WINTER 2014 thegorgemagazine.com
SNOWKITING It’s Here, It’s Now
GOOD MEDICINE Tea for Everyone
AVALANCHE DOGS A Photo Essay
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Visit Historic Downtown
TROUTDALE the gateway to the gorge Take Exit 17 off I-84
Visit our many Specialty Shops, Art Galleries, Antique Shops, Fine Restaurants, and more!
Taste of Village Chinese RestauRant & Lounge
Two floors full of: Kitchenware, Glass, Native American, Pottery, Furniture, Primitives, Toys, Artwork & more! public parking available behind antique mall
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oRDeRs to go: (503) 666-7768 302 e. historic Columbia River hwy sun-thur, 11-10pm • Fri & sat, 11-10:30pm
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Troutdale Vision Clinic (503) 618-9394
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Eye exams, diagnosis and treatment Eyewear styling to fit your lifestyle Most insurance accepted
(503) 492-3897 • troutdalevision.com 226 E. Historic Columbia River Hwy
café • gifts • candy • souvenirs espresso • ice cream parlour
(503) 492-7912
289 E. COLUMBIA RIVER HWY
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 3
CONTENTS FEATURES 36
44
56
KITEBOARDING SEASON NEVER ENDS
AT ONE WITH THE DIORAMAS
Kiteboarding on the snow has turned the Gorge into a year-round kiting playground
Take a tour through history at Gorge Museums
MT. HOOD MEADOWS AVALANCHE DOGS A photo essay by Trent Hightower
by janet cook
by aaron sales
SNOWKITING, P. 36 4 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
305 Oak Street • Hood River (541) 386-6188 • twiggs@gorge.net
U N IQ U E J EWEL RY ◉ HOME A CCEN T S ◉ CUS TOM GI FTS ◉ SI NCE 1994
CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS
62 OUR GORGE 12
PERSON OF INTEREST
14
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT
16
BEST OF THE GORGE
20
HOME+GARDEN
24
LOCAVORE
26
STYLE+DESIGN
30
ROADTRIP
32
WINE SPOTLIGHT
68
PARTAKE
74
EPILOGUE
OUTSIDE
26
62 GET YOUR ICE ON Adventure can be found in winter's frozen beauty
16
by adam lapierre
ARTS+CULTURE 64 ART TO THRIVE ON Troutdale's Infusion Gallery offers artists much more than just a place to display their work by don campbell
30
WELLNESS 66 B ANISHING THE EGO At First Light Academy, the martial arts are as much about mindset as they are about moves by ben mitchell
6 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
14
WINTER 2015 JANET COOK Editor RACHEL HALLETT Creative Director/Graphic Designer MICKI CHAPMAN Advertising Director JENNA HALLETT Account Executive OLIVIA SMITH Account Executive KIM STREIT Account Executive ADAM LAPIERRE Contributing Editor ROBIN ALLEN Wardrobe Stylist CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ruth Berkowitz, Don Campbell, Adam Lapierre, Ashley Marti, Kacie McMackin, Ben Mitchell, Aaron Sales, David Sword COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Trent Hightower CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jennifer Alyse, Jackie Arnal, Paloma Ayala, Emma Browne, Stephen Datnoff, Silvia Flores, Jennifer Gulizia, Richard Hallman, Trent Hightower, Adam Lapierre, Ashley Marti, Kacie McMackin, Michael Peterson
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES mchapman@thegorgemagazine.com SOCIAL MEDIA facebook.com/thegorgemagazine instagram/thegorgemagazine pinterest/thegorgemagazine twitter.com/TheGorgeMagazin SUBSCRIBE ONLINE thegorgemagazine.com THE GORGE MAGAZINE thegorgemagazine.com PO Box 390 • 419 State Street Hood River, Oregon 97031 We appreciate your feedback. Please email comments to: jcook@thegorgemagazine.com
clothing & beauty
Enjoying the first snow of winter with my kids
APLAND JEWELERS Custom designs, made in our state-of-the-art studio using responsibly sourced gems and reclaimed gold and platinum.
