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The Columbia River and The Snake River

Doug Watt
@DougWatt
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I live about an hour away from the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area and about an hour and a half from the Oregon coast. Although the political map of Oregon is skewed the scenic map offers some relief from the political world.

I have traveled across the western states to include Vancouver Island in Canada. Across the States of Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

In the days before satellite radio on a road trip through northern Arizona and southern Utah the digital seek search for a radio station just cycled up and down the scale between Page, AZ, and Moab, Utah. I could see thousands upon thousands of stars through the windshield on that night drive.

There are what is called Sky Islands in Arizona and unfortunately the west has what I call Woke Islands as well. I suspect that the cultural elites hate gasoline powered vehicles because they fear you will discover an America that they don't want you to see for yourself. You might meet the wrong people in small towns across the United States.

The two videos in this post will show you the scenic beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

This post was promoted to the Main Feed at the recommendation of Ricochet's members.

Discussion (22)

  • The Reticulator@TheReticulator
    Doug Watt (View Post):
    I suspect that the cultural elites hate gasoline powered vehicles because they fear you will discover an America that they don’t want you to see for yourself. You might meet the wrong people in small towns across the United States.

    I had never thought of it that way. Worth keeping in mind!

  • Tex929rr@Tex929rr

    I was stationed at a radar site on the side of the Snake River on the Idaho/Oregon border back in the late 70’s. Aircraft would do simulated bomb runs down the Owyhee River in Oregon to the Owyhee dam, and we provided simulated bomb scoring and anti aircraft radar. All overcome by technology now, but there were sites all over the US back then. Absolutely gorgeous country there. We once camped out in Hells Canyon, another little known scenic area. Three dams in a relatively short piece of the Snake River. Pictures are Hells Canyon and the Owyhee dam.

  • Al French@AlFrench
    ReplyingtoTex929rr

    Tex929rr (View Comment):

    I was stationed at a radar site on the side of the Snake River on the Idaho/Oregon border back in the late 70’s. Aircraft would do simulated bomb runs down the Owyhee River in Oregon to the Owyhee dam, and we provided simulated bomb scoring and anti aircraft radar. All overcome by technology now, but there were sites all over the US back then. Absolutely gorgeous country there. We once camped out in Hells Canyon, another little known scenic area. Three dams in a relatively short piece of the Snake River. Pictures are Hells Canyon and the Owyhee dam.

    The environmentalists want to tear out those dams (plus one additional) for the benefit of the salmon, and to the great detriment to electricity availability.

  • Doug Watt@DougWatt

    Some interesting facts about the Snake River:

    The Snake River is a major river in the interior Pacific Northwest region of the United States. About 1,080 miles (1,740 km) long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, which is the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean. Beginning in Yellowstone National Park, western Wyoming, it flows across the arid Snake River Plain of southern Idaho, the rugged Hells Canyon on the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Washington, and finally the rolling Palouse Hills of southeast Washington. It joins the Columbia River just downstream from the Tri-Cities, Washington, in the southern Columbia Basin.

    Hells Canyon area of the Snake River:

    Hells Canyon is a ten-mile-wide (16 km) canyon in the Western United States, located along the border of eastern Oregon, western Idaho, and a small section of eastern Washington. It is part of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area which is also located in part of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. It is North America's deepest river gorge at 7,993 feet (2,436 m), running deeper than the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

  • Al French@AlFrench

    I have lived in the Portland area for 50+ years. I have been to every single place depicted in the first video, most of them many times. If there is a trail there, I've hiked it. The Columbia Gorge is a beautiful place.

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