Lewis, Clark, and the Corps of Discovery reached the Pacific Ocean in late November 1805 after travelling 4,142 miles (by their calculations). On the National Geographic Quest, we began in Portland, Oregon, and sailed in luxury to arrive in Astoria, Oregon, on Monday, September 27. We utilized coaches to visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum and then Fort Clatsop and Fort Stevens. The day offered a mixture of weather and winds which is typical for coastal Oregon. Fort Clatsop is a replica of the one the Corps of Discovery built in December of 1805 as their winter quarters. Fort Stevens was constructed in 1864 and remained active through World War II as part of the United States defense of the mouth of the Columbia River from potential enemies. The Quest sailed westward briefly to glimpse the conditions of the Columbia River Bar. Our journey lies to the east as we sail up the Columbia River toward Lewiston, Idaho, one of the furthest inland ports in America.
4/25/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Crow Butte
After transiting McNary Lock and Dam, National Geographic Sea Bird dropped anchor at Crow Butte in the early morning of Thursday, April 25th. After a hearty breakfast, we were delivered by Zodiac to the south side locations for an aerobic walk to the top of Crow Butte, supplemented with a medium elevation nature hike. A more casual history-oriented walk began on the west side of the Island and ended where we were able to get some great photos of National Geographic Sea Bird at anchor. The aroma of the sagebrush in the shrub-steppe environment filled the air, and the gentle but steady winds preceded a light rain in the otherwise arid environment. Returning hikers were greeted by the hotel staff and hot chocolate at the landing site and also enjoyed the playground equipment. Crow Butte is a tear drop shaped island surrounding a core of basalt, and the sandy terrain is composed of debris deposited during the Ice Age Flood events of 12,000-18,000 years ago. The afternoon was spent cruising the Columbia River on our way to dock at Hood River, Oregon.