The Columbia River Gorge is something special to behold. It is easy to forget the scale of what you are looking at until you focus on something man-made and notice just how tiny it looks. The Gorge is 80 miles long and up to 4,000 feet deep where the river carves through the Cascade Mountains on its way to the sea. How could a river, even one as big as the Columbia, carve through a mountain range?
The Cascade Mountains are volcanic in origin and 20-40 million years ago, they dumped layer upon layer of ash, lava, and mudflows on the region. 12-17 million years ago, cracks opened in the earth's crust several miles long. Out of these cracks poured basalt floods. Approximately 270 lava flows spread across the region and 21 of those poured through the Gorge forming layers of rock up to 2,000 feet deep. Many of these lava flows cooled into columnar basalt; the lava cracks, forming six-sided columns. 700,000 to 2 million years ago, the Cascades began to uplift. As the mountains rose, the Columbia carved its way through, creating the only near-sea level passage through the Cascades.
14-16,000 years ago, during the last ice age, glaciers covered Canada and descended into the present-day panhandle of Idaho, blocking the Clark Fork River with a 2,000 foot high ice dam. At times, Glacial Lake Missoula extended some 200 miles eastward and grew to about half the size of modern-day Lake Michigan, containing about 500 cubic miles of water. Periodically, the ice dam failed. Floodwaters traveling at 65 miles an hour drained Glacial Lake Missoula in just 2-3 days, stripping away thick soils and cutting deep canyons in the underlying bedrock on its way to the Pacific Ocean. At the site of Bonneville Dam in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge, the raging torrent crested at 650 feet. During a period of 2,500 years as many as 100 of these floods scoured the Gorge.
The Cascade Mountains divide Oregon and Washington into very distinct western and eastern climate zones. Troutdale, Oregon, at the west entrance to the Gorge, has average annual precipitation of 44.9 inches. The Dalles, Oregon, at the east entrance to the Gorge, has just 14.5 inches. Troutdale is 5 degrees F warmer in winter and 5 degrees F cooler in summer than The Dalles. The distance between Troutdale and The Dalles is about 80 miles. At the west end of the Columbia River Gorge, one sees Douglas Fir trees, ferns, and lots of moss. At the east end of the Gorge, there are pine and oak trees, and grasses.
The photos below are posted in the order they were seen, traveling from west to east through the Columbia River Gorge. And now you can apply a basic understanding of the terrain and climate to the remarkable scenery and understand why it changes so much from start to finish.
Put your sandwich and beverage in the cooler and we'll have a picnic along the way...
as seen from I-84 eastbound near Troutdale
looking west from Crown Point
looking east from Crown Point
from Tacoma visiting Crown Point
near Bridal Veil falls, looking at a Washington waterfall into the Columbia River
some brave souls wading in really, really cold water
as seen from I-84 east of Horsetail Falls
some of the basalt formations to be found in the Columbia River Gorge
view eastward toward Hood River
It's always windy in the Columbia River Gorge. Someplaces more so than others. Here at Rowena Crest, this tree has given up on trying to have branches on one side.
The engineers of historic highway US30 limited the road to no more than a 5 degree grade with minimum 100 foot radius turns. The result in some places is a loopy road.
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Quiet house? Let's see now...
Tuesday, departure day, didn't do a blessed thing after DH left. All's quiet. Whew!
Wednesday, push-pulled the walk-behind mower around trees and edges for the first time in over 2 years. (Felt good to work up a sweat and do something arthritis had prevented me from doing for too long.) Then scrubbed the algae off DH's pick-up. (He doesn't believe in washing the poor old thing, but I was ashamed to be seen in it, so had just had to do it.)
Thursday, pruned low-hanging new growth off firs and spruces to make future mowing easier. Hauled an orchard ladder out to the young 15-foot-high weeping willow that was leaning to one side, pulled it straight, and tied it off to a couple of stakes. Did a bit of grocery shopping.
Today, enjoying quiet house. I'm a bit stiff and sore from the last couple of days, so baking some cookies for tomorrow's game night. Yes, the games must go on. It wouldn't seem like Saturday without them.
Were your ears burning last evening?
I was around at a friend's house, and we were watching a Discovery channel programme all about volcanoes. It showed Mount St Helen's so I told my friend about your blog and all the photos you had taken.
The programme was fascinating. I love watching things like that. Next week it is all about Tsunamis, so I have set it to record - I do not want to miss it!?
Are you still alone, or had DH returned home ... safely
Poppy: Yes, DH was more concerned about that bear than anything else. He can't stand for any critter or person to suffer.
Sandi: Discovery Channel is one of my favorites. I love programs that educate as well as entertain. DH will probably start home on the 4th. It is a 19 hour drive, plus time for sleeping and eating, best spread over two days.
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Sorry I've been away from WUville the last couple of days. Saturday was house cleaning day and game night, but then Sunday was 24-hour flu day. Feeling chipper again today, so I'm out to do some much-needed mowing. BBL to catch up on what's been happening in WUville!
This is a very short visit to say hello and Happy Fourth of July.
I am trying to spend my free time writing the part 3 of the paper saga. Weeding out material and choosing what to mention is a big problem for me, so it seems. Typing is a big hurdle, not my favorite activity!
