the whites are blown out on this one due to my poor processing at the time. It's the only sample I could find on line. But it will give you the general idea. http://www.pbase.com/jimbobp/image/17766963.jpg
@Xicotencatl
Although that's bad news for us, thx a lot for your report. I just checked the USDA internet page and it says here:
... major failure of Forest Road 99, which accesses the east side of the Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument (MSHNVM), will prevent visitors, for the remainder of the summer, from accessing the popular Windy Ridge viewpoint over looking Spirit Lake as well as the northeast side of the volcano.
That doesn't sound as if the road will be open in September - unfortunately we probably won't have enough time to drive around to the west side. At least we'll only take the detour if the weather is fine ...
Thx again
snoopy64
Deception pass is nice and they have a ton of camping spots. You are on the sound and the bridges you cross just before you get into the park are cool. Makes for great picture taking
Another vote for Silver Falls. Really worth it. Sun Lake Park and Soap Lake are nice to visit, but not in my book the most photogenic thing ever. I'd take the route out by the town of George to go south, and then as mentioned, make the trip through the Columbia Gorge, there are some beautiful Falls and views .
Doesn't look like anyone mentioned the falls in the Columbia river gorge. Multnomah falls is NOT to be missed if you can get over there. I have a 23 ft crew cab truck and I can fit in the parking areas, so you will be fine.
Thx again for all your helpful tips. Silver Falls ... are part of our planned tour now ... we have to do some crisscross driving, but who knows when we can make it to the States again.
We won't necessarily spend time in Sun Lake and Soap Lake Park ... these where (more or less) some points on my map ... my husband wants to see Coulee Dam ... I hope that's worth the detour
Depending on the weather we want to go to Mt St Helens on our way south (although we have to go north for that ) coming from John Day Fossil Beds. If the weather is ... not great ... we'll probably take the 84 to get to the Pacific (Astoria). And then we'll stop at Multnomah falls and some other falls. If the weather is great (and is said to be great for the next days) we'll probably do the detour to Multnomah falls and then to Mt St Helens.
I'm sooo excited ... can't wait to get over there!
@kurz_ein: that'd be my absolute nightmare ... don't even want to think about it. Did the gear get stolen from the car or while he was hiking ... some sort of robbery?
weather has been warm, mid 80's, so bring sunscreen.
I'm a little confused by this part...
John Day Fossils Bed
Maupin
The Dallas and Hood River
Astoria
101 to Reedsport or Bandon or even Gold Beach
to Crater Lake
Scenic Byway (58/46) to Bend
Smith Rock SP
Camp Sherman / Metolius River
Santiam Pass
Sandy
Hood River
Mt St Helens (north-east side)
Would it be faster/cheaper to head south from Maupin to Bend/Smith Rock, then Crater lake and then head West to Hwy 101? Follow it North to Astoria (or at least Cannon Beach/Hwy 26), then head in to Portland. Kind of a big clockwise circle.
Through Portland out I-84 to Hood River (there's nothing in the Dalles that I am aware of). The waterfall tour works better going west to east, it ends at Multnomah falls. There you can turn around and go back to Portland, or continue to Hood River and do the Mt Hood loop....you turn south in Hood River on 35, then follow Hwy 26 back to Portland, after stopping at the Timberline lodge. Get the picture of Mt Hood from Mirror Lake. That puts you on I-5 N to Mt St Helens.
The Coulee damn just looks cool - but that is a lot of driving for one attraction. The rugged Pacific coast is truly spectacular.
I'd recommed parking the RV and walking on the ferry for a tour around the San Juan Islands. cheap. You depart from Anacortes - exit is by Burlington. you might see a killer whale or bald eagle or two, there are whale watching boats from San Juan island (not cheap).
Cannon Beach\Ecola state park are very popular photography spots - search FM for those names or haystack rock.
If you want to be a tourist in Seattle, get the city pass. It's a litlle hoky, but all of the attractions are worthwhile.
I live in Portland, but a former Seattlite, feel free to e-mail specific questions.
Hopefully the weather stays that way ... but ... I don't mind cooler temperatures (as long as it isn't freazing ...) as long as the light is good .
Coulee Dam is something that "we" have to go and see because my husband wants to see it ... and as he is the one who carries around my gear most of the time ....
We were told (and it is in two of my three travelguides of that area) that it is much better to drive HW 101 from north to south so that one is always "on the right side of the road". That's the main reason way our tour seems a bit akward "in the middle".
But thanks for your thoughts ... tonight (last night at home) I'm going to go through all my maps and books and recommendations again ...
snoopy64
) coming from John Day Fossil Beds. If the weather is ... not great ... we'll probably take the 84 to get to the Pacific (Astoria). And then we'll stop at Multnomah falls and some other falls. If the weather is great (and is said to be great for the next days) we'll probably do the detour to Multnomah falls and then to Mt St Helens.
