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Crown Point and Vista House.
View from Portland Women's Forum Scenic Viewpoint (formerly Chanticleer Point).
Image taken October 22, 2005.
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Crown Point ...
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Crown Point, Oregon.
Crown Point as seen from Rooster Rock State Park, Oregon.
Image taken March 20, 2004.
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Crown Point, Oregon.
View from Rooster Rock State Park, Oregon.
Image taken April 24, 2006.
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Crown Point Lava Flow ...
Crown Point represents a lava flow which filled an ancient channel of the
Columbia River 14.5 million years ago to a total thickness of nearly 700 feet. .
Crown Point is an excellent exposure of thick (over 500 feet) Priest Rapids intracanyon flow overlying a bedded Priest Rapids hyaloclastite (more than 140 feet).
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"... In the face of the bluff, the lower 130 feet of the fill is palagonite tuff, carried westward and foreset bedded by the ancestral Columbia River. Lava then advanced onto the hyaloclastic fill, piling up quickly in a series of flows to a thickness of 555 feet. The entire thickness of lava congealed as one coolling unit with an 80-foot basal colonnade and a very thick (475 feet) hackly entablature. ..."
[Norman and Roloff, 2004]
The Priest Rapids is a member of the Wanapum Basalt of the Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG), and erupted in the middle Miocene. The lack of basalt pillows at the lava/hyaloclastite contact suggests that the hyaloclastite was not excessively wet when the lava flowed over it. Rooster Rock, on the downstream side of Crown Point, is a landslide block which came off of the west side of Crown Point. The landslide scar is visible on the cliff above.
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Early morning, Crown Point.
Note waterfall on the left.
View from Washington State Highway 14.
Image taken May 24, 2005.
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Sunset on Crown Point, Oregon, as seen from Tunnel Point, I-84, Portland, Oregon.
Image taken September 26, 2004.
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Crown Point, Oregon.
View from Rooster Rock State Park, Oregon.
Image taken April 24, 2006.
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Crown Point, Oregon.
View from moving car, Interstate 84, Oregon.
Image taken April 24, 2006.
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Waterfall at Crown Point ...
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On the upstream side of Crown Point is an unnamed stream and unnamed falls, nicely visible during heavy rains. This falls is one of many falls in the Columbia River Gorge. The "Crown Point Falls" can be seen from pullouts along Washington State 14, or from the Oregon side along Interstate 84.
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Waterfall at Crown Point, Oregon.
View from Washington State Highway 14.
Image taken May 24, 2005.
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Early Crown Point ...
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Noted Historian Lewis L. McArthur in Oregon Geographic Names (2003), wrote that he was unable to determine when the name "Crown Point" was first used. McArthur writes that the original settler of the area, Lorens Lund, homesteaded on the high ground near and including Crown Point, and, according to Lund's daughter, Lorens Lund called the top of the bluff "The Point". Lund later donated the land for
Vista House.
Credit for the name "Crown Point" is often given to Marshall Dana of the Oregon Journal who used the name when discussing plans for Vista House.
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"Thor's Crown" - Crown Point in 1940 ...
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A passage from the 1940 publication "Oregon, End of the
Trail", by the Works Projects Administration (WPA) of the State of Oregon, refers to Crown Point being once called "Thor's Crown".
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From the Oregon State Archives "A 1940 Journey Across Oregon":
"... Winding along the forested mountainside the highway reaches CROWN POINT,
167.3 m., 725 feet above the river on an overhanging rocky promontory. The
highway makes a wide curve, in the center of which is the VISTA HOUSE.
This impressive stone structure, a modern adaptation of the English Tudor
style of architecture, modified to conform to the character and topography
of the landscape, was built at a cost of $100,000. The foundation about
the base of the Vista House is laid in Italian-style dry masonry, no
mortar having been used. Men were imported from Italy to work here and
elsewhere along the highway. The windswept height, once known as THOR'S
CROWN, commands a view of the river east and west for many miles.
..."
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Another name seen in the early 1900s was "Thor's Heights" (see The Golden Age of Postcards below), and H.H. Riddell used "Thor's Point" in his article "The Columbia River Highway", published in 1914 in Mazama (vol.4, no.3, December 1914).
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Columbia River Gorge and Crown Point.
View from The Portland Womans Forum Scenic View (formerly Chanticleer Point).
Image taken October 11, 2004.
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Crown Point as seen from Bridal Veil.
Image taken October 11, 2004.
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Campsite of November 2, 1805 ...
Lewis and Clark's campsite of November 2, 1805 was near
Rooster Rock and below Crown Point.
[More]
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Rooster Rock, Rooster Rock State Park, and Crown Point.
Rooster Rock and Rooster Rock State Park are at the base of Crown Point.
Image taken June 25, 2003.
