Columbia River Gorge
“There is a tree common to the Columbia river below the entrance of cataract river (Klickitat River) which in it’s appearance when divested of it’s foliage, much resembles the white ash; the appearance of the wood and bark is also that of the ash. …the leaf 8 inches in length and 12 in bredth. This tree is frequently 3 feet in diameter and rises to 40 or 50 feet high.”
On Monday, February 10th, 1806, Meriwether Lewis penned a somewhat lengthy description (excerpted above) of what would come to be called the Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum). As the men of the Corps endured their long, wet winter at Fort Clatsop near present day Astoria, Oregon, Capt. Lewis worked on his journal, writing about the local people and the numerous unfamiliar plants and animals in the area. This particular tree had been briefly mentioned by Clark the previous November as the party traveled west through the Columbia River Gorge. However, Lewis, in his classic style, provided in-depth detail since it was a species previously unknown to western science.
Lewis was wonderfully observant of plants and their properties, perhaps a trait that he developed under his mother’s tutelage as she was an accomplished herbalist. His detailed descriptions also demonstrate the botanical knowledge and the skills he learned during a crash-course in the subject before leaving for the expedition.
While the trees were not yet “divested of their foliage,” they were putting on a wonderful pageant of color for us as we traveled today through the stunningly beautiful Columbia Gorge. The change of season was abundantly obvious to the casual observer. No scientific background was required to savor the tawny oranges and soft browns of the scrub oaks, the crimson of the poison oak (enjoyed from a distance, of course) and the maples in their mid-autumn attire—vibrant golds, fading browns, and stalwart greens. In fact, most of us left thoughts of science far behind as we immersed ourselves in the sensual pleasures of a walk on the restored Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway. Later, back aboard the vessel, we passed a most pleasant afternoon out on deck, relishing the nearly perfect weather conditions as we cruised beneath the Bridge of the Gods, through the lock at Bonneville Dam and past the stately Multnomah Falls. Lewis may have been a better botanist than most travelers aboard the Sea Bird, but he had nothing over us in aptitude for enjoyment.
“There is a tree common to the Columbia river below the entrance of cataract river (Klickitat River) which in it’s appearance when divested of it’s foliage, much resembles the white ash; the appearance of the wood and bark is also that of the ash. …the leaf 8 inches in length and 12 in bredth. This tree is frequently 3 feet in diameter and rises to 40 or 50 feet high.”
On Monday, February 10th, 1806, Meriwether Lewis penned a somewhat lengthy description (excerpted above) of what would come to be called the Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum). As the men of the Corps endured their long, wet winter at Fort Clatsop near present day Astoria, Oregon, Capt. Lewis worked on his journal, writing about the local people and the numerous unfamiliar plants and animals in the area. This particular tree had been briefly mentioned by Clark the previous November as the party traveled west through the Columbia River Gorge. However, Lewis, in his classic style, provided in-depth detail since it was a species previously unknown to western science.
Lewis was wonderfully observant of plants and their properties, perhaps a trait that he developed under his mother’s tutelage as she was an accomplished herbalist. His detailed descriptions also demonstrate the botanical knowledge and the skills he learned during a crash-course in the subject before leaving for the expedition.
While the trees were not yet “divested of their foliage,” they were putting on a wonderful pageant of color for us as we traveled today through the stunningly beautiful Columbia Gorge. The change of season was abundantly obvious to the casual observer. No scientific background was required to savor the tawny oranges and soft browns of the scrub oaks, the crimson of the poison oak (enjoyed from a distance, of course) and the maples in their mid-autumn attire—vibrant golds, fading browns, and stalwart greens. In fact, most of us left thoughts of science far behind as we immersed ourselves in the sensual pleasures of a walk on the restored Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway. Later, back aboard the vessel, we passed a most pleasant afternoon out on deck, relishing the nearly perfect weather conditions as we cruised beneath the Bridge of the Gods, through the lock at Bonneville Dam and past the stately Multnomah Falls. Lewis may have been a better botanist than most travelers aboard the Sea Bird, but he had nothing over us in aptitude for enjoyment.
