Columbia River Gorge and Mt Hood

Catching up on a few snaps from last week's travels near Mt Hood and the Columbia River Gorge.

Floating on the horizon like so much baked Alaska, 

Mt Hood at first appears to be clouds.

Overused, but the only word that springs to mind when traveling alongside the Columbia River Gorge: awesome.

Shamelessly quoting from a regional website...

Mt. Hood is the highest point in Oregon, not so much a mountain as an active volcano and the crown jewel of the Columbia River Gorge, an area seemingly designed by the gods of outdoor recreation. Mt. Hood’s slopes beg to be climbed, skied, snowboarded and hiked. Its many lakes and rivers cry out to be canoed, swum and fished. Its foothills offer orchards, farms full of fresh ingredients and exotic wildflowers.

The mighty Columbia invites windsurfing, sailing, parasailing and hang-gliding across itself. And when the day is done, be sure to enjoy the charming towns, hand-crafted beers and spirits, and hot tubs of Mt. Hood’s endless cabins. Or kick back at the WPA-built Timberline Lodge, which overlooks all of it.