Life After Our First Mission: Hiking In The Columbia Gorge

Punch Bowl Falls

Eagle Creek Trail

We have had wonderful weather during the past month or so. We have walked around Portland, but have not hiked the many trails in the Columbia Gorge until this past week.

On Labor Day we checked in with the family to see if anyone was doing anything special, or if they would like to drive up the Gorge and hike Eagle Creek Trail as far as Punch Bowl Falls. Everyone had other plans, so we went by ourselves. Punch Bowl Falls is one of our favorite spots and only about a twenty-minute drive from home.

We must have stirred up some interest in doing some hiking in the Gorge. When we, later in the week, suggested hiking the Oneonta Gorge, many of the family were eager to go with us. We planned to do the hike on Thursday. In order to photograph it in the sunshine we suggested leaving early in the afternoon. That didn’t go over very big, because everyone else had jobs that needed tending. So we settled on Friday at one o’clock. It was closer to two o’clock and the crowd had narrowed down to Angie, Karen, and Ben, who had hiked that gorge many times, and Norma and me who had never been there. It turned out to be a more manageable group.

Oneonta Gorge

The Oneonta Gorge is reminiscent of the dry red stone slot canyons of Arizona, which we have visited; however, this slot canyon is green with moss and ferns. The riverbed leading to the waterfall is river-rock and cold water. At one place on the trek the snowmelt water is chest high with high walls of rock on both sides. The biggest hurdle is the large log-jamb at the opening of the gorge. We conquered it all and had a very enjoyable time.

On Saturday I repeated the two hikes at different times of the day in order to photograph them in some sunshine. I’m not sure it made much difference because they are both beautiful under all conditions. I did, however, get some additional exercise.

Oneonta Falls

Our next hike will be to Ramona Falls.

The most important milestone this past week was the ordination of Toby to the office of Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood. He can do baptisms in the Temple and pass the Sacrament on Sunday. His ward’s youth are attending the Temple on Tuesday after our family baptismal session with Toby where he will be baptized for his ancesters.