Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Day 2 - Welches, Oregon - June 20th, 2006
Weather: Sunny 60s F (20s C)
Location: Welches, Oregon (very close to Mount Hood)
Miles per day: 77.31
Average miles per hour: 12.83
Total climb: 2900 Feet
A great ride today (for me that means, relatively flat terrain with sunny but cool air) along the Colombia River down through Portland and heading inland towards Mount Hood (45 miles from Portland). NOTE WELL: The capital of Oregon is Salem (not Portland). We had spectacular views all day of Mount Hood. Breathtaking.
Mount Hood is the tallest mountain in Oregon (11,237 feet, 3,426 m). Mount Hood is a stratovolcano which was formed about 500,000 years ago. Last eruption was estimated at 250-180 years ago and scientist predict an eruption within the next 75 years. It is the 4th highest in the string of Cascade Mountain Range volcanoes that stretch from Mt. Garibaldi in British Columbia south to Mt. Lassen in Northern California. TRIVIA: Tallest is Mount Ranier (14,410 feet) in Washington State.The first white men "discovered" the Mount Hood on October 29, 1792, when British Navy Lt. William E. Broughton and his crew (representing King George III) saw it from the Columbia River near the mouth of the Willamette River. Broughton named the peak for famed British naval officer (and later, Admiral) Alexander Arthur Hood (who never saw the mountain). It was first climbed in August 14, 1845. Today, Mt. Hood is the second most climbed mountain in the world, second only to Japan’s holy Mt. Fujiyama.
We arrived at a lovely resort with Scottish roots - or so they say as this area is 'so reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands'. The most notable Scottish figure in this area was David Douglas, an eighteenth century botanist for whom the Douglas Fir (tree) was named.
