Columbia River
The first day of our expedition along the Columbia and Snake Rivers began gloriously. On our trip we will travel through the 8 locks that make ship movement possible from the Pacific Ocean to the state of Idaho. At dawn we approached the largest of these locks, in terms of depth, John Day dam. After making the over 100 foot lift we were able to see one of the geographic beacons for Lewis and Clark as they traversed the area some 200 years ago, Mt. Hood. The highest point in the state of Oregon, Mt. Hood had some recent snow to show off in the morning alpenglow. It was framed very well between the basaltic cliffs on either side of the river.
The change in the scenery, topography, geography, and ecosystems is quite dramatic from the wet west side to the dry east side of the Cascade Mountain Range. The Columbia River Gorge, which is the only gap in the mountain range, is an amazing example of a rivers power. The Columbia River existed before the current expression of the Cascade Range came to be. The fact that this river maintained its path through a major volcanic arc as it grew is testament to the power of water as an erosive force.
We spent the rest of the day moving east along the great river of the west in search of the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers. This was the spot where Lewis and Clark first saw the mighty Columbia and where we would leave its influence for the next few days.
The first day of our expedition along the Columbia and Snake Rivers began gloriously. On our trip we will travel through the 8 locks that make ship movement possible from the Pacific Ocean to the state of Idaho. At dawn we approached the largest of these locks, in terms of depth, John Day dam. After making the over 100 foot lift we were able to see one of the geographic beacons for Lewis and Clark as they traversed the area some 200 years ago, Mt. Hood. The highest point in the state of Oregon, Mt. Hood had some recent snow to show off in the morning alpenglow. It was framed very well between the basaltic cliffs on either side of the river.
The change in the scenery, topography, geography, and ecosystems is quite dramatic from the wet west side to the dry east side of the Cascade Mountain Range. The Columbia River Gorge, which is the only gap in the mountain range, is an amazing example of a rivers power. The Columbia River existed before the current expression of the Cascade Range came to be. The fact that this river maintained its path through a major volcanic arc as it grew is testament to the power of water as an erosive force.
We spent the rest of the day moving east along the great river of the west in search of the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers. This was the spot where Lewis and Clark first saw the mighty Columbia and where we would leave its influence for the next few days.
