Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood and Trillium Lake

When we left Craters of the Moon we did a very long driving day (about 12 hours), but since we had plenty of daylight, good driving weather, two folks who like to drive and happy kids (long drives meant McDonald's for supper and two movies - very unusual for us) we were fine.  We stopped at a campground outside of Pendleton, OR.  The weather was very hot and dry, but there was a pool so we were set.  We took advantage of having internet connections for the first time in weeks and e-mailed, updated and downloaded new books.  We also did laundry!  The next morning we were up and out early, headed for the Columbia River Gorge.  

When you are driving through eastern Oregon it is high desert.  Hot, dry, and brown.  But as you drop down into the Columbia River Gorge suddenly you are in different country.  The landscape turns lush and green.  There is water everywhere, and gloriously, there are cherries, and other fresh fruit stands on every corner.  We loved driving through the gorge and stopped at most of the waterfalls, but since we were hauling the trailer it just wasn't possible to find parking at all of them.

Horsetail Falls

Multnomah Falls

Wakeena Falls

View  of the Columbia from Vista House

After a wonderful day in the Columbia River Gorge, we turned south and headed into the Hood River Valley.  We camped at a National Forest Campground - Trillium Lake.  We love staying at National Forest Campgrounds, and this one proved to have all of the things we like.  Simple camping (so usually very cheap fees), quiet spaces, and beautiful views.  The kids enjoyed swimming in the lake and I enjoyed the leisure of having plenty of time to cook supper.  I even had decent cell phone reception so I called my sister so she would know we were still alive (she worries about these things).

View of Mt. Hood taken from the middle of Trillium Lake

 After supper we took a short drive to see the Timberline Lodge and to see the ski area (still open on July 1st).  The kids were disappointed that we weren't skiing, but that wasn't on the agenda this trip.  The Timberline Lodge was built by the CCC and had gorgeous huge timbers and wonderful carvings.

Snow!

It was kind of a crazy day.  We started in the desert, traveled through temperate rain forest and wound up in snow.  Hello Rain Shadow!  But, as you can tell from those faces, it was a wonderful day!