| Sandy River & Wahkeena Falls, Oregon | May 2006 |

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On a sunny weekend, Suhaib - my roommate, Vishnu - Suhaib's buddy from Virginia Tech, and me, set off on a journey with the intention to go to Mount Hood. I was all dressed up, and not at all physically fit for hiking. On our way to Mt. Hood, we were 'wise' enough to stop at other places, and finally instead of going to Mt. Hood, wound up at the Wahkeena Falls. This part of the Continent has gone through a huge geological change over millions of years. It's on the boundary of two tectonic plates - the North American Plate and the Juan de Fuca (North Pacific) Plate. Naturally, there has been volcanoes, eruptions (even now some volcanoes are active and erupting in Oregon), earthquakes, etc. which have changed the face of this part of the World. Waterfalls were created by earthquakes, and the mountains shifting left the rivers and fountains hanging as falls. Multnomah is the greatest and the most majestic in the region. Wahkeena is not so huge, but the trail is excellent for hiking. While Suhaib and Vishnu were bolting like rabbits up the trails, I was taking pit stops and 'saying hello to and getting to know the stones along the trail'. It was really tough with the tight jeans and the shirt I was wearing. Finally, we hiked about 1500 ft to the top to the source of the falls - the Wahkeena springs. Water was gushing out from the stones, from deep below the earth. The water tastes divine and pure! There's this huge Douglas Fir tree there, and the place is wild and mystic. A great first-time experience for me!

Wikipedia says:

"Wahkeenah is the name of a waterfall along the Columbia River Gorge in the state of Oregon. It is also spelled "Wahkeena" or "Wah-kee-nah" or other variations. All spellings of this word are dubious, because the word is merely an English transliteration of a Pacific Northwest Native American phrase meaning "most beautiful"."

Sandy River, on way to Multnomah-Wahkeena Falls, Oregon The Sandy River originates in the slopes of Mount Hood, and is well-known as a great angling spot. We stopped there for a while. The banks of the river are sandy like a beach, and people enjoy it almost as an ocean beach.	On way to Multnomah-Wahkeena Falls, Oregon Sunlight sipping through the trees.
Viewpoint on way to Multnomah-Wahkeena Falls, Oregon This viewpoint looks over to the other side of the Columbia River, which flows all the way down to the Pacific Ocean.	Viewpoint on way to Multnomah-Wahkeena Falls, Oregon Cruiseboat on the Columbia River
Viewpoint on way to Multnomah-Wahkeena Falls, Oregon Me spoiling the beautiful scenery.	Viewpoint on way to Multnomah-Wahkeena Falls, Oregon This is a nice observatory/viewpoint with looking glasses pointed towards the Columbia River.
Viewpoint on way to Multnomah-Wahkeena Falls, Oregon Look out! The railing's gonna break and all three gonna fall down! From left to right, all Intel Interns - Jarir (Penn State; Bangladesh), Suhaib (Virginia Tech; India), Vishnu (Virginia Tech; India).	Viewpoint on way to Multnomah-Wahkeena Falls, Oregon The great Columbia River!
Wahkeena Falls, Oregon Small bridge over the flowing waters of the falls. This is just by the roadside. We took a hike all the way to the source of the falls - the Wahkeena springs.	Wahkeena Falls, Oregon Although Wahkeena is not so majestic as Multnomah, the trail is good for hiking. This is a bridge crossing over the falls.
Wahkeena Falls, oregon Tree sticking out of a rock. Took the photo from the bridge over the falls.	Sunset from the viewpoint halfway to the Wahkeena sources The colors aren't natural! I set my camera to 'dip' the photo in a tinge of 'tungsten'. Not bad, huh?
Sunset from the viewpoint halfway to the Wahkeena sources Now, that's more like it! Nothing like natural colors.

 

 

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