Morning activities were a choice of a 2.5-mile nature hike, or a 5-mile longer hike. The 5-mile hike was a lovely trek on the first scenic highway in the United States: Route 33. Mr. Sam Hill, lawyer and entrepreneur who wanted access to local waterfalls and scenic views, created the pass. He and his engineer, Sam Lancaster, designed a road of gradual grade, wider areas around corners, and one of the first guardrails. Our section was for walkers only, giving us great views. Ponderosa pines, big leaf maples, and colorful poison oaks were along the trail. Later in the day, we explored the Columbia River Discovery Center, a wonderful interpretive museum with a garden of plants identified by Lewis and Clark. A pond behind the center brought grace to the beautiful garden.
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.