GORGE HIKES

Every time I plan a hike I look for opportunities in more exotic destinations farther from the city.  I usually fall back on the gorge hikes when I don't have time to drive far or I wanted to sleep in before heading out for a two day backpacking trip.  The gorge is usually a fall-back plan made at the last second.  The turn-offs seam to be crowded trails, lack of observable wildlife, and mountains that don't even register over 5,000 feet (above sea level).  The nearest peaks above 5,000 feet are ridges on Mt. Hood.  Still every time I hike in the gorge (especially one of the many two day loop opportunities) I am mesmorized by its beauty.  There are not many places in the country that have such scenery that can be seen in a two day loop.  The trails are full of waterfalls, temperate rainforests (and on several trails old-growth as well).  There are sub-alpine lakes, ridgetop views of mountians, though none over 5,000 feet have more visually prominence than many of the more notable ranges in the country:  The mountains are steep and rise from nearly sea level in many cases.  In August and September the lusher areas are full of Huckleberry, Blueberry, Thimbleberry, Salmonberry, and Oregon Grape.  The steeper, and rockier, south and west facing slopes are sprinkled with Oak amidst drying gray grass, creating a feeling of being in a savannah, despite being in a temperate rainforest.  One of the biggest benefits is the view of maybe the most beautiful gorge in America.

All hikes in the Columbia River Gorge Area can be reached from Interstate 84 or the historic Ainsworth "waterfall" highway.  All gorge hikes begin within a couple hundred feet above sea level and meander as high as 4960 feet above sea level.  The area is known for its abundance of waterfalls:  apparently it has the largest concentration of high waterfalls per square mile  in the country.  It also contains one of the steepest and most rugged wilderness areas in the country.  The area is often used for conditioning hikes by alpine climbers either preparing, or keeping in shape, during the off-season.  There are many trails with numerous "cut-offs" and loop opportunities and best of all it is easy access to Portland metro.  Although these trails are not my favorite for getting out into the wilderness, you won't encounter many people once you get in above 2000 feet in areas away from old logging access.  It is also good training ground for those planning on alpine expeditions in the summer:  The climb up Mt. Defiance is actually steeper then Mt. St. Helens.  Because of the many north facing slopes there can be quite a bit of snow on the upper reaches into late June.  Even in the low elevations of the Gorge I have been caught in a blizzard, on the steeps of Wyeth Trail at the Columbia Wilderness boundary, when it was partly sunny beginning my hike four miles earlier.  Needless to say I was a tad worried for a stressful hour while I was lost.