The Columbia River Gorge
Overnight we left the Snake River behind us and returned to the Columbia River, often known as the Great River of the West, that Lewis and Clark had long anticipated and finally reached on October 16th, 1805.
Having traveled about 130 miles downriver, we awoke in the proximity of The Dalles Dam which, on completion in 1957, changed the nature of one of the most important areas of the river, Celilo Falls. These falls had been an important fishing, meeting and trading area for many Native American tribes that traveled high and low to reach it.
This area is also the eastern side of the Columbia River Gorge, and we already started to notice some change in the vegetation as compared to previous days, due to a gradual increase in precipitation as we travel west. This is a fascinating phenomenon that we were to witness in all its glory over the day. The Columbia River has gradually cut a deep gorge through the Cascade mountain range, and as one travels from east to west, one passes through quasi-deserts to temperate rainforests—in a space of just 89 miles! The towering mountains that form this range capture the moisture-laden winds that come from the Pacific, and form a rainshadow over the eastern side of the range, with precipitation levels going from over a hundred inches of rain a year to a mere nine or so!
We spent the morning learning about this majestic and unique part of the world in the Columbia Gorge Discovery Centre, after which we traveled part of the historical Scenic Highway to a fabulous lookout and an area closed to traffic where we could either hike or cycle in an area of unparalleled beauty with unbelievable vistas over the gorge.
The afternoon, as we traveled through to gorge, was so spectacular that our Hotel Department decided to have our evening cocktail on the outer deck, where we were entertained by the sight of a couple of our Zodiacs attempting the rescue of a sailboat stranded on the local nudist beach, followed by an unbelievable sunset that set the sky on fire.
We have truly gotten to know the gorge in all its diversity and wonder, a sight that is forever engraved in our memories.
Overnight we left the Snake River behind us and returned to the Columbia River, often known as the Great River of the West, that Lewis and Clark had long anticipated and finally reached on October 16th, 1805.
Having traveled about 130 miles downriver, we awoke in the proximity of The Dalles Dam which, on completion in 1957, changed the nature of one of the most important areas of the river, Celilo Falls. These falls had been an important fishing, meeting and trading area for many Native American tribes that traveled high and low to reach it.
This area is also the eastern side of the Columbia River Gorge, and we already started to notice some change in the vegetation as compared to previous days, due to a gradual increase in precipitation as we travel west. This is a fascinating phenomenon that we were to witness in all its glory over the day. The Columbia River has gradually cut a deep gorge through the Cascade mountain range, and as one travels from east to west, one passes through quasi-deserts to temperate rainforests—in a space of just 89 miles! The towering mountains that form this range capture the moisture-laden winds that come from the Pacific, and form a rainshadow over the eastern side of the range, with precipitation levels going from over a hundred inches of rain a year to a mere nine or so!
We spent the morning learning about this majestic and unique part of the world in the Columbia Gorge Discovery Centre, after which we traveled part of the historical Scenic Highway to a fabulous lookout and an area closed to traffic where we could either hike or cycle in an area of unparalleled beauty with unbelievable vistas over the gorge.
The afternoon, as we traveled through to gorge, was so spectacular that our Hotel Department decided to have our evening cocktail on the outer deck, where we were entertained by the sight of a couple of our Zodiacs attempting the rescue of a sailboat stranded on the local nudist beach, followed by an unbelievable sunset that set the sky on fire.
We have truly gotten to know the gorge in all its diversity and wonder, a sight that is forever engraved in our memories.