custom designs by ken apland
I spent my first winter in the Gorge some twenty years ago. Before that, I’d been here only in the summer, basking in the endless sun and wind, wondering how anyone could possibly not want to live in this incredible place. I think I got my answer that year somewhere in the depths of December or January, about the time I was learning a whole new language of winter from the one I’d grown up with in Colorado. Inversion. Ice storm. East wind. Freezing rain. Cascade concrete. That winter I saw someone skiing with a garbage bag over his body—head and arms poking out—to keep the rain off. (Thankfully, we now have Gore-Tex for that pesky little Northwest problem.) But despite all that, I loved it. Something about living through all that crazy weather bonded us together, those of us who stuck it out year-round. And then there were the other parts of winter: waterfalls turned to stories-high icicles; white snow clinging to vertical dark basalt cliffs; steam hovering over the river like a giant cauldron of dry ice; a cloudless bluebird day after a snowstorm. It was a whole new kind of beautiful from the one I’d known the Gorge for in summer, and I came to love this season here as much as all the others. In this issue, we celebrate winter in the Gorge. Aaron Sales and Richard Hallman take us into the world of snowkiting, beginning on page 36. Adam Lapierre explores some of the other wintry recreation opportunities that abound (page 62) and Trent Hightower shares his photo essay on the Mt. Hood Meadows Avalanche Dogs (page 56). For something warmer, see Don Campbell’s story on the Good Medicine Lounge, a new tea room in Hood River (page 14). We also take a tour through four outstanding Gorge museums, all of which make a great place to while away a cold winter day (page 44). Join us for a look at winter in the Gorge, then get out there and experience it for yourself. Just don’t forget your Gore-Tex. Janet Cook, editor
DOWNTOWN HOOD RIVER Corner of 3rd & Oak (541) 386-3977 facebook.com/AplandJewelers
8 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
The Gorge Magazine is published by Eagle Magazines, Inc., an affiliate of Eagle Newspapers, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the express written permission of Eagle Magazines, Inc. Articles and photographs appearing in The Gorge Magazine may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of The Gorge Magazine, Eagle Magazines, Inc., Eagle Newspapers, Inc., or its employees, staff or management. All RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
WINTER 2014 thegorgemagazine.com
SNOWKITING It’s Here, It’s Now
GOOD MEDICINE Tea for Everyone
AVALANCHE DOGS A Photo Essay
ABOUT THE COVER Mt. Hood Meadows professional ski patroller Dave Baker skis down from the upper mountain with his dog, Stella, one of three avalanche rescue dogs at the resort. Stella is trained and certified as an Avalanche Search K-9, and is called on to help during incidents involving people caught in avalanches and buried under the snow. Photo by Trent Hightower trenthightowerphotography.com
The Gorge Magazine is being produced by an environmentally conscientious group. Our publication is printed with text paper that is produced by a local mill located in West Linn, Oregon. West Linn paper mill and Journal Graphics, our publication printer, both follow FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) practices in the manufacturing and the printing of our product. This publication is also produced with soy based inks. When you have read this issue please pass it on to a friend or recycle it. Together we can make a difference in preserving and conserving our resources.
