Wallala Gap – Columbia River
Our group shared a wonderful autumn day on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. We were impressed by the sharp contrast of the green of western Oregon and Washington and the dry golden browns of the eastern section of the Pacific Northwest. We awoke on approach to John Day Dam, until recently the highest single lift lock in the world at 105 feet. The group learned how much water it takes to fill a lock that is 675 feet long, 86 feet wide and 105 feet high, as well as how many pounds it weighs.
We had the good fortune to be able to "lock through" with a tug ( "Captain Bob") and 2 barges. The barge traffic is only one part of the modes of transportation on the Columbia. The Union Pacific Railroad and Interstate 84 occupy the south bank, while the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad and Washington Highway 14 can be seen along the north shore. A single grain barge is equivalent to over 500 semi-truck trailers. The corridor through the Columbia Gorge has been a transportation route since well before the days of Lewis and Clark. The natives have been using the same route for over 10,000 years. It is one of the few examples of a river cutting straight across a mountain range, the Cascades. The natives were able to trade goods obtained from Spanish, English, Russian and American sailing ships. Lewis and Clark commented that they first saw these trade goods starting with the Walla Walla tribe.
As we proceeded up river from the John Day Dam, California Bighorn Sheep could be seen on the grassy talus slopes of the Columbia. Those folks taking the jet boat trip tomorrow will have an opportunity to look for Rocky Mt. Bighorn Sheep in Hell's Canyon as well as other wildlife. A number of types of ducks and geese as well as a bald eagle and white pelicans were sighted as we cruised the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge. Tasting of the local wines and foods of the Northwest commenced as we passed into the Snake River and headed for the first dam at Ice Harbour.
Our group shared a wonderful autumn day on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. We were impressed by the sharp contrast of the green of western Oregon and Washington and the dry golden browns of the eastern section of the Pacific Northwest. We awoke on approach to John Day Dam, until recently the highest single lift lock in the world at 105 feet. The group learned how much water it takes to fill a lock that is 675 feet long, 86 feet wide and 105 feet high, as well as how many pounds it weighs.
We had the good fortune to be able to "lock through" with a tug ( "Captain Bob") and 2 barges. The barge traffic is only one part of the modes of transportation on the Columbia. The Union Pacific Railroad and Interstate 84 occupy the south bank, while the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad and Washington Highway 14 can be seen along the north shore. A single grain barge is equivalent to over 500 semi-truck trailers. The corridor through the Columbia Gorge has been a transportation route since well before the days of Lewis and Clark. The natives have been using the same route for over 10,000 years. It is one of the few examples of a river cutting straight across a mountain range, the Cascades. The natives were able to trade goods obtained from Spanish, English, Russian and American sailing ships. Lewis and Clark commented that they first saw these trade goods starting with the Walla Walla tribe.
As we proceeded up river from the John Day Dam, California Bighorn Sheep could be seen on the grassy talus slopes of the Columbia. Those folks taking the jet boat trip tomorrow will have an opportunity to look for Rocky Mt. Bighorn Sheep in Hell's Canyon as well as other wildlife. A number of types of ducks and geese as well as a bald eagle and white pelicans were sighted as we cruised the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge. Tasting of the local wines and foods of the Northwest commenced as we passed into the Snake River and headed for the first dam at Ice Harbour.
