We wound our way through a continual string of S turns and then crossed over the continental divide in Montana -- the rivers from then on run west draining into the Columbia River that flows through the rolling, dry, treeless landscapes of eastern Washington and Oregon. Along the Columbia River, many dams produce hydroelectric power and provide safe passage for towboats with barges – serving as a 2-way highway for agricultural products grown through modern irrigation techniques and manufactured goods shipped from around the world. Alongside the dams, fish ladders give passage so spawning salmon can return to their home streams. As the river passes through the Columbia River Gorge, basically a break in the Cascade Mountains, many fast-flowing streams and small rivers add to its volume.
For centuries America’s rivers and lakes have connected us. From the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, to the Great Lakes, to the Mississippi, to the Missouri, and finally to the Columbia River, America’s waterways provided routes for exploration, paths for commerce, water for agriculture and power for industry. In the 18th century, Lewis and Clark followed the routes of America’s western rivers to reach Fort Clatsop where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. Here they wintered after completing the westward leg of their journey of exploration.
Now we arrived in Hood River, where the Hood joins the Columbia River. Hood River, population about 6,000, is a town overlooked by the snow-capped peaks of Mt. Hood to the south and Mt. Adams to the north, one hour east of Portland --- the end of our cross-country journey.
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