The Columbia River Gorge
In just 80 miles of river we transited from near-desert to near-rainforest, the most dramatic juxtaposition of habitats in the world. The Columbia River Gorge cuts right through the Cascade mountains to create a passage that, in addition to being an astonishingly beautiful landscape, has been used as a highway for thousands of years.
We began the day at sunrise, up above the Dalles Dam, imagining Celilo Falls, the torrent of cascades that once extended for miles along this stretch of river. It was a Mecca for fishermen who netted the salmon that gathered here in preparation for making mighty leaps up the rapids. Celilo Falls was also the center of east-west trade among Native Americans. It was here that the coastal Indians met with people from as far as the Great Plains, trading and socializing throughout the peak of the salmon season. The gorge permitted one of the greatest highways between cultures, it was the region’s primary route for salmon and today, a gleaming passage for us.
At the Dalles, we disembarked the ship to have a close look at Marihill, a surprising 19th century mansion built by Sam Hill that houses its own eclectic representation of different cultures. It was an uncommon experience to come across a mix of Russian art, Native American artifacts and an exact replica of Stonehenge together with a sizable mansion resting on the plateau country overlooking the river.
We then continued on to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. It was our first look at all things Gorge with excellent exhibits of everything from films of the falls as they once were to an exhibit of the modern day sport of wind-surfing that has become a craze in Hood River.
We then had an up-close look at the Gorge as we drove along the old scenic highway to meet the ship in Hood River and from there, we cruised west. Uncharacteristically, the sun shone on both sides of the Gorge and we were treated to a glorious day of gazing at steep canyon walls dressed with high flowing waterfalls and dark green forest with patches of maples just turning yellow. We feasted on local apples, pears and cheeses and relaxed into a gentle cruise for the evening, our own passage through the Gorge now complete.
In just 80 miles of river we transited from near-desert to near-rainforest, the most dramatic juxtaposition of habitats in the world. The Columbia River Gorge cuts right through the Cascade mountains to create a passage that, in addition to being an astonishingly beautiful landscape, has been used as a highway for thousands of years.
We began the day at sunrise, up above the Dalles Dam, imagining Celilo Falls, the torrent of cascades that once extended for miles along this stretch of river. It was a Mecca for fishermen who netted the salmon that gathered here in preparation for making mighty leaps up the rapids. Celilo Falls was also the center of east-west trade among Native Americans. It was here that the coastal Indians met with people from as far as the Great Plains, trading and socializing throughout the peak of the salmon season. The gorge permitted one of the greatest highways between cultures, it was the region’s primary route for salmon and today, a gleaming passage for us.
At the Dalles, we disembarked the ship to have a close look at Marihill, a surprising 19th century mansion built by Sam Hill that houses its own eclectic representation of different cultures. It was an uncommon experience to come across a mix of Russian art, Native American artifacts and an exact replica of Stonehenge together with a sizable mansion resting on the plateau country overlooking the river.
We then continued on to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. It was our first look at all things Gorge with excellent exhibits of everything from films of the falls as they once were to an exhibit of the modern day sport of wind-surfing that has become a craze in Hood River.
We then had an up-close look at the Gorge as we drove along the old scenic highway to meet the ship in Hood River and from there, we cruised west. Uncharacteristically, the sun shone on both sides of the Gorge and we were treated to a glorious day of gazing at steep canyon walls dressed with high flowing waterfalls and dark green forest with patches of maples just turning yellow. We feasted on local apples, pears and cheeses and relaxed into a gentle cruise for the evening, our own passage through the Gorge now complete.
