Everyone kept saying "You've just got to drive through the Columbia River Gorge. And be sure to take the historic highway, not the interstate." So we got up Saturday morning and decided to make drive up to Portland and then take a right headed east, drive the gorge to Hood River and then loop back south of Mt. Hood. We figured this would be about a 3 hour loop and then home to Eugene. A long day, but definitely doable. On the way we added a little to our trip by taking a detour to the outlets mall, but hey, sometimes you just gotta shop!
First stop along the historic trail was the Vista House. Built around 1918 (to honor the Oregon pioneers) it is octagonal and 733 above the river giving it , you guessed it, quite a "vista" of the gorge.
Now one thing we've learned on this foray out West is that, no matter how impatient we are to see the sights, it always pays to take to the info volunteers. The info lady at the Vista House clued us into the fact that there are 90 waterfalls on the Oregon side of the gorge alone. She advised us about the ones in the area that were easy to get to, so along the way we stopped to ooh and aah and take pics. The most notable is Multonomah Falls. It's the second highest falls in the US, falling from 620 feet. Quite the tourist attraction. They were even having a wedding on the patio of the lodge, complete with champagne and string quartet.
We hiked halfway up the falls,(it was paved but a bit steep). On the way up we passed an Hispanic family on their way back down .The mom was hiking in 4 inch stiletto heels. Now, I'm the first to admit it is usually all about the shoes but how did she accomplish that feat? (or should I say "feet" )
Multonomah was the last of the falls on our tour and at Hood River(name of town) we took a right and moved away from the river. The town of Hood River is on the Columbia River and is a well-known spot for kite surfing. The wind comes down through the gorge at that point with enough power to buoy the kites and their passengers high in the air. We caught a glimpse from the highway and it looked like so many butterflies riding the currents.
At the Vista House our info lady told us about the Timberline Lodge on the south side of Mt. Hood. We headed that way thinking we would like to get dinner there. At the turn off at Government Camp (another town) we made the climb up 6,000 feet to the timberline of Mt. Hood.
The timberline of a mountain is where tree growth ends, everything past that is rock and ice and snow. The Lodge was constructed in 1933, once again as part of the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) plan to put people back to work after the depression. It is a giant ski lodge utilizing stone and wood, the best that the mountain had to give. Inside there are wood carvings everywhere, emebbeded in the walls, on the newel posts of the the stairwells, in the furniture.
The 3 story vaulted lobby/living room is anchored in the center by a massive stone chimney that vents the 4 back to back fireplaces that help heat the area during the winter when the snowfall averages 21 feet. Almost everything inside is wood making the hugeness feel very warm and cozy. Windows on both sides of the lodge take in views of Mt. Hood with its many glaciers and the rest of the Cascade Range and National Forest.
Furnishings and woven pieces have been restored and you really feel that you are touching a bit of history everywhere you go. Best of all, they had a vacancy. So we spent the night on a feather topped bed under a down comforter in the middle of August and what should be the "dog days" of summer.
One of the amenities advertised by the lodge is year round skiing. I was a bit skeptical. But the next morning, while sitting at breakfast enjoying the view we could see the skiers and snowboarders lining up for the chairlift and a day on the slopes of the glaciers.
By the way....do you recognize this lodge? Looking at the front of it, do you get a feeling of deja vu? Ever see the movie "The Shining"? Shots of the Timberline were used for the outside of the lodge in that scary thriller.
It is absolutely awesome to think that our beautiful country has a place for people to tan on a beach while others can be skiing down a glacier, all on the same day in the "dog days" of summer. What a place!!!
