Day 27 Troutdale, OR to Crescent, OR

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After a pretty early start (about 9:15) found our way to US 26 and headed out towards Mt Hood, SE of Portland. Because of the low overcast, we couldn't see it. Went over a low pass (about 4100'😉 and found some snow on the ground. After we got down out of the foothills, the overcast began to lift and Gena hollered for me to look out the side mirror. She pulled off at the first chance and I ran back about a quarter mile to get out of some trees to get a picture of Mt. Hood. Not long after that, we started to get views of Mt. Jefferson off to the west. It is also glacier covered and sticks up over the surrounding terrain. While descending into and then climbing out of the Deshutes River valley, we had great views of the columnar basalt rock formations at the top of the valley walls. There was obviously a LOT of volcanic action in ancient times around here. We stopped at Newberry Volcanic NM which preserves a large area of lava and obsidion flows - - according to the info brochure, the volume of this volcanic activity is over 20 times that of Mt St. Helens - - that really surprised me!! We found a really nice campground south of Crescent, OR. It is really flat, nicely kept and even has a "Critter Corral". Despite being right off the highway, it is pretty quiet.

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Photos

Basalt Columns
Dechutes River valley

Connestoga Wagon
At the High Desert Museum south of Bend, OR

Lava Flow
with cinder cone in the background.