home' to the Sea Lion. As the day's light slowly dimmed behind Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams, it became apparent that the mighty Columbia offers a wealth of history, geology and a special lesson on how we humans are still trying to discover the best way to use its valuable resource.