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Columbia River Gorge, Crown Point, Oregon.
Crown Point as seen from Rooster Rock State Park, Oregon.
Image taken March 20, 2004.
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Vista House ...
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Vista House and Crown Point.
Image taken June 27, 2004.
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Crown Point and Vista House, Oregon.
View from The Portland Womans Forum Scenic View (formerly Chanticleer Point).
Image taken October 10, 2004.
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Crown Point Chalet ...
On the south side of Crown Point, on a bluff overlooking Vista House and the point, was once located the "Crown Point Chalet", a famous roadhouse along the Historic Columbia River Highway.
The Crown Point Chalet was built in 1915 by Mrs. Margaret Henderson, who also apart of the history of Chanticleer Inn and the short-lived Latourell Falls Chalet.
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"...
Leaving the Chanticleer Inn to have her own eating establishment, Mrs. Henderson built the short-lived Latourell Falls Chalet in 1914 and it was an immediate success. Unfortunately, it burned just three months after opening and she lost everything, including a fine library and handcrafted furniture. With her ambitious spirit and strong determination, Mrs. Henderson, or Bidy, as she was called, set out almost immediately to build again. Bidy enlisted the help of many of Portland’s prominent businessmen, who bought $20 dinner books. This time, she chose a spot overlooking picturesque Crown Point and christened the new establishment The Crown Point Chalet. ... Dignitaries far and wide would make their way to the Crown Point Chalet to experience Mrs. Henderson’s legendary hospitality and country-fried chicken served in the ambiance of a mountain chalet.
..."
["PDXHistory.com" Website, 2006]
Crown Point Chalet closed in 1927 with the declining health of Mrs. Henderson.
The building was demolished in the 1950s. A narrow road to the south of the Vista House parking area leads to the Chalet's location. See "The Golden Age of Postcards" below.
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Gardiner's Cafe ...
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Between Vista House and the Crown Point Chalet was
"Gardiner's Cafe" which opened in 1922 as Johnson’s Confectionary. In later years it was known as Vista Cafe. It was torn down by the U.S. Forest Service in 1963.
See "The Golden Age of Postcards" below.
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Crown Point from Washington State Highway 14 ...
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Crown Point, Oregon, as seen from Steigerwald Lake, Washington.
View from Washington State Highway 14.
Image taken, June 29, 2005.
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Vista House, Crown Point, Oregon, as seen from Washington State Highway 14.
Image taken, June 19, 2005.
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According to Stephen Reidel, of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (2004):
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"The Columbia River Gorge is a spectacular river canyon cutting the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountain Range. It's 80 miles long and up to 4,000 feet deep with the north canyon walls in Washington State and the south canyon walls in Oregon State.
Six to 17 million years ago, the Columbia River Plateau was created by a series of
basalt flows. The flows covered 164,000 square kilometers -- portions of
northeast Oregon, southwest Washington and western Idaho, and consisted of about 300 individual flows. As it flooded the regions lowest areas, it filled canyons and permanently altered the Columbia River's path on several occasions. Today, these flows are exposed along the cliffs of the Columbia River Gorge. These lava flows altered the course of the Columbia River many times, one of them creating today's Crown Point.
Fourteen million years ago a massive eruption of the Columbia River basalt began near the present Washington-Idaho border. Lava from this eruption flowed westward and was funneled into the Columbia Gorge, flowing down the ancient channel beneath Vista House. The lava eventually covered over 50,000 square kilometers of the Pacific Northwest, and completely filled and overtopped the old Columbia River channel, obliterating it. Part of that ancient lava-filled channel now is exposed at Crown Point. It extends from near the freeway level to Vista House, a height of nearly 650 feet. There are two layers of material in the channel that tell the story of how that river channel was abandoned. The lower 180 feet of the channel is a product of the lava eruption but it is not a lava flow. As the 14 million year old lava approached the ancient Columbia River Gorge, it encountered the Columbia River. When the lava advanced into the water, the water chilled the molten lava along its margins causing the lava to freeze and violently shatter into sand to cobble size fragments. These fragments flowed ahead of the advancing lava as a slurry of chilled lava particles and water. The remains of this slurry fill the lower part of the channel. The liquid lava then flowed over the slurry filling and eventually overtopping the channel, forcing the Columbia River to find a new route. The view from Vista House on the old scenic highway not only overlooks the 14 million year old channel but several other channels of the Columbia River including the present day one."
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Rooster Rock and Crown Point.
Rooster Rock and Rooster Rock State Park are at the base of Crown Point, as seen from Interstate-84, Oregon, Tunnel Pullout. Vista House is just visible perched on top of Crown Point. Image taken September 26, 2004.
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Columbia River Gorge, Crown Point, Oregon.
