Day 24 – Mount Hood, Waterfalls, and Columbia River Gorge

One thing we don’t get a lot of in South Florida is snow. So our friends started the day by taking us on a long drive up to Mount Hood. We parked at the famous Timberline Lodge, where the outdoor shots of the hotel in the movie “The Shining” were filmed, at an altitude of roughly 6,000 feet. From there, picnic supplies in hand, we rode the ski lift up a few more thousand feet to an area where we Floridians could play in the snow. Higher up, there was still enough snow (in late June) for people to do some short run skiing and snowboarding. We were content to stay where we were, however, with our jackets, gloves, and wool caps.

After lunch and some snowball fights, we went back down the ski lift to explore the historical lodge for a while. A testament to WPA projects, the lodge is a phenomenal example of local craftsmanship during the Depression Era. In addition to quality masonry and wrought iron work, various timbers of cedar, fir, pine, and other trees were exquisitely carved and detailed by fine artisans, most of whom lived in a nearby tent city during the construction period. You can practically feel the pride coming out of the walls.

Our next several stops were at a series of regional waterfalls: Multnomah, Horsetail, and the magnificent, lesser-known Latourell Falls, which plunges straight down over a columnar basalt cliff. Check out the pictures below — some from behind the waterfall — for a sense of its scale and setting.

It was a spectacular day all-around, punctuated at the end with a quick drive through part of the Columbia River Gorge for a final photo.