Take care.
Pros: I shall look forward to Paper, Part III. I wish I could take dictation for you. I learned to type really fast in the late 80s when I had to type IRS tax form instructions into the early versions of TurboTax. In just a couple of months' time, I raised my typing speed from 70 wpm to 130, while racing with a true typing wizard. Never could quite match her, but it was fun trying while doing an otherwise boring task.
Poppy: That's a cool graphic with feathers or fireworks or feathery fireworks.
Idleness and pride tax with a heavier hand than kings and parliaments. If we can get rid of the former, we may easily bear the latter. -- Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right…and a desire to know; but besides this, they have a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible, divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge, I mean of the characters and conduct of their rulers. -- John Adams (1735–1826)
Equal and exact justice to all men…freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of person under the protection of the habeas corpus; and trial by juries impartially selected,these principles form the bright constellation which has gone before us. -- Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself. -- Thomas Paine (1737-1809)
As Mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality. -- George Washington (1732-1799)
4th of July Pictures - Quotes - Photobucket
When will DH return? I hope his trip home is less eventful! :)
Hope you have a good day - although you are still on your own... the cats will keep you company:)
Those are great quotes but I also like that you included Teddy Roosevelt as someone who made America great. (Ylee's)
Ylee: He's on his way. Should be arriving soon. I love the internet and online banking. I'm able to track his progress by seeing where he bought gas and food along the way. It's not quite up to the minute, but I know where he spent the night last night and where he bought gas midday. I'm guessing he'll be here within the next couple of hours.
Sandi: Funny to get a US holiday greeting from you. Thanks! And the cats... They're missing DH, too. In the recliner last night, all five were piled on me for awhile, until I got over-heated. Their little bodies are warm!
Ggrrl: Teddy was not the sort of man I'd choose for a friend, but I believe he was one of our greatest presidents in terms of his vision and the lasting good he did for this country.
Five kitties would smother me, especially in this heat! :)
I came across a blog about canning the other day and thought of you, Briar, and the several of your readers who have commented about food preservation. It is called Food in Jars, which I find refreshingly straightforward, LOL
Thought it might be useful even though you may not have much canning to do this year. Next year :)
Hot weather may be catching up to us, WU and NWS say 100 by Monday-Tue.
My dear Blue insists on sitting on the arm of my recliner with his front end and his back end on my right elbow. Makes knitting very difficult! lol
Hope you both have a wonderful weekend - you will have lots to catch up on :)
Ah, I can almost fall asleep right here visualizing.
No, wait. It's 5am and have to be at work soon. Have a ggreat day.
Todd: Glad you stopped by. I hope you had a good time at Rooster Rock. Presumably you drove here with your truck? And I hope you managed to pick up some cherries at The Dalles on your way home.
SP: I might manage a Thimble Full of Jam this year. I've got a black currant bush that should produce about 2 cups of currants and they're almost ready to pick. I don't like currants, except as jelly, but that is really, really good.
WTS: Mostly, DH just rototils the garden space about once a month to keep the weeds from going to seed. My garden this year consists of 3 tomatoes, 4 sweet peppers, 2 basil, 1 zucchini, 1 mini-cucumber. Seems really strange just to have that little bit. With the way weeds have taken over the herb patch and flower beds, I'm glad I didn't try a garden this year, even if I do miss it.
Sandi and Ggrrl: Here's how you do 5 cats in a recliner. One wedged along each side partly on my thigh, partly on the chair arm. Third cat stretched out lengthwise in the middle from upper thigh to ankle. Fourth cat partly on the back of the recliner, partly wrapped around my head. Fifth cat draped across my chest, with his head resting on my shoulder. Sometimes, it's tough being popular.
Take care!
I keep a garden journal which includes planting and first harvest dates, varieties grown, as well as major weather events/trends that impact growth. I can always find ways to improve.
A professional organic farmer down the road planted his corn just a few weeks ago. It's about 4 inches high right now. The fresh corn we've been eating so far is imported from California. I've got garden envy!
Monday morning and a week of even more depressing weather. The Jet Stream really needs to move north before the Olympics begin ... it will be so upsetting if all the work gone into the last four years in preparing for it, gets spoilt by the depressing weather. And which athlete feels like doing their best if it is pouring down on them. A little sunshine and warmth would be very welcome - right now!
A little late, but wanted to than you for your post on my latest blog. I case you missed it, you got a "Captain's Award" for best illustrator! Yeah, we normally have a bunch more pics when we do a story, but I at least was short on time.
(Angie was home for 15 days...kept me busy)
So, hope you enjoyed the story. Tried to make it a little more romantic this time for the ladies, with less shoot-em-up stuff and more mushy stuff!
:o)
Again...Thanks!
Rob: I don't come by your place very often, but when I do, it's always good for an hour of chuckles and sometimes some belly laughs, and I generally try to come up with something halfway related to your topic du jour as my way of showing appreciation for the entertainment. Captain Hood and crew are just plain nuts (in a good way).
Must be summertime!!
Time for a trip to the east side of Mt. St. Helens. Be back soon with a new photo blog.
Happy day!!!
Looking forward to your new blog.
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