Friends of the Columbia Gorge

Protecting the Gorge Since 1980 Winter 2007 Newsletter

Inside: Political Shifts Favor Gorge Page 4

Casino Update Page 8

Special Insert Spring Hiking Brochure Friends of the Columbia Gorge Take Action Today!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Angie Moore CHAIR he environmental review Please contact Associate Deputy Nancy Russell CHAIR EMERITA currently underway for the Secretary of Interior James Cason and ask VICE CHAIR Ken Denis proposed Gorge casino at Cascade him to withdraw the current scoping report Dick Springer SECRETARY TLocks is inadequate and fails to comply for the Gorge casino proposal. Basing the Karen Johnson TREASURER Rick Ray* AT-LARGE MEMBER with federal legal requirements. Read review on this flawed report will result in an Chris Beck details in our Conservation article on illegal Environmental Impact Statement. Broughton H. Bishop Bowen Blair, Jr. pages 8-9 of this newsletter. Urge the Bureau of Indian Affairs to Ed Caswell carry out a transparent environmental Susan Crowley* analysis that rigorously examines a full Christine Knowles* range of reasonable alternatives to siting the Janice Newton Aubrey Russell Warm Springs’ proposed mega-casino in the Pat Wall Columbia Gorge. Those alternatives should Roger Wendlick include locations outside the Columbia Cynthia Winter* Gorge as well as sites on the Warm Springs reservation. FRIENDS OF THE COLUMBIA GORGE LAND TRUST Tell the Interior Department that, at minimum, an irreplaceable national treasure BOARD OF TRUSTEES like the Columbia Gorge deserves a rigorous, Aubrey Russell CHAIR Christine Knowles* SECRETARY/TREASURER thorough, and fair environmental analysis. Jurgen Hess* Dustin Klinger Send comments today to: Nancy Russell Bowen Blair, Jr. (non-voting trustee) James Cason, Associate Deputy Secretary Jim Desmond (non-voting trustee) of the Interior 1849 C Street, NW, , D.C. 20240 STAFF Fax: (202) 208-1837 Teckla Anderson DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT [email protected] Nathan Baker STAFF ATTORNEY Kelley Beamer CONSERVATION ORGANIZER Proposed casino site sits below forests currently Justin Carroll EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT being considered for wilderness protection. Peter Cornelison* FIELD REPRESENTATIVE Photo: Kevin Gorman Kevin Gorman EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jane Harris DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Michael Lang CONSERVATION DIRECTOR Kate McBride* LAND TRUST MANAGER Active citizen support for Gorge protection is crucial to our success. Contact Rick Till LAND USE LAW CLERK * Gorge residents your Senators and Representatives using the information below, or check www.senate.gov or www.house.gov for other offices. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT Legal Counsel: Gary Kahn Washington Newsletter Design: Kathy Fors and Sen. Gordon Smith, (202) 224-3753 Sen. , (202) 224-2621 Kathleen Krushas (To the Point Publications) http://gsmith.senate.gov/public/ http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm Editor: Betsy Toll Sen. , (202) 224-5244 Sen. , (202) 224-3441

