We had the pleasure of tasting the fruits of the Hood River Valley today. Our hotel manager, Judie Blewitt, shopped the local orchards of Merz Orchards and Columbia Gorge Organics, and treated our guests to over 15 varieties of locally grown apples and pears. The photo above was taken from the front porch of the Parkdale Grange. Here, selections from the local orchards were offered for sale within sight of Mount Hood and Mount Adams. Guests choosing to ride the historic Hood River Railroad had the additional treat of a morning slice of pie; all pies were made from local fruits. Our choices included apple, pear, apricot, huckleberry, blueberry, raspberry, cherry, marionberry, strawberry, and my favorite, the strawberry/rhubarb.

The Corps of Discovery also made note of the abundant foods of the Columbia River Gorge. They were writing of the abundant salmon they found, drying on racks along the river and dried and stacked in baskets. The combination of the salmon drying on racks and the famous winds of the Columbia River Gorge came together in an observation made by Clark in his journal notes for October 17, 1805, "I have observed amongst those...who live on fish maney of defferent sectes who have lost their teeth about middle age, Some have their teeth worn to the gums..." Sand and grit, small bits of geology, were blown onto the racks, and subsequently into the fish. A lifetime of eating the dried salmon literally ground down the teeth of the tribes utilizing this abundant resource.

Our experiences with the Columbia River Gorge have been a delight to all of our senses; the taste of regional wines, the sights of big leaf maples blazing yellow on the hillsides, the sound of the Hood River Railway whistle, the smell of a fresh cut apple and the feel of its juices, dripping down your chin. Delicious.