Paddlefish
07-11-2002, 10:01 PM
Okay, you Bonneville/Columba Gorge area fishermen/dads. You owe yourself (and your kids, and us) this one.
I'd rather spend my time fishing too, but this is an important detour.
You know Beacon Rock, right? Arguably the second biggest rock around, next to Gibraltar. Lewis and Clark were dazzled. Do you know the story? And have you been to the top?
The rock was owned at the turn of the 20th century by a company who was going to blast it into jetty fragments. :depressed:
The public/private chess game of the rock's ownership is pretty entertaining, and perhaps a lesson in today's economic and state budget scenario. A couple of Portland families intervened, saved the rock, and eventually managed to persuade the reluctant state of Washington to accept the gift. graemlins/idea.gif
Anyway . . .
Between 1915 and 1918 a paved trail was built -- with entirely private funds. The trail to the top will take you less then 30 minutes. It's paved switchbacks, with OSHA-grade handrails -- almost wheelchair accessible. A normal 6-year-old can handle it easily.
The view is basically Troutdale-to-Bonneville, in one glance. Or, in a word: awesome. Ospreys soaring so far below you that they can barely be seen.
Take a short detour. Take your kids. Make sure that someone will be there to say "Hey, wait just a minute," the next time such a treasure is threatened. :cheers:
[ 07-12-2002, 03:36 PM: Message edited by: Paddlefish ]
I'd rather spend my time fishing too, but this is an important detour.
You know Beacon Rock, right? Arguably the second biggest rock around, next to Gibraltar. Lewis and Clark were dazzled. Do you know the story? And have you been to the top?
The rock was owned at the turn of the 20th century by a company who was going to blast it into jetty fragments. :depressed:
The public/private chess game of the rock's ownership is pretty entertaining, and perhaps a lesson in today's economic and state budget scenario. A couple of Portland families intervened, saved the rock, and eventually managed to persuade the reluctant state of Washington to accept the gift. graemlins/idea.gif
Anyway . . .
Between 1915 and 1918 a paved trail was built -- with entirely private funds. The trail to the top will take you less then 30 minutes. It's paved switchbacks, with OSHA-grade handrails -- almost wheelchair accessible. A normal 6-year-old can handle it easily.
The view is basically Troutdale-to-Bonneville, in one glance. Or, in a word: awesome. Ospreys soaring so far below you that they can barely be seen.
Take a short detour. Take your kids. Make sure that someone will be there to say "Hey, wait just a minute," the next time such a treasure is threatened. :cheers:
[ 07-12-2002, 03:36 PM: Message edited by: Paddlefish ]