For the first weekend, we decided to leave after work Friday nite and stay 2 nites in the Columbia Gorge Hotel. I can't give the whole story here, but essentially, in 1921, Simon Benson, a timber baro
n built this place soon after Highway 30 was extended as a scenic passage through the gorge. I find it interesting that Highway 30 runs essentially from Pennsylvania to Portland, mostly as the Lincoln Highway and runs through Warsaw, Indiana, 12 miles from my childhood home of Silver Lake, where Georgia and I met. So, I guess he built it for us. Really, he built it on the southern brim of the gorge, overlooking the Columbia River so that people could come to enjoy the beauty. What a place, with it's gardens, stream and waterfall. You look down the waterfall to see a train track running along the river. It's worth a trip to the internet to look up Columbia Gorge 
Hotel and Columbia Gorge. While you're at it, take a look at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, the Highest mountain in Oregon. The lodge is at 6000 feet, where the trees stop growing and the summit is over 11,ooo feet. Well, we were going to try to stay Friday nite there, but they were full. That was the protection of God. As you can see, they had a big snow storm there Friday nite (while we were driving to Columbia Gorge Hotel). Now this is snow. The lodge was built as part of President Roosevelt's work program where he gathered artisans to build it. Such craftmanship! 
There was so much snow that the lodge was half covered. They had this little covering over the entrance so you didn't have to wade snow up the steps. Notice that the snow covered the windows on one side of one of the restaurants. I'll let Georgia show you most of the architecture while I go on to the next day. As you'll see (in case you haven't figured it out yet,) I am really impressed by waterfalls.
n built this place soon after Highway 30 was extended as a scenic passage through the gorge. I find it interesting that Highway 30 runs essentially from Pennsylvania to Portland, mostly as the Lincoln Highway and runs through Warsaw, Indiana, 12 miles from my childhood home of Silver Lake, where Georgia and I met. So, I guess he built it for us. Really, he built it on the southern brim of the gorge, overlooking the Columbia River so that people could come to enjoy the beauty. What a place, with it's gardens, stream and waterfall. You look down the waterfall to see a train track running along the river. It's worth a trip to the internet to look up Columbia Gorge 
Hotel and Columbia Gorge. While you're at it, take a look at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, the Highest mountain in Oregon. The lodge is at 6000 feet, where the trees stop growing and the summit is over 11,ooo feet. Well, we were going to try to stay Friday nite there, but they were full. That was the protection of God. As you can see, they had a big snow storm there Friday nite (while we were driving to Columbia Gorge Hotel). Now this is snow. The lodge was built as part of President Roosevelt's work program where he gathered artisans to build it. Such craftmanship! 
There was so much snow that the lodge was half covered. They had this little covering over the entrance so you didn't have to wade snow up the steps. Notice that the snow covered the windows on one side of one of the restaurants. I'll let Georgia show you most of the architecture while I go on to the next day. As you'll see (in case you haven't figured it out yet,) I am really impressed by waterfalls.
For much of the gorge, Interstate 84 and US 30 are the same road. However for 20 -30 miles US 30 deviates to become a scenic highway where you can actually drive by many waterfalls. The first falls we saw was Horsetail falls, named so because it looks like a Horse's tail. Supposedly, if you hike to the top, you can go upstream a bit to find "Ponytail falls".
Then came Multnomah. This was something else. As you can see, there are 2 parts, with a walking bridge.
The video is taken from the bridge. Notice again, the water on the lense (how can you not notice?) By the way, Mr. Benson (CGH) donated much of the land for the parks housing these falls.
Before heading back for home, we made our way to the Vista House atop the gorge where you could see in all directions. The only downer was that it was really cloudy, so it limited our vision. In the picture that looks like clouds only, that is 
Mount Hood covered by clouds. On the Vista House is a plaque commemorating the guy who built the road so that people could see all of this beauty.
Mount Hood covered by clouds. On the Vista House is a plaque commemorating the guy who built the road so that people could see all of this beauty.
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