Gorge-ing

About this time every year I defiantly start acting like winter is over, even if all signs point to "nope, not really." This weekend my brother and sister-in-law were visiting from Minnesota, so I had an excuse to make my fantasies a reality. I simply would not allow them to leave without seeing what Oregon has to offer.

So we headed east to the Columbia River Gorge to do a bit of hiking, amid the rain/sleet mix that I tried my best to not acknowledge. (Which P.S., was not in the forecast. Thanks for nothing, Accuweather.) I took them to Multnomah Falls, the second tallest waterfall in North America, no biggie, and then we hiked the Horsetail Falls trail. It's my favorite of the many waterfall hikes in that area, offering a nice sampler of waterfall action - one you can walk behind, the "weeping wall" and a nice view of the Oneonta Gorge from a little footbridge that feels like it's from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Even though my feet were cold and wet and most of my photos include some precipitation blemishes (beauty marks?), I really enjoyed seeing some of my favorite scenery in what is probably a realistic representation of the natural climate. The moss was growing before my very eyes! And at the very least, Brother and Wifey can at least say that they experienced the REAL Oregon. Not what those pansies see when they show up in July. The only thing that would have made it better would have been a Banana Slug sighting. Next time.