It's the Little Things: A Day For The Soul

I have been restless. I get that way this time of year. I think it is because I don't fair well when couped up all winter. Not that I am couped up entirely, but from some of the great hiking spots in the area. Some may say, "Stephanie, you can hike in the winter." And my response would be, "Yes, I know this, but I melt in the rain." Not really. I've done lots of things in the rain, hiking has unfortunately not been one of them. Maybe I should try that next winter on a nice day.

Anywho, I've been sort of stir crazy as of late and decided that this would be the weekend I got out. I awoke early this morning (in anticipation of my adventure?!-maybe), 6am, early for a weekend anyway. Earlier even than when I wake up during the work week. I did consider jumping out of bed and heading somewhere, but figured I would crash entirely too early this evening. So, I dawdled. It was wonderful. I had decided to head into the Columbia River Gorge. A place that I often forget to include in my spur-of-the-moment ventures. I took the Historic Columbia River Highway and was not disappointed. I had been in the gorge multiple times. It just doesn't tend to be my first thought for a Sunday drive type of destination.

The first stop I made was at the Portland Women's Forum. This scenic viewpoint is most definitely scenic. It hosts some of the most captivating views of the gorge, especially on a clear day such as today.

Look closely and you can see the Vista House at Crown Point.

Approaching the Vista House

View looking East from Crown Point

View looking West towards Portland

The Vista House was built in 1917 and designed to be an ideal site for “an observatory from which the view both up and down the Columbia could be viewed in silent communion with the infinite.” ~S Lancaster, proposer of the observatory. It is still true to those words, all these years later.

After my stops at the Women's Forum and Vista House/Crown Point I headed back down towards the multitude of waterfalls that can be found in the gorge.

First falls:

The picture below reminds me of some sort of ethereal something or other. In actuality it is the sun streaming through the mist of the fall. If only there'd been a rainbow...

Approaching the elevation of the drop-off location of the falls. Amazing views from this height.

Falls stop #2:

This is a fall that I have not ever seen from the road, as you have to hike in to see it (I believe).

I posted the picture below because it cracked me up that you can so easily see the reflection of my hands in my sunglasses...

Falls stop #3:

I love this fall. I would classify it as my favorite among the falls of the gorge.

After seeing my favorite I decided to head up to see the Upper Horsetail Falls, AKA Ponytail Falls. Again, amazing views from that height.

The grotto, yes, that is the official name of the area carved out behind/below the falls; reminds me so much of Silver Falls State Park, another favorite of mine.

I was in heaven sitting under and behind the water. The rumble and crashings of water was so loud that I could barely hear myself think, let alone any one of the number of people surrounding me.

To end my day I was invited to go on a walk with my friend Megan. I had also asked if she wanted to do a picnic dinner at Rocky Butte. A place so near to her home that she had yet to visit and I'd been asking her if she'd been there for a year now. Today was the day. Our walk turned into just the picnic, which was delightful, even if a bit chilly as the clouds had rolled in. The views from the butte are pretty much amazing, I think. You can see all of Portland, along with Mt Hood, St Helens, Adams and Rainer (on a clear day). We had a short glimpse of Mt Hood before the clouds settled down around its peak and we had several great views of St Helens.

Looking East toward my earlier-in-the-day adventure in the gorge.