Crown Point as seen from Washington State Highway-14 pullout, downstream of Cape Horn, Washington.
Image taken June 25, 2003.
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More Views of Crown Point ...
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Rooster Rock and Crown Point.
Rooster Rock and Rooster Rock State Park are at the base of Crown Point, as seen from Interstate-84, Oregon, Tunnel Pullout. Vista House is just visible perched on top of Crown Point. Image taken October 10, 2004.
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Sunset on Crown Point, Oregon, as seen from Tunnel Point, I-84, Portland, Oregon.
Image taken September 26, 2004.
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Crown Point as seen from Shepperd's Dell Bridge, Oregon.
Image taken October 22, 2005.
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Columbia River Gorge and Crown Point.
View from The Portland Womans Forum Scenic View (formerly Chantecleer Point).
Image taken June 27, 2004.
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Columbia River Gorge and Crown Point.
View from The Portland Womans Forum Scenic View (formerly Chanticleer Point).
Image taken October 10, 2004.
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Columbia River Gorge, Crown Point, Oregon.
Crown Point as seen from Washington State Highway-14 pullout, downstream of Cape Horn, Washington.
Image taken June 25, 2003.
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Crown Point, Oregon, as seen from Tunnel Point, Interstate 84, Portland, Oregon.
Vista House is at the top, and Onion Rock is in the lower right.
Image taken June 27, 2004.
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Looking upstream from Tunnel Point at Rooster Rock, Crown Point and Vista House, and Onion Rock.
Interstate 84 is on the right.
Image taken November 19, 2005.
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"The Golden Age of Postcards" ...
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The early 1900s was the "Golden Age of Postcards", with the "Penny Postcard" being a popular way to send greetings to family and friends.
Today the Penny Postcard has become a snapshot of history.
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Penny Postcard: Crown Point before Vista House, Oregon, ca.1916.
Penny Postcard, ca.1916, "Crown Point and Rooster Rock. Along Columbia River Highway, Oregon." Published by the Oregon News Company. Card #O-16. In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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Penny Postcard: Aerial view, Crown Point and Vista House, Oregon, with Crown Point Chalet, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Vista House - Crown Point 'On the Columbia River Highway'."
Photo by A.M. Prentiss. Published by The Rose City News Co., Portland, Oregon. Card #7.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
Building lower right corner is the "Crown Point Chalet", which was built in 1915 and closed in 1927. The building was demolished in the 1950s. Between Vista House and the Crown Point Chalet is
"Gardiner's Cafe". Gardiner’s Cafe opened in 1922 as Johnson’s Confectionary. In later years it was known as Vista Cafe. It was torn down by the Forest Service in 1963.
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Penny Postcard: Crown Point Chalet, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Mrs. Henderson's Chalet, Crown Point." Photo copyright Cross & Dimmitt. In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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Penny Postcard: Crown Point and Vista House, Oregon, ca.1930.
Penny Postcard, ca.1930, "Crown Point and Vista House, Columbia River Highway, Oregon". Caption on back reads: "Crown Point 25.5 miles from Portland, Oregon. A view of 35 miles both East and West can be seen from Vista House." Copyright Cross & Dimmitt. Published by Angelus Commercial Studio, Portland, Oregon. Card #2.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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Penny Postcard: Vista House, Crown Point, Oregon, ca.1943.
Penny Postcard, Postmarked 1943, "Vista House, Columbia River Highway, Oregon." The Crown Point Chalet is visible in the background on the right above Vista House. Image copyright Angelus Studio. Published by Wesley Andrews Co., Portland, Oregon. Card #859. Card is postmarked August 18, 1943.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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Penny Postcard: Crown Point and Vista House, Oregon, from below, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Crown Point, 'On the Columbia River Highway', and Vista House from Columbia River, Over 600 Feet Below.". Photo by A.M. Prentiss. Published by the Rose City News Co., Portland, Oregon. Card #27. In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
Caption on back reads: "Crown Point, 25 miles from Portland, Oregon. The summit of Crown Point covers and area of about two acres and is 725 feet above sea level. It is famous for its magnificent view of 25 miles both east and west of the mighty Columbia River. 'Vista House', on the summit of the crest, erected as a memorial to pioneers, and also as a resting place for Highway visitors.".
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Penny Postcard: View of the Columbia River Gorge from the Historic Columbia River Highway, Crown Point, Oregon, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Columbia Gorge looking East from Crown Point, Columbia River Highway, Oregon."
Image Copyright Weister Co.
Published by Chas. A. Lipscheutz Co., Portland, Oregon.
Card #325.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
Caption on back reads: "Columbia Gorge from Crown Point. Columbia Gorge from Crown Point showing Cape Horn and Castle Rock in the distance. This view shows the concrete supports on the brink of Thor's Heights, and is one of the most prominent view-points along the Columbia River."
