Thursday, May 27, 2010

Oregon: Columbia River Gorge

View of the Columbia River Gorge from the Portland Woman's Forum Scenic Viewpoint. Vista house is on the cliff to the right.

The Columbia River Gorge is a pastoral beauty that changes gradually with the seasons. It has sweeping vistas, a plethora of waterfalls, and giant slugs. What is not to like? While I-80 now zips through the gorge, to really see it, you need to take the history highway that starts in Troutdale and which winds lazily through the countryside. This was a great route to take my parents on. Most of the sites are easily accessible a short walk from the car. Below are a series of pictures from the trip.

Looking towards Portland from the Vista House

Looking down the gorge from the Vista House

A close up of the vista house and the mountains beyond

Could this be a brown specimen of the nefarious Banana Slug?




Latourell Falls




Common Camas (Camassia quamash)





Wahkeena Falls



Multnomah Falls








Bonneville Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant. The roar was something to behold

This Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) was unafraid of our car and my camera.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Oregon: Silver Falls State Park

South Falls

Silver Falls State Park is a phenomenal destination only an hour northeast of Salem on highway 214. It is located in a temperate rain forest in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. 100-year old moss, ferns, and raging waterfalls are just some of the sites one can expect in the park.

South Falls Close Ups



I was traveling with my parents so we visited the falls that could be seen from the road or on short walks an level terrain.

Winter Falls





North Falls

Taken with a telephoto lens from the North Falls view point on Hwy 214 going towards Silverton

On this trip I was continuously amazed with Oregon weather. In the several hours we were at the park, we were hailed on twice and between each deluge, we had warm sunny skies!

The rain forest

The trail heading down to the bottom of South Falls. Every inch is covered with something growing!



Flowers





Mosses


Friday, May 7, 2010

Oregon: Haystack Rock/Cannon Beach

(On the left: Foam leads the way to Haystack Rock) Cannon Beach is located on the north section of Oregon's coastal highway. It rises 235 ft out of the sand and is a bird sanctuary this time of year for Gulls and Cormorants. To get there we drove highway 22 through Hebo until it connected with 101. Much of this route was through the lovely countryside and deciduous forests dripping with 100 year old mosses. Dare I say it was pouring rain the entire way!

We stopped at the Tillamook Cheese factory to go to the bathroom. That was a bad choice. The place looks like poorly done tourist trap.

The route does not reach the ocean until after the Tillamook Bay and Garibaldi. Like my recent trip to Nova Scotia, I was surprised by how little coast one can actually see on these drives. Trees and houses blocked the views whenever the ocean was near.

Sand and rock

Patterns in the sand in the rivulet near the entrance

Entrance to the beach

Looking south along the beach at one of the rivulets that bisects the beach

We swung through the town of Manzanita, which was cute and reasonable as far as real estate prices goes and had lunch in Cannon Beach proper. To get to the sands we drove back south and exited 101 onto a local drag. There were many places to access the beach.

The farthest south we got. The rivulet was deep in this spot

The same birds, but looking out to sea


The tide was out when we arrived and the rain held itself at bay. Wind coats and gloves were required but the sun was shining. We walked up and down the beach for a while but ran into several streams we could not cross without taking off our socks and shoes.

The rocks in their natural state

Playing with color

Standing next to the rock and looking south

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Oregon: Baskett Slough

Ducks lounge in the waters of Baskett Slough with farmland in the background


Hi everyone,

I am on vacation visiting my parents in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. On my first day we went to Baskett Slough, a 2,000 plus acre National Wildlife Refuge. Below are a few photos of the area.


Birds fly over the marsh

Nutria (Myocastor coypus) is an invasive species that I recognized from my life in Lousiana but had no idea that they had invaded Oregon as well.


Clouds reflected in the marsh

Canadian Geese Goslings


plant buds

Views of the marsh and the countryside


Female red wing blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)




North Rock Creek Snowshoe

Distance: 4 miles round trip Elevation: 9,180 ft to 9,780 ft Elevation Gain: 600 ft Dogs: Off leash until the wilderness boundary North...