Track the Ice Age Floods, Columbia River Gorge Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008

[RidgeRunner]

We’ll follow in the footsteps of Lewis & Clark and the Oregon Trail as we tour the eastern portion of the Columbia River Gorge and examine the Ice Age Flood evidence.

Mark Buser, President of Lower Columbia Chapter of Ice Age Floods Institute has graciously consented to accompany our trip. Mark has studied the Floods in the Columbia Gorge and Willamette Valley extensively.

This tour will start at Shari’s Restaurant parking lot in Troutdale off I-84 at 9:00 am Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008. Come earlier for coffee or breakfast.

Our next stop will be Mosier so if you are coming from the east, we can meet you at Mosier, Exit 69 off I-84. The Mosier Tunnels/Historic Highway parking lot is just west and above beautiful downtown Mosier, follow the signs from the freeway.

We will work our way east on mostly secondary roads to the Deschutes River where we will stop for lunch at the boat ramp across from Deschutes Park. Later, we’ll end up on the Washington side of the river near Hwy 97 (providing the bridge is back open by then). We should break up there between 3 and 4:00 pm.

Bring water, snacks and lunch and don’t forget your camera. Some of this information is subject to change, so stay tuned.

Mick

[Jerry]

Sounds fun as well as interesting, Mick. I hope to make it.
Jerry

[RidgeRunner]

We still plan to meet Saturday morning, Sept. 6th at 9:00 am, Shari's Restaurant in Troutdale just off I-84. Come earlier for coffee or breakfast.

We'll caravan directly to Mosier and start the actual tour there. Folks coming from the east can meet us in Mosier at the tunnels parking lot at 10:15 am. Follow the signs from Mosier to the parking lot.

CB channel 22 and 2 meter amateur freq 146.580 monitor only. The narrative will occur on CB ch 22.

We plan to provide handouts and historical information from Mark Buser, President of Lower Columbia Chapter of Ice Age Floods Institute. There will be numerous stops to observe flood evidence.

Chime in to give us an idea of who all may come. Remember to bring water, lunch & camera. When we leave The Dalles, there are no stores to buy anything.

This is not a high-clearance vehicle trip but we will be on some dusty, gravel secondary roads.

Mick

[Puddin99]

Newbie here. We would like to tag along. Will bring the wife and 3 kids. We homeschool and think this would be a cool outing.

Ken

PS. Wife was inquiring about the availability of 'facilities'.

[RidgeRunner]

Hi Ken,

Welcome aboard! Looking forward to meeting you.

Don't know how old your kids are but there should be something for everyone.

There are rest rooms at Mosier Tunnels parking lot. We'll be in The Dalles about an hour after that and can stop at the Waterfront Park. We'll be about another hour getting to our lunch stop where there are restrooms. And there will be one more stop on the Washington side near Hwy 97 and after that we'll break up.

Mick

[Jerry]

Meeting at Mosier Tunnels is much more convenient for us folks coming from the east, but I am concerned that we would miss some of the narrative if we did; to say nothing of joining friends for breakfast. I'll let you know for sure what our plans are the week before the tour. But, rest assured, one place or the other, Jerry & Evelyn will be there. I expect we will be driving our silver Ford Escape and will be listening for you on CB channel 22 and VHF 146.580.

[RidgeRunner]

Jerry, you really won't miss anything because the tour will really start at Mosier. The reason is because there are too many trees & shrubs in the gorge to see much of the flood evidence. It's just too green!

We will talk about that and how the floods reshaped the gorge but we'll do that at Mosier.

Looking forward to seeing both of you again.

Mick

[zjsheller]

I would also like to tag along. May also be bringing wife and 3 kids. (15 to 9). Curious if you needed any sort of dues, fees, membership costs, etc. If anybody is headed from the McMinnville, PDX area, perhaps we could caravan? Look forward to meeting you guys!!

[RidgeRunner]

Happy to have you aboard...And looking forward to meeting you too.

Mick

[Jerry]

Drove down the Washington side of the gorge this morning and, as always, was awed by the magnificent rock formations that I am sure were carved by the Missoula Floods. All sorts of boulder debri that one can only imagine the origin. We are looking forward to learning some basics on the tour. Neat subject and fantastic scenery.