Portland Fairview RV Park - Troutdale, OR

Tuesday, July 3 - We arrived at the Portland Fairview RV Park in Troutdale, OR around noon today after driving through beautiful scenery as we left the coast. Regret that we won’t be seeing such amazing coastal scenes any time soon. As we left the interstate and downtown congestion, we got our first glimpse of Mt. Hood. So much snow on it, and so beautiful.
The park has 407 spaces with picnic tables, full hook-ups, cable, free wi-fi, and freeway access. Very busy freeway, but the noise is not too bad. Park is beautiful and the RVs are tiered so you don’t feel too confined. Today the weather here is fabulous – mid 80s with a slight breeze, but running the a/c.
Wednesday, July 04 - Traffic was considerable as we set out to see some sights near our location. After we entered I-84, it ran along the Columbia River and you could see the gorge between the trees that were also towering along the edge. We entered the scenic route, but due to a traffic tie-up for an accident, we were detoured to a country road and there was a backup on the country road that took 45-minutes to reach a point where we could turn around. They blocked off the road for a parade of all things.

We stopped to take a picture of Melanoma Falls, one of the most visited sights in Oregon. We decided we would see the close-up viewing some other day as it was a 400-ft. walk and then stairs upward. It would be too physical for either of us to try. The falls are the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States, is two-tiered and drops 620 feet. A steep, paved trail leads visitors to a platform above the falls. The waterfall is visually complimented by Benson Bridge, built in 1914 by local contractor Robert R. Ringer, and Multnomah Falls Lodge built in 1925. Inside the Lodge is a gift shop, restaurant and US Forest Service Information Center.


We traveled on to get lunch in the small town of Cascade Locks. The Cascade Locks Historical Museum focuses on local transportation history. A highlight is the Oregon Pony, which is located outside the museum. It was the first steam engine operated in the Pacific Northwest. The museum is located in one of the three original lock tender's houses, built in 1905. The Museum overlooks the original Locks, a National Historic Site and features information, photos, and artifacts on the history of the Columbia River Gorge. The views from the walking bridge were phenomenal.



















We went on to the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum in Stevenson, Washington. They have 11,000 SF of exhibits. The most interesting was the Corliss Steam Engine and the McCord Fishwheel. We saw the “Creation” movie about the geology of the Gorge. The visit was well worth going to. Outside you can see the scenic Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. We traveled past the Bonneville Dam, but decided not to stop for the tour.

























We crossed the Bridge of the Gods that joins Oregon and Washington. Bridge of the Gods as it exists today was created in a much less glamorous fashion than the original, natural one. It was built by man, by hand, and with difficulty. Constructed in 1926, the Bridge of the Gods is the third oldest bridge on the Columbia River. It plays a major role in the Pacific Coast Trail by linking Oregon and Washington states. Indian legend says the Great Spirit built a bridge of stone that was a

gift of great magnitude. Scientists say that about 1,000 years ago the mountain on the Washington side of the Columbia river (near what is now the town of Cascade Locks,) caved off, blocking the river.
Interesting fact - People arriving over the Bering Strait from Mongolia about 13,000 years ago first popoulated the Pacific Northwest. Spanish and British sailors are believed to have sighted the Oregon coast as early as the 1500s. It is estimated that there were 125 distinct Northwestern tribes in the area at that time.


We reached Mount Hood, the tallest mountain in Oregon (11,237 ft) and popular with skiers, hikers, and climbers. It is 45-miles east-southeast of Portland, Oregon.



















Mount Hood is a stratovolcano made of lava flows, domes, and volcaniclastic deposits. Most of the volcano is andesite composition. The main cone of Mount Hood formed about 500,000 years ago. In the last 15,000 years the volcano has had four eruptive periods. During the most recent eruptive period, 250-180 years ago, lava domes collapsed and produced numerous pyroclastic flows and lahars which buried the southwest flank of the mountain. Crater Rock, a prominent rocky pinnacle just below the summit, is the most recent lava dome. Similar eruptions in the future pose the greatest risk to communities on the flank of the volcano.
Mount Hood is a mountain that gets little respect despite being spectacular and deadly. It is the fourth highest in the Cascades -- far lower than 14,000 foot giants Mt. Rainier and Mt. Shasta and over a thousand lower than Mt. Adams.
However, the peak is dearly beloved in Portland where it dominates the skyline. It is heavily glaciated and receives staggering amounts of snowfall every winter.
Timberline Lodge The south side of Mt. Hood has been a major recreational area since the days when the road to Timberline was a glorified cow trail, coffee was 10C a cup, and you brought your own blanket to stay at the Hotel at Timberline.
The broad sloping roof rising up to a central point was designed to harmonize with the shape of the mountain and its ridges. Stone buttressed walls and massive timbers were planned to withstand heavy alpine winds and deep snows. The windows bring the mountain and surrounding valleys “into” the lodge.
Sunday, July 08 - We took a drive into Portland for our last chance to sight-see this area. We went to the Portland Rose Garden in Washington Park. It is an International Rose Test Garden – the oldest of 24 public test gardens in the US. The 5+ acres garden has a panoramic view of the “City of Roses” and I had to see it. Established in 1917 and always maintained and operated by the Portland Parks Bureau. I saw many roses identified and were the same ones that I grew in our gardens throughout the years. It was a beautiful setting at the top tier to catch a glimpse of Mt. Hood in the distance with its snow capped peaks.

























We also took an open train ride up to the Oregon Zoo, but found it to be more for the children. It was a rather warm ride, but with the shade of the thick forest, it was bearable. The zoo animals were laying low due to the heat, so we decided it was so late in the day, we would get back on the train and return home before traffic got bad.b:if cond='data:blog.pageType !="item"> >