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 9
THE GORGE’S ONLY FULL-SERVICE BEAD, ROCK, AND MINERAL EXTRAVAGANZA
Gorgeous Jewelry, Creative Custom Design and Local Handmade Fun
(541) 387-4367 • www.sparklingcreationsonline.com 409 Oak Street • Downtown Hood River, Oregon
10 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
PERSON OF INTEREST, BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT, BEST OF THE GORGE, HOME+GARDEN, LOCAVORE, STYLE+DESIGN, ROADTRIP, WINE SPOTLIGHT
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT P. 14
The Good Medicine Lounge
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 11
OUR GORGE
person of interest
Amanda Lawrence Fostering a Sense of Place
M
ore than 150 people gathered in the theater at the Columbia Center for the Arts on a brisk fall evening recently. They came from around the Gorge to listen to a presentation by Robert Hadlow, senior historian for the Oregon Department of Transportation. He was there to talk about the Historic Columbia River Highway, its nearly 100-year history and rebirth over the past two decades as the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. The evening did not disappoint. Hadlow’s presentation—filled with fascinating history, funny anecdotes and up-to-date information about the ongoing restoration work—was the second in the 2014-15 Sense of Place Lecture Series which takes place monthly from October to March. Since its launch five years ago, the series has grown to one of the most popular events in the Gorge each winter, regularly attracting a capacity crowd to the Arts Center to hear thoughtfully chosen speakers discuss
12 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
BY JANET COOK / PHOTO BY ADAM LAPIERRE
their area of expertise on something related to life in the Gorge. The series is the brainchild of Amanda Lawrence, who grew up in Chicago but fell in love with the West when she attended college in Washington. She eventually landed in Portland, and then Trout Lake, with AmeriCorps, where she worked for eight years—first as recruitment coordinator and then running the internship program. “We recruited nationally and had all these interns coming in from all over the country,” Lawrence said. She realized that many of them had no knowledge of the area, no background about the Columbia Gorge region. So she created a reading and discussion group to help the interns learn more about the Gorge—to gain a “sense of place.” “I wanted to try and ground them in the area, to help them start to explore what ‘place’ meant,” Lawrence said. She eventually planted her own roots in White Salmon. To get involved in the community, she be-
came a volunteer board member for the Columbia Gorge Earth Center, helping organize community forums. “We found we were putting these on whenever there was a crisis,” Lawrence said. “That’s important, but it’s also a hard place for people to meet.” Lawrence began thinking about how to bring people together to learn about and celebrate the Gorge, rather than simply respond to crises. She hit upon the idea of morphing the “sense of place” discussion group she’d created for AmeriCorps to a lecture format open to all. Thus was born the Sense of Place Lecture Series, which is now put on through Gorge Owned (GO!). In the beginning, Lawrence mostly picked speakers she’d met through her work with AmeriCorps. But as the series has steadily gained in popularity, Lawrence’s pool of potential speakers has grown. This year, the six monthly spots were filled through an RFP process (Request for Proposal), with Lawrence and a committee choosing from 10 potential speakers vying for a chance to be part of it. The series has delved into a broad range of topics over the years, from the roots of kiteboarding to the hardships faced by migrant workers. “Some of them are difficult issues,” said Lawrence, while others are more lighthearted. The main criterion in picking speakers is that the topic focuses on the cultural or natural history of the area. The Sense of Place series is almost totally volunteer-driven. Its rise in popularity, however, has helped Lawrence and GO! get support for it through sponsorships and small grants, which help pay for the space at Columbia Center for the Arts as well as a stipend for the speakers. For Lawrence, putting on the series is not only a labor of love, but reaffirms her love for the area. “People really care about this place,” she said. “To get 100-200 people at a lecture on a weeknight, in the winter? It has to do with the series but also with the people who are here. I’ve never lived in a place where people are really here because of the place.” Working with speakers from diverse backgrounds and expertise, and bringing them in to share their knowledge with the community, has been a joy for Lawrence, who has always felt a calling as a teacher. “It fulfills a piece of me,” she said. “When I learn about a place, I look at it so differently,” Lawrence added. “It adds so much depth. This has enriched my life so much.” For more information on the Sense of Place Lecture Series, go to gorgeowned.org.