PORTLAND OFFICE http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/ http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/ 522 SW Fifth Avenue, #720 Rep. , (202) 225-0855 Rep. Brian Baird, (202) 225-3536 Portland, Oregon 97204 Rep. , (202) 225-4811 Rep. Doc Hastings, (202) 225-5816 (503) 241-3762 Rep. Darlene Hooley, (202) 225-5711 Rep. Norm Dicks, (202) 225-5916 Rep. , (202) 225-6730 GORGE OFFICE You can email your Congressional Representative 205 Oak Street, #17 Rep. Peter DeFazio, (202) 225-6416 by logging on to www.house.gov/writerep/ Hood River, Oregon 97031 (541) 386-5268 www.gorgefriends.org On the cover: Wildflowers carpeting the Rowena Plateau welcome visitors in spring. Photo: Greg Lief, LiefPhotos.com Correction: The cover photo on our November 2006 newsletter was printed in reverse. That beautiful sunset 2 photo by James Holloway was shot in Oregon, above I-84 looking west. I contacted State Parks and asked Director’s Letter if they would consider buying Nancy’s parcel if they could get it below market ive years ago, the Klickitat Trail Fortunately, Nancy has never allowed value. They said they would, so I called was the Gorge’s controversial issue “half-empty” details to bother her. She Nancy and apprised her of the situation. du jour. Many local citizens were removed the structures and cleaned Without hesitation, she offered the Fpressing to open the trail, some adjacent up the property to make it an informal property to State Parks for approximately land owners and local politicians wanted trailhead, and the newly-formed Klickitat half the $137,000 price she had paid it closed completely, and Washington State Trail Conservancy contributed a port-a- four years earlier. With appreciation, Parks and the U.S. Forest Service tried to pottie for public use. demolition costs, and property taxes, avoid saying or doing anything that would escalate the situation. That once-potential powder keg will now serve as the It was at this moment that the fuse on a potential powder keg was lit. Nancy crowning entrance to the beautiful Klickitat Trail. Russell called me one morning to tell me that she had bought a small property at Fast forward to 2006. With tensions Nancy’s offer meant she would lose more the terminus of the Klickitat Trail in Lyle. abated and State Parks and Forest Service than $100,000 on the deal. It would be the ideal trail gateway. But managing the trail, more than $240,000 Last December, Washington State it was in the Urban Area of Lyle, where was available to create an official Lyle Parks secured ownership of the property the County had forbidden the creation of trailhead. But no one had approached and today the Forest Service is including parks. It had three dilapidated structures Nancy about her parcel. Due to budget Nancy’s parcel in its planning for the and the County did not look kindly on restrictions, the public agencies intended trailhead. That once-potential powder keg removing development for recreation. to put all parking and amenities in a will now serve as the crowning entrance Given all the controversy, there seemed small right of way, even though Nancy’s to the beautiful Klickitat Trail. little hope that the agencies would manage property had ample grassy areas for the trail, let alone buy the property. picnicking and viewing the Klickitat River.

Kevin Gorman Executive Director Kevin Gorman Photo:

Friends of the Columbia Gorge works to ensure that the beautiful and wild Columbia Gorge remains a place apart, an unspoiled treasure for generations to come.

Hike leaders Bev Linde (left) and Barbara Robinson (center) admire the Klickitat River view with Nancy Russell on her Lyle trailhead property. 3 Political Winds Blow in Gorge’s Direction Changing political climate may help Gorge protection

Kevin Gorman, Executive Director, [email protected]

rotecting the Columbia Gorge has The November 2006 elections Reconnecting the Historic always been a bi-partisan effort. In provided a seismic shift in political Columbia River Highway 1986, four Republican Senators, power in Congress and the Columbia The 20-year transformation Pnumerous Democratic Congressmen, and a Gorge stands to benefit from that effort of the Historic Columbia River Republican President ensured passage of the shift. The Democratic takeover of the Highway from Troutdale to The Dalles Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Senate and House have given Oregon would not have occurred without Act. For the past three years, one of those and Washington more power in key significant federal funding. Roadway former Republican Senators, Washington’s committees that fund land acquisition and improvements in the waterfall stretch Slade Gorton, has worked as Friends’ lobbyist transportation projects, and determine between Corbett and Hood River, in Washington D.C. and has been crucial to matters such as wilderness areas. Here the Hood River to Mosier State Trail, encouraging the Bush Administration and are some of the ways in which Gorge and the reopening of the Mosier the former Republican-controlled Senate to protection issues will be affected by the Twin Tunnels all were supported by support Gorge land acquisition. Congressional shift: Congress.

