Driving around the Columbia River area

Location: Ainsworth State Park (El. 100 ft); Cascade Locks, Oregon

(click pictures to enlarge)
(all pictures, except one, taken with Nokia Lumia 929 Cell Phone)

It's raining again today, but didn't start until the afternoon. So far, it has only been gentle rains so they aren't too bad. It seems to keep the air crisp and clean. 

Although I-84 is now the major highway that parallels the Columbia River, there are long stretches of old U.S. 30 that are still maintained and open to the public. This highway was originally built about 100 years ago as a county road before being added to the U.S. Highway system in the mid 1920's. It is a curvy and hilly road that hugs the edges of mountains and shear bluffs along the Columbia River. The building of this road during that time was a major achievement, equal to many other Engineering feats of that time. At the top of a headland of basalt, there is a promontory where the Assistant Highway Engineer for the Colombia River Highway Project, Mr. Samuel Lancaster, pushed the higher-ups to build something special. He envisioned a stop where people could see the wondrous views of the Columbia River and rest a while before continuing on their journey. The place that was built is still standing and still serving the original purpose almost 100 years later. The place is called the Vista House.

Vista House as seen from I-84

You can see part of the highway that curves in front of Vista House. This view is still from I-84.

Vista House

The view looking up-river from Vista House

The view looking down-river from Vista House.

The Columbia River with clouds

Mount Hood is the highest mountain in Oregon. It is one of the many Strato-Volcanoes in the Northwest. It is supposedly caused by a subduction zone which is part of the Continental Drift Theory. These pictures were taken from an overlook on the outskirts of Portland. I will probably be able to see the mountain for most of the time I'm in Oregon. 

Mount Hood

Mount Hood

Mount Hood

Mount Hood

Ya'll take care of each other. I'll Cya down the road.