Bicentennial Planning Meeting
Idaho, Oregon & Washington
State Chapters of the
Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation
Activities for Lewis & Clark Buffs in the Columbia Gorge
From information submitted by Pam Anderson, Washington Chapter Secretary
Question for the month - What is Opuntia polyacantha? Or Sagittaria latifolia?
We know them as prickly pear cactus and wapato roots. On Saturday, July 17,
join Dr. Gary Moulton for an educational and entertaining evening in the heart
of the Columbia Gorge: The Garden of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Using slides, quotes from the Journals and anecdotes from his own research, Dr.
Moulton will share the fascinating story of the expedition's well-traveled
botanical specimens. His lecture will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium of
the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Skamania, WA. The
Washington State Chapter is a co-sponsor of this lecture, along with the
Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, the Governor's [Washington State] Lewis
and Clark Trail Committee, Skamania Lodge, & the Lewis and Clark Trail
Heritage Foundation. The lecture is free & open to the public. We
encourage attendees to make a voluntary donation while visiting the Center.
Dr. Moulton's lecture is one of three activities planned for July 17. The day
includes an afternoon planning session (from 2:30 - 5:00 p.m. at the Columbia
Gorge Interpretive Center) which will focus on planning future directions for
the local chapters, their meetings and projects. One challenge in this planning
process is the large number of agencies and groups involved in Lewis and Clark
activities, understanding their common and separate missions and objectives,
and finding our unique place in this fabric. This meeting is open to officers,
boards and members of the Oregon, Washington and Idaho chapters as well other
Lewis and Clark entities that may choose to attend Dr. Moulton's evening lecture
at the Center. This will be an informal meeting in which we will try to
identify our common interests and differences, and could be a step forward in
communication and coordination among our various groups. Chapter members are
most welcome to attend.
Another choice for members who plan to attend the lecture but who prefer a
"hands-on" experience instead of the afternoon planning session is an excursion
led by Don Popejoy along the Lewis and Clark Highway (State #14) to Beacon
Rock State Park. Points of interest will be noted as we progress towards
"Beaten Rock." At the park, we will hike to the top of this 848-foot monolith
for a marvelous view of the Columbia River, the Gorge and the bottomlands.
The trail, 4500 feet long, that we will follow to the summit includes 52
switchbacks and crosses 22 bridges! Captain Clark writes, "Beacon in the
Gorge...my view...which from the last rapids widened and had every appearance
of being effected by the tide...a remarkable high detached rock Stands in a
bottom on the Stard. Side." It is here that they detected the tide waters of
the Pacific. This eroded volcanic plug is the second largest monolith in the
world, the Rock of Gibraltar being the tallest. Here at Beacon Rock, also
called Beaten Rock by Lewis and Clark, Pillar Rock and Castle Rock, the river
enters the lush, rain-soaked Pacific Northwest that the Corps of Discovery
came to love so dearly!?
Beacon Rock was also a landmark for Oregon Trail
immigrants and for mariners, who once around Cape Horn looked eagerly for this
beacon of safety. Lewis and Clark passed this way November 2nd, 1805, and
again homeward bound April 6th, 1806, and noted at this time the water level
being some 12 feet higher than in late fall! A tour booklet including a
narrative, maps and photos will be available for $2.00, which will be donated
to the Washington Chapter. Please be sure to wear long pants, hiking boots
and bring water. The hike is not hard but will be an upward climb of one mile
at a 15% grade. We will carpool, and if you have CB's, please bring them as
a means to communicate on the drive to and from Beacon Rock. The group will
assemble in the parking lot of the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center beginning
at 12:30 and depart promptly at 1:00, returning at approximately 5:00 p.m.
July 17: Information on "How to Get There" & "Where to Stay"
Perched on the north bank of the Columbia River near Stevenson, the Columbia
Gorge Interpretive Center is a great place to learn about how the gorge was
shaped by both nature and people. Address: 990 SW Rock Creek Drive, Stevenson;
phone: 509-427-8911. Admission: $6 adults; $5 seniors & students; $4
children ages 6-12; free for children 5 & under. From I-5 southbound,
take I-205, then take exit for SR-14 east. From eastern Washington, take SR-14
west. Turn off SR-14 at signs for Skamania Lodge and the Columbia Gorge
Interpretive Center (on the west side of Stevenson); the Center is on the
right side of Rock Creek Drive.
Hotels/motels in the area: Econo Lodge, Stevenson 1-800-424-4777; Skamania
Lodge, Stevenson 1-800-221-7117; Columbia Gorge Motel, Carson 509-427-7777;
Carson Mineral Hot Springs Resort, Carson 1-800-607-3678; Best Western Columbia
River Inn, Cascade Locks 1-800-595-7108.
RV Parks/Camping in the area: Beacon Rock RV Park, Skamania 509-427-8473;
Beacon Rock State Park, Skamania 509-427-8265; Lewis & Clark RV Park, North
Bonneville 509-427-5982; Big Foot RV Park, Carson 509-427-4441; Skamania County
Parks-Home Valley, Stevenson 509-427-9478; Valley RV Park, Home Valley
509-427-5300; U.S. Forest Service Campgrounds, Wind River Ranger District
509-427-3200 or 1-800-280-2267 for reservations.
Contact the Idaho State Chapter.
Contact the Oregon State Chapter.
Contact the Washington State Chapter.
Updated: November 11, 1999
Go to the Oregon Chapter LCTHF Site
Go to the Washington Chapter LCTHF Site
Return to L & C Archive List
Send Questions, Comments and Corrections to
Jay Rasmussen