Restoration of the Historic Columbia River Highway will include a rebuilt tunnel at Mitchell Point. Photo: Courtesy Oregon Department of Transportation

4 Scenic Oneonta Falls lies within the proposed Gorge Ridgeline addition to the Mark Hatfield Wilderness Area. Photo: Greg Lief, LiefPhotos.com

The Historic Columbia River Highway restoration work that remains is both challenging and exciting, including creating a new Mitchell Tunnel. The eventual goal is full reconnection of the Historic Highway, Wilderness advocates limiting all restored sections to non- motorized uses. anticipate a much The recent elevation of Oregon Rep. more favorable Peter DeFazio (D) to chair the Highways, Transit, and Pipelines Subcommittee gives environment for hope that these final restoration projects on the Historic Columbia River Highway protecting America’s will move forward. Washington Rep. Brian Baird (D) also sits on the Transportation last remaining Committee, giving further support to wildlands in the these goals. 110th Congress. Federal Land Acquisition in the Columbia Gorge Two members of the Washington delegation now sit in the majority on the is gone. Pombo, who controlled the An Off-Reservation Casino in the powerful Senate and House Appropriations Wilderness agenda and thwarted most Columbia Gorge Committees, which determine funding for Wilderness proposals, has been replaced We don’t expect to see big changes here. government agencies and their projects. by Congressman Nick Rahall (D-WV), The final decision maker is Interior Secretary Senator Patty Murray, (D) who is now #4 in whose first move was to put “natural” Dirk Kempthorne, who has shown little Senate leadership, should have considerable back in the House Natural Resources support for off-reservation casino development. sway on the Senate Interior Appropriations Committee name. Congressman Rahall is Oregon Senator Gordon Smith (R) subcommittee, which determines Forest considered an environmentalist and voted can be influential in encouraging the Service funding, and is chaired by Senator pro-environment 92% of the time on Administration to seek an on-reservation Diane Feinstein (D-CA). Congressman key environmental legislation according alternative. Washington Senator Maria Norm Dicks (D) of Tacoma is now chair to the League of Conservation Voters. Cantwell (D), who has expressed concerns of the House Interior Appropriations On the Senate side, the about the Gorge casino proposal, now sits subcommittee. This is great news as both subcommittee that considers Wilderness in the majority on the Senate Indian Affairs Murray and Dicks have been strong allies for bills is chaired by none other than Oregon Committee, where she will have more Gorge land acquisition. Senator Ron Wyden (D). We expect to influence with the Interior Department see Mount Hood and Columbia Gorge regarding off-reservation casino issues. Gorge Wilderness Protection Wilderness legislation introduced by the Congressional politics ebb and flow and Expect to see more progress securing time this newsletter is published. Friends of the Columbia Gorge will continue Wilderness protection for Mount Hood Overall, Wilderness advocates to ensure that protecting the Columbia and the Columbia Gorge, and more acreage anticipate a much more favorable Gorge never becomes a one-party issue. But considered for protection. environment for protecting America’s with the Congressional shift this year, we Former chair of the House Resources last remaining wildlands in the expect to see more progress on the issues we Committee Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) 110th Congress. are working for in the Columbia Gorge. 5 Land Trust this case, Friends’ land trust working with Congressional staff worked with Mosier-area staffers (see cover story) to Land Trust Securing property owners James and Lisa secure that funding. Matthisen during the past year Last fall, to prepare the First Trail Easement to determine the best location Cleveland property for sale, the and appropriate restrictions for Land Trust held a community- Kate McBride, Land Trust Manager their property that would allow wide work party to remove [email protected] creation of the connecting trail. non-native landscape plants The result will be from the property. With the a wonderful recreation help of Friends staff and an opportunity east of Memaloose AmeriCorps member, more than State Park. Our hope is that 20 volunteers took home many of eventually this will become the non-native plants that would part of an extensive trail system likely be damaged or destroyed connecting Oregon State Parks when the house is removed. We and Forest Service land in the will continue working to remove Memaloose area. non-native landscaping at the Cleveland property this year. Protecting Cape Horn Land Sales/Donations and ast summer, Friends of Conservation Easement the Columbia Gorge Land Inquiries The Matthisen trail easement will help hikers reach this area where Rowena Dell Trust submitted a formal If you would like information opens into the Gorge. Photo: Ken Denis Lacquisition request to the U. S. about conservation easements Forest Service for the Cleveland or possible land donations or ince the late 1980s, trail A property easement property and the property has sales to Friends of the Columbia advocates have pushed allows landowners to maintain now been placed on the Forest Gorge Land Trust, inside or for a trail that would run ownership, but also to donate Service’s 2008 Congressional outside the Gorge, contact Kate Sfrom the Memaloose Rest Area or sell certain rights to some funding request list. With a new McBride at (541) 386-5268 or to Rowena. Nearly two decades or all of their property. In Congress in session, we are [email protected]. of U.S. Forest Service purchases have moved this vision closer to reality. The only remaining obstacle has been a parcel of ������������������� private property, whose owners Legend are not interested in selling nsa_taxlots their land. Ownership So what strategy can Friends’ Park land trust pursue to make a Park/Hwy connecting trail possible? Answer: Columbia River USFS Private Secure a property easement. ��������Easement Since the late 1980s, trail advocates have Memaloose State Park I-84 pushed for a trail that would run from the Mayer State Park