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MORE Penny Postcards of Crown Point and Vista House
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Views from Crown Point ...
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Rooster Rock State Park, Oregon, and Cape Horn, Washington, as seen from Vista House, Crown Point, Oregon.
Image taken October 11, 2004.
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Columbia River, looking upstream, as seen from Crown Point, Oregon.
Rooster Rock State Park and Youngs Creek are on the right. Beacon Rock, Phoca Rock, and Cape Horn are all visible.
Image taken March 6, 2005.
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Columbia River Gorge, looking upstream, as seen from Vista House, Crown Point, Oregon. The Historic Columbia River Highway is in the foreground.
Image taken October 10, 2004.
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Columbia River Gorge, looking upstream, as seen from Vista House, Crown Point, Oregon. The Historic Columbia River Highway is in the foreground.
Image taken June 27, 2004.
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Columbia River Gorge, looking upstream, as seen from Vista House, Crown Point, Oregon. The Historic Looking at the Columbia River Highway in the foreground and Youngs Creek (Shepperds Dell) on the lower right. Sand Island is in the middle ground with Dalton Point jutting into the Columbia. Phoca Rock is just visible on the left and Beacon Rock is in the background.
Image taken October 21, 2006.
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Steigerwald Lake, as seen from Vista House, Crown Point, Oregon.
Image taken October 21, 2006.
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Steigerwald Lake and Point Vancouver, as seen from
Vista House, Crown Point, Oregon.
The Historic Columbia River Highway is in the foreground.
Image taken June 27, 2004.
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Rooster Rock State Park, Oregon, as seen from Vista House, Crown Point, Oregon.
Image taken October 10, 2004.
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Reed Island, Washington, as seen from Crown Point, Oregon.
Steigerwald Lake NWR is in the distance (right) on the Washington shore. Rooster Rock State Park, Oregon, is in the foreground.
Image taken October 11, 2004.
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Tunnel Point and Onion Rock, from Crown Point, Oregon.
View from Vista House, Crown Point, Oregon.
Image taken March 6, 2005.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, November 2, 1805 ...
Examined the rapid below us [from their camp at Fort Rains, looking at the Cascade Rapids] more pertcelarly the danger appearing too great to Hazzard our Canoes loaded, dispatched all the men who could not Swim with loads to the end of the portage below, I also walked to the end of the portage with the carriers where I delayed untill everry articles was brought over and canoes arrived Safe. here we brackfast and took a Meridn. altitude 59° 45' 45" about the time we were Setting out 7 Squars came over loaded with Dried fish, and bear grass neetly bundled up, Soon after 4 Indian men came down over the rapid in a large canoe.
passed a rapid at 2 miles & 1 at 4 miles opposite the lower point of a high Island on the Lard Side [Bradford Island], and a little below 4 Houses on the Stard. Bank, a Small Creek on the Lard Side [Tanner Creek] opposit Straw berry Island [Hamilton Island], which heads below the last rapid, opposit the lower point of this Island [Hamilton Island] passed three Islands covered with tall timber [today there are two, Ives and Pierce] opposit the Beatin rock [Beacon Rock]
Those Islands are nearest the Starboard Side, imediately below on the Stard. Side passed a village of nine houses [Skamania and Skamania Landing], which is Situated between 2 Small Creeks [Woodward Creek and Duncan Creek], and are of the Same construction of those above; here the river widens to near a mile, and the bottoms are more extensive and thickly timbered, as also the high mountains on each Side, with Pine, Spruce pine, Cotton wood, a Species of ash, and alder. at 17 miles passed a rock near the middle of the river [Phoca Rock], about 100 feet high and 80 feet Diamuter,
proceed on down a Smoth gentle Stream of about 2 miles wide, in which the tide has its effect as high as the Beaten rock [Beacon Rock] or the Last rapids at Strawberry Island [Hamilton Island],- Saw great numbers of waterfowl of Different kinds, Such as Swan, Geese, white & grey brants, ducks of various kinds, Guls, & Pleaver [today just below Beacon Rock is Franz National Wildlife Refuge]. ...
we encamped under a high projecting rock on the Lard. Side [Rooster Rock], here the mountains leave the river on each Side
[the massive basalt cliff of Crown Point is on the south side],
which from the great Shute to this place is high and rugid [Columbia River Gorge]; thickly Covered with timber principalley of the Pine Species. The bottoms below appear extensive and thickly Covered with wood. river here about 2½ miles wide. Seven Indians in a Canoe on their way down to trade with the nativs below, encamp with us, those we left at the portage passed us this evening and proceeded on down The ebb tide rose here about 9 Inches, the flood tide must rise here much higher- we made 29 miles to day from the Great Shute [Cascade Locks]-
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