Columbia River Gorge
As the Sea Lion approached the community of the Dalles, we could see the clouds gathering in the western sky. Our schedule for the day included cruising through the Columbia River Gorge, a passage where the Columbia River pierces through the Cascade Mountain Range. The eastern end at the Dalles receives approximately thirteen inches of rain a year and a mere seventy-seven miles away at Bonneville Dam, the rainfall can exceed ninety inches! Looking at that western sky, we were aware of the rain shadow created by the Cascade Mountains and prepared for the rapid change in weather, land and foliage.
The Sea Lion docked at the small Dalles marina, where two luxury motor coaches were waiting to carry us to our first destination of the day. We would visit the Columbia River Discovery Center and Wasco County Museum.
From there we would make a short journey to Rowena Crest for an overlook of the Columbia River. To the east we could see the blonde hills of the channeled scab lands, and to the west we could see the forests beginning… a few raindrops and many rainbows greeted us, along with scattered arrangements of large trees mostly Ponderosa pine and Oregon white oak. Following this short photo opportunity, we made our way to a well know section of the Columbia River Historic Highway called the Mosier tunnel trail. From a variety of vantage points (bikes, leisure walks and a long five-mile walk) we had an opportunity to watch the transition of environments, moving from the east to the west. By the time we reached the west side of the Mosier tunnel trail, we were in the presence of Douglas fir, Western red cedar and Western hemlock. We were on the west side of the Cascade Mountain range and heading into many shades of green and the changing weather systems that make up and nourish the west coast temperate rain forest.
After returning to the Sea Lion and a much-deserved lunch, we began our passage, on a slow bell, through the narrowest section of the Columbia River Gorge. We transited our last lock and dam on the Columbia River at Bonneville and entered the free flowing Columbia River. The Oregon side was decorated with many waterfalls and the Washington side a particular geologic structure loomed out in front of us. This had been a landmark for Lewis and Clark when they entered this section of the Columbia River. Bathed in afternoon light, Beacon rock was just that, a beacon, a reminder of all those who passed before us, marking their passage as we marked ours following in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark.
As the Sea Lion approached the community of the Dalles, we could see the clouds gathering in the western sky. Our schedule for the day included cruising through the Columbia River Gorge, a passage where the Columbia River pierces through the Cascade Mountain Range. The eastern end at the Dalles receives approximately thirteen inches of rain a year and a mere seventy-seven miles away at Bonneville Dam, the rainfall can exceed ninety inches! Looking at that western sky, we were aware of the rain shadow created by the Cascade Mountains and prepared for the rapid change in weather, land and foliage.
The Sea Lion docked at the small Dalles marina, where two luxury motor coaches were waiting to carry us to our first destination of the day. We would visit the Columbia River Discovery Center and Wasco County Museum.
From there we would make a short journey to Rowena Crest for an overlook of the Columbia River. To the east we could see the blonde hills of the channeled scab lands, and to the west we could see the forests beginning… a few raindrops and many rainbows greeted us, along with scattered arrangements of large trees mostly Ponderosa pine and Oregon white oak. Following this short photo opportunity, we made our way to a well know section of the Columbia River Historic Highway called the Mosier tunnel trail. From a variety of vantage points (bikes, leisure walks and a long five-mile walk) we had an opportunity to watch the transition of environments, moving from the east to the west. By the time we reached the west side of the Mosier tunnel trail, we were in the presence of Douglas fir, Western red cedar and Western hemlock. We were on the west side of the Cascade Mountain range and heading into many shades of green and the changing weather systems that make up and nourish the west coast temperate rain forest.
After returning to the Sea Lion and a much-deserved lunch, we began our passage, on a slow bell, through the narrowest section of the Columbia River Gorge. We transited our last lock and dam on the Columbia River at Bonneville and entered the free flowing Columbia River. The Oregon side was decorated with many waterfalls and the Washington side a particular geologic structure loomed out in front of us. This had been a landmark for Lewis and Clark when they entered this section of the Columbia River. Bathed in afternoon light, Beacon rock was just that, a beacon, a reminder of all those who passed before us, marking their passage as we marked ours following in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark.
