The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, designated by Ronald Regan in 1986, begins just to the east of Portland, providing magnificent vistas.

The Gorge is chock full of waterfalls, which were created when the floods scoured the riverbed down hundreds of feet through the easily removed basaltic lava that covers the entire area.

When the Missoula Floods raced down the Columbia River Gorge, the wall of water was over 1000 feet high!

Below is a link to more information and stock photos of The Gorge.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/columbiarivergorge

For the last several days, there has been a fire just west of The Dalles, and there have been closures of the I-84 freeway on the Oregon side. We will be traveling up the Washington side on highway 14, which is two lanes and much more scenic and relaxing. I-84 can be nerve racking with all the trucks.

No worries. We have until Thursday to get to Calgary.