Memaloose Rest Area Historic Highway to Rowena. 6 Outreach and Activities

Many local businesses in Gorge communities appreciate the value of National Scenic Area protections. Photo: Joanie Thompson Gorge Businesses Celebrate the National Scenic Area and its 20th Anniversary Peter Cornelison, Field Representative, [email protected]

he Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area celebrated its 20th anniversary in November, and more and more local businesses recognize the importance of this federal protection to Staff Transitions Tsupport the economies and way of life of Gorge communities. By Kevin Gorman, Executive Since the National Scenic Area Act passed in 1986, more than $90-million in federal funding has come Director to the Gorge, some of it specifically earmarked to support the Gorge economy. The Gorge businesses listed on this page have come forward publicly to support the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic his winter, Friends of the Area during this anniversary celebration. We encourage you to support these businesses. Columbia Gorge bid farewell Tto three staff members. Hood River Scott Franke Attorney Stevenson/Carson/ After six years with Friends, Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe Storm Warning No. Bonneville Outreach Coordinator Betsy Toll All Star Rafting Sunburst Orchard Big River Grill is moving into other work, but will At Home on Oak St. Susan Garrett Crowley Bloomsbury of Kanaka Creek Bart’s Best Bet Wind & Photography Farm continue editing our newsletters Recreation Radio Report That’s Swank Bonneville Hot Springs Resort and brochures. And Outdoor Big Winds The Kayak Shed and Spa Programs Coordinator Karen The UPS Store Cathedral Ridge Winery Duck Soup Clothing and Gifts Hardigg is moving to Anchorage, Dog River Coffee, LLC Windwing El Rio Mexican Café Gorge Surf Shop River House Art Gallery and Alaska, where her husband was Gorge View Bed & Breakfast The Dalles Studio recently named director of the A’s Sewing Shoppe Healing-Peace Therapy Riverside Lodge Bliss Alaska Conservation Foundation. Hood River Hotel & Cornerstone Sandhill Cottages Bob Stone Freeway Autocenter Development Assistant Teckla Cuisine Stompin-Groundz Boulder Path Designs Hood River Massage The Gorge Gallery Anderson is also moving on to Cascade Acupuncture Center Ikote Bingen/White Salmon explore new opportunities after Columbia Gorge Discovery Jane Parker Realtor Autowerx Center nearly four years with Friends. Jeff Hunter P.C. Real Estate Bingen Superette Foster, Peachey & Young LLP We thank Betsy, Karen, and Broker, Glen Taylor Real Chips Bar & Grill Geekster Computers Estate Diana’s Beauty Salon Teckla for their outstanding work Gorge Bedquarters Kris Gann Realtor Ray Klebba’s White Salmon Health Harvest Market for Friends and wish them well in Longshadow Photography Boat Works Klindts Booksellers their new endeavors. McCurdy Farms Shakey Ground Tile Pioneer Electric Middle Mt. Tax Services Ltd. Sticks and Stones Spring will bring new faces Polly’s Cakes Mosier Viento onto our team, so be sure to check Ruddy Duck Good River Restaurant our upcoming newsletter. 7 Legal and Conservation Casino Study to be Released in Late February Preliminary report contained fatal legal flaws