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THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 13
OUR GORGE
business highlight
Tea Time
Good Medicine Lounge brings the culture of tea to the Gorge BY DON CAMPBELL / PHOTOS BY SILVIA FLORES
T
he very word invokes civility, serenity, and a sense of the worldly and exotic. Tea. Whether it’s a spot of it in the UK (crumpets optional), a solemn and formal ritual throughout Asia, a reason to socialize in nearly every corner of the world, or just a drippy bag dangling on a string in your kitchen, tea has a back story as long, rich, convoluted, and complex as any religion ever. These things swirl around my brain as the dense, smoky steam from my cup of lapsong souchang swirls up into my nose. Smelling the unsteeped tea—pre-boiling water—the aroma of smoked meat is unmistakable, and I mean that in the best possible tangy-barbecue-infused way. I learn that this is a Chinese domestic grade tea, meaning it’s a higher quality tea than what is normally exported, and made by smoking the tea leaves over pine-needle fires. My cup has been prepared perfectly—the right temperature
14 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
of hot water, the correct amount of tea, the essential time to steep. The story goes that lapsong souchang developed from travelers on Asian trade routes, as they left their teas over smoky fires, infusing them with that irresistible burnt tang. That campfire nose became nostalgic, and the desire for it and the technique to make it continues to this day. But I’m a coffee guy. I like it black, cut-it-witha-knife strong, and made fresh from whole ground beans. Tea has always been an afterthought, a choice low down on the hot beverage list: the occasional fruity Zinger, a rare cup of peppermint for a roiling
stomach, a realization that I don’t know an oolong from an Earl Gray (whoever he was…). But on a cold, glorpy Gorge morning, I’m not only drinking—and liking—an exotic tea, I’m getting a headful of education at the hands of Nikol Clark and Randy Goetz. The pair has opened the Good Medicine Lounge, a place for tea, on the Heights in Hood River. The central Washington natives have taken their passion and affinity for this brewed delight to a height likely found in more urban centers, if not in another country altogether. The genial hub is the first floor of their building, the historic and refurbished Klahre house at the corner of May and 11th streets in Hood River. It’s as convivial a shop as you’ll ever find—big fireplace, comfortable seating, and a service area where the tea is made that’s almost steampunk-cool. And it plays nicely to a region used to the subtleties of fine wine, good coffee and hoppy beers. The pair met in school and have been together ever since. Clark is an acupuncturist who practices her healing art in treatment rooms within the building (which also houses several other businesses in upstairs office space). Goetz is, by education, training, and experience, a geologist. After bouncing around the West looking for the right place to settle down and raise a family and settle into a lifestyle of their choosing, they found the Gorge. Clark had already envisioned doing a line of herbal/medicinal teas as part of her acupuncture practice, and Goetz was at a crossroads with geologic consulting. “I decided I could use a change,” Goetz says. And thus, Good Medicine was born. Both have been tea lovers for years, but sourcing their new business required some serious homework. They knew they wanted to find teas that were organic and from as close to the source as possible. In other words, they wanted to know exactly where their teas came from, as well as eliminate the middleman. “I did a lot of Internet searches and cold calling of big U.S. distributors,” Goetz says. It wasn’t easy.
A turning point came when they attended a World Tea Expo in Long Beach, Calif. “We could walk down the aisles and shake hands with growers,” Clark says. “It really broadened our awareness.” The result is a selection at Good Medicine of some 150 teas from all over the planet. Each exotic tea, from gentle whites and earthy greens, to stout oolongs, Pu-erhs, blacks and even South African non-caffeinated Rooibos reds, comes with equally poetic names—Lady Samurai, Emperor’s Ransom, Dark Roast Iron Goddess of Mercy, the Cosmic Peach, Cloud and Mist, Bvumbwe Peony. And, of course, there is a delectable story, a fable, a mystery, behind each one. There is so much to know. Some teas have caffeine, even more than coffee. Some are rich in antioxidants and other healing curatives. Some just taste good, with berry flavors and even chocolate and vanilla redolence. There is a method to the steeping madness to avoid teas becoming bitter. Some teas can be steeped many times. Others, just once. Tea can be leaf, rolled, in small-berry form, light in color, dark, and every shade in between. It’s heady stuff. There are reasons wars have been fought, empires crumbled, trade routes opened because of tea. It is ancient, yet it persists, cup after cup after essential cup. I once sat and talked with a Buddhist monk at the centuries-old Beomeosa temple
lifestyle photography b y s ilv ia f l or e s
in Busan, South Korea. I experienced something akin to enlightenment with each sip of the tea we shared. Perhaps it was the monk’s wisdom. More likely it was the excuse to simply sit and ponder a crazy world over a cup of tea. You might be just as lucky at Good Medicine Lounge.
visit online portfolio at silviaflores.com
Good Medicine Lounge is located at 1029 May Street in Hood River. For more information, find them on Facebook.
Don Campbell is a freelance writer who lives in Portland and Mosier. He's a frequent contributor to The Gorge Magazine.
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 15
OUR GORGE
best of the gorge
A few of our favorite things this season
Live Theater
1
Indulge in some quality live theater this winter. The Columbia Gorge Dance Academy hosts its annual production of Scenes From the Nutcracker (Dec. 13-14), at the Hood River Middle School auditorium. Nearly 400