Oregon and Washington

Our trip has zigged-zagged us around Oregon and now into Washington for a week. The destination was Mt Reiner and Mt St Helens, more volcanoes. The destruction that Mt St Helens caused 34 years ago was astonishing, but the restoration has been a miracle. New trees planted , roads rebuilt, bridges reconstructed, and the harvesting of fallen trees from the blast all completed resulting in today's national park.

Mt St Helens

Mt St Helens

We were able to hike on Mt Reiner, but most of the trails were too strenuous for us old folk.

Back into Oregon we followed the Columbia River east heading to Idaho. History of the area has sparked an interest in us both, learning of the hardships of the great immigration during the mid 19th century. Today we visit these places and enjoy the beauty, while the frontiersmen endured the harshness.

 We hiked to several Waterfalls that line the Columbia River along Scenic Hwy 30

 Remnants of the Oregon trail still exist today, even runts is the trail can be seen.

Hells Canyon on the Snake River

 

Now we have crossed Idaho and back to the Tetons, riding out the last Month of this extended trip.

A Great Gray Owl watches us pass by on the Teton River.