Michael Lang, Conservation Director, [email protected]

he Department of Interior has there are still fatal legal flaws in the announced plans to release its environmental review. Draft Environmental Impact Casino proponents were incensed TStatement (DEIS) on the Gorge casino over the decision by Interior to expand proposal in late February. Federal law the scope of the environmental review; then requires a 45-day period for public they have continued to lobby the agency comment and a public hearing. to weaken environmental review of Friends of the Columbia Gorge proposal. They appear to claim that the and other casino opponents continue agency can only analyze environmental to challenge the inadequacy of the issues and alternatives that the Warm environmental review and the failure of Springs Tribes approve and that will the proposal to comply with federal legal support their desired outcome: a huge “Casino fever” is already spurring speculative housing requirements. In response to issues raised casino resort complex in the Columbia development in Cascade Locks. Photo: Peter Cornelison by Friends, the Department of Interior River Gorge. The Warm Springs Tribes expanded the scope of the environmental hired the law firm of Holland and The Gorge casino proposal is bad review and required detailed analysis of at Hart, whose clients include mining, public policy. Beyond the massive casino least one on-reservation alternative. While gas and oil companies, to advance their itself, this project would jeopardize the this was a step in the right direction, arguments in Washington D.C. future of the Columbia River Gorge by paving the way for greatly increased Friends of the Columbia Gorge and other casino growth, traffic, and sprawl. Expanded development pressure would threaten opponents continue to challenge the inadequacy of the wildlife habitat and the natural and scenic resources of the Gorge. environmental review and the failure of the proposal to If casino supporters are successful in comply with federal legal requirements. their effort, the integrity of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) would be seriously compromised, the Columbia Gorge could be devastated by casino development, and a terrible precedent would be set that endangers public land and resources across the country.

You can help! Write a letter to Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne today and send a copy to your member of Congress opposing a Gorge casino. See our Action Alert on page 2.

Casino proponents are pushing to build a sprawling 603,000-square-foot casino complex

Photo: Kelley Beamer along the Columbia River in Cascade Locks.

8 Casino Study to be Released in Late February

Michael Lang, Conservation Director, [email protected]

A new Gorge and Mount Hood wilderness bill expected early this year ith Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) now Wchairing the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests, Friends expects introduction and swift passage of a Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood wilderness bill early in the 110th Congress. With support from Senator Gordon Smith, the bill should have Broughton Lumber Company is proposing a 260-unit destination resort on this site in the very few obstacles in passing the Senate. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Photo: Aubrey Russell In the House of Representatives, Congressman Earl Blumenauer is expected to redouble efforts to pass a Gorge and Gorge Commission and accepted public the Commission is not performing Mount Hood wilderness bill with continued comments. Many Gorge residents spoke this duty. For example, though the bipartisan support from Congressman Greg out against the proposed destination Commission is required to protect Walden and other members of the Oregon resort and encouraged the Gorge the Gorge from cumulative adverse delegation. Due to the November defeat of Commission to focus on protecting and impacts, it has never established a Congressman Richard Pombo (R-CA), former enhancing the scenic beauty, and natural program to assess the cumulative chair of the House Resources Committee, and cultural heritage of the Gorge. impacts of devopment that threaten Oregon’s delegation will no longer be forced Several speakers were concerned that sensitive Gorge resources. to negotiate an Oregon wilderness bill with the resort would overrun the adjacent The Commission should not an anti-environmental congressman hostile windsurfing sites. use its limited funds to expand to wilderness protection and public resource This Management Plan amendment development in the Gorge, while protection. The result should be a more is driven by Broughton Lumber violating the National Scenic Area Act expansive bill that includes more land suitable Company’s request for a private, 260- by failing to protect the Gorge from for protection under the Wilderness Act. unit residential destination resort with adverse impacts to scenic, natural, lodges, restaurants, and commercial cultural and recreation resources. The Broughton Landing resort shopping adjacent to thousands Commission must concentrate on its proposal meets concern and of acres of sensitive habitat and a mandatory duties, such as updating world-famous windsurfing site. The salmon habitat protections, improving opposition proposed urban-scale development is rules to protect scenic landscapes, he Gorge Commission staff is developing inconsistent with the National Scenic and adopting a system to monitor the Tamendments to the Gorge-wide Area Act’s requirements that large-scale cumulative effects of development. Management Plan that would allow Broughton development be sited within existing Friends and Gorge landowners Lumber Company to build a huge recreation urban areas. have sued the Gorge Commission over resort two miles east of White Salmon along The Gorge Commission’s primary its failure to protect scenic landscapes the Columbia River at the site of their old responsibility is to protect and and fish and wildlife habitat from the lumber mill. enhance the scenic, natural, cultural, steady onslaught of development. The In January, the Commission staff and recreation resources of the lawsuit is currently pending before the presented an outline of its proposal to the National Scenic Area. Unfortunately Oregon Court of Appeals.

9 Development Cape Horn Campaign Hits $2 Million Mark

Jane Harris, Development Director [email protected]

ifts large and small have come in for the Campaign for Cape Horn since last summer, bringing our total to date to just over $2 million. Cape Horn Gsupporter Al Jubitz has designated a $100,000 gift to the project, and Brot and Mary Bishop recently contributed $50,000 to support the effort. The $4-million Cape Horn project includes purchase of two properties with incomparable views on the top of Cape Horn totaling more than 40 acres. A modest viewpoint honoring Nancy and Bruce Russell is planned, and an eight- mile loop trail will be the final component completing Nancy Russell’s vision for a thousand-acre public park. A brochure on the project is available online at The Campaign for Cape Horn will help open new recreation opportunities www.gorgefriends.org/land/landtrust/index_html or by calling along the Cape Horn Trail. our office at (503) 241-3762. Photo: Dan Huntington

New Tax Incentive 50th Anniversary of the Flooding of for IRA Gifts Celilo Falls Remembered for Annual here is good news from the IRS for Gorge supporters who want Meeting to make a charitable gift during riter and farmer George Rohrbacher will be the keynote speaker at Ttheir lifetime from their retirement assets. Friends of the Columbia Gorge’s 27th Annual Meeting, discussing Under a recent change in tax law, set the final days before Celilo Falls was dammed in March 1957. The to expire at the end of 2007, donors aged Wdamming of Celilo is a central theme in his upcoming novel and George writes 70 ½ or older can now make cash gifts eloquently about that historic event, which profoundly affected Columbia River up to $100,000 from their IRA without tribes, Gorge communities, salmon, and the agricultural economy of the region. incurring income tax on the withdrawal. The impacts of the flooding of Celilo Falls still reverberate today. The provision, H.R. 4 the Pension The Annual Meeting will be Protection Act of 2006, allows qualified held on Sunday, April 15th at the charitable distributions to be excluded Discovery Center in The Dalles from gross income for Federal Income tax from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. purposes. However, no federal income Mark your calendars and plan tax deduction is available. Only outright to join us for a wonderful luncheon gifts are eligible. Gifts from retirement with an engaging speaker. accounts other than IRA’s such as 401k, Pre-registration is required; 403b, and SEP accounts are not eligible. the cost is $20. Invitations and For more information on how to details will be mailed to our take advantage of this wonderful members in mid-March. opportunity to support the Gorge and save on your taxes please call Jane Harris Celilo Falls circa 1907. at (503) 241-3762 x102. Photo: ©Oregon Historical Society OrHi67073

10 Special Gifts

October 20, 2006 - January 19, 2007

Reprinted with permission In Honor of Mike Stahlman Gillian Butler

In Honor of Nancy Russell William and Cornelia Stevens Henry and Gerel Blauer Susan W. and Jeff Grayson Marna and Cliff Moore Nicholas and Kathryn Dodge

In Honor of Rafael Bobenrieth Marvin and Joyce Katz

In Honor of Tate River Hixson Michelle Goguen

In Memory of Ed Robertson Phyllis and Victor Clausen

In Memory of Laurence Schramm Nancy Schramm

In Memory of Lois Roberts Kathy and Jong Yee

In Memory of Marla Jean Putney Ed and Mary Vranizan

In Memory of Shep Wilson Russell and Elenore McJury Anne Pagenstecher Frances W. Lloyd Ms. Jane R. Kendall Kelley and Greg Wentworth Virginia and John Ryan Susan and Philippe Bodin

Featured Hike: Lyle Cherry Orchard In Memory of Elsie Hambidge Craig Redfern and Wendy Hambidge Redfern Distance: 6 miles with 1400-ft elevation gain In memory of Anita Eikrem ur spring hiking season begins in some exposure. The topographic map above Elizabeth Richard mid-March, but a February hike can be downloaded from our website at at Lyle Cherry Orchard is a great www.gorgefriends.org/hikes/topomaps/, and Prairie stars blooming east of Wind Mountain. Ooption for a late-winter excursion. maps of many more hikes will be available Photo: Adam Schneider, AdamSchneider.net/photos/ Climbing the slopes just east of Lyle, there soon. this sunny trail leads through wildflowers The eastern Gorge is beautiful in spring, to stunning views of the Columbia River, and the wildflowers bloom there first. You dramatic basalt cliffs, and Cascade peaks. Over can head out to the trail with a friend, or a period of years, Friends founder Nancy check our spring hiking brochure and join us Russell purchased this 400-acre area and March 17 for the Lyle Cherry Orchard hike. created the trail which is open to the public. At the eastern edge of the hike lies a long- Directions: From the Portland area, take I-84 abandoned orchard. For a shorter hike, climb East to Exit 64 Hood River and cross the Hood the first steep mile to a wide plateau and enjoy River Bridge. Turn right on WA SR-14 and drive a picnic lunch and views on the bluff above the east for 12 miles, past Lyle and then two tunnels. cliffs. The full route gradually leads along the Just past the second tunnel look for the gravel area’s basalt rim. Be mindful of poison oak and parking pullout on the left. 11 Know Your Gorge The rarest of rare

hat do you get when you take dramatic variances of elevation and precipitation, place them Win a confined stretch of land, and throw in massive geologic disturbances to mix things up? Answer: The botanical bonanza we find in the Columbia Gorge. Within its stunning landscapes of majestic cliffs, sweeping hillsides, and diverse ecosystems, the Gorge is home to more than 800 flowering plant species, including 15 endemic wildflowers, species found no where else on Earth. Ardent wildflower enthusiasts are known to travel long distances to view a single endemic, 1 2 3 but Gorge enthusiasts needn’t look far. Upper These endemic Columbia Elowah Falls at the top of the McCord Creek Gorge wildflowers can trail between Portland and Hood River boasts be found on the McCord five rare Columbia Gorge endemics that join the Creek trail to Upper wildflower show to brighten the trail along the Elowah Falls: upper cliff face. 1) Howell’s Daisy Early May is prime time to catch the bloom 2) Columbia Kittentails at McCord Creek. To enjoy this moderate two- 3) Long-Beard Hawkweed mile hike, take I-84 east to the Ainsworth Exit. 4) Smooth Douglasia Continue east on the frontage road parallel to 5) Columbia Gorge Daisy. I-84 to the John Yeon State Park parking lot, then Photos: Angie Moore follow the trail up to cliff face. 4 5

Non Profit U.S. Postage PAID Portland, OR Permit No. 2623 Friends of the Columbia Gorge P.O. Box 40820 Portland, Oregon 97240-0820