Moss Empire in the Gorge

The western Columbia Gorge is drenched in rain and mist for the majority of the year. Moss, ferns, fir, cedar, and hemlock thrive. The ground is almost always damp, except in summer...well, it was late August when I was there, and it was still damp! The old Columbia River highway, built during World War I, was replaced by faster, straighter roads after only about 20 years. But its remnants have been cherished by the locals, and preserved whenever possible. This stretch near Cascade Locks is now a hiking and biking trail. The guardrails here, crafted in Italian style, endure, cloaked in moss.

Ferns grow everywhere in the western gorge. There are many species. They envelop the land in lushness. These are on the underside of a rock outcrop.

This is Wahclella Falls, near Eagle Creek. Even in late August, at the end of the dry season, it's flowing heartily. When you think of it, there's an interesting juxtaposition in the gorge. There is the forest, lush, enveloping, and gentle. But the forest clings to steep cliffs and nestles in deep canyons; the landscape is harsh and rugged. Almost all the hikes in the gorge require some serious climbing.