Highways to History
Clear skies and balmy temperatures continue to be our good fortune. We took to the great outdoors with gusto, starting with a stop at Fort Rock. The Corps of Discovery both as they headed westward as well as on the return trip eastward used this rocky campsite. A good place to pull out and dry out should not be passed up. At this site stood a netleaf hackberry tree, which has been core dated to 270 years old. This tree was already 73 years old when 31 men, one woman, one baby and a big black dog camped nearby.
The Discovery Center and Wasco County Museum were out next stop, again with indoor as well as extensive outdoor exhibits. Like a spiders web the Columbia River connects us to the many strands of history in the West; catastrophic geological events, the indigenous people, the Corps of Discovery, the Oregon Trail, and more recently, colorful personalities.
Sam Hill was inspired by the sweeping vistas along the gorge to create a highway. The purpose was to integrate a road into the landscape and allow the beauty of the gorge to be showcased. With the careful eye and meticulous planning of his Engineer, Samuel Lancaster, he did a magnificent job.
We had an opportunity to walk along a portion of the restored highway to the Mosier Tunnels. Other options included a slow sinuous climb to the top of Rowena Crest. Whether walking or riding, the road weaves the traveler through the landscape. Horsetail, Multnomah and Latorrell Falls were part of our explorations in the afternoon. The first photo displays a view through the footbridge at Multnomah Falls. Our explorations took us along restored portions of the Historic Columbia River Highway gradually climbing to the Portland Women’s Forum State Park at Chanticleer Point. The view upriver was breathtaking, and we share this with you in the second photograph.
Roads and rivers are both connections in our travels today, and our travels through history. Roll on, Columbia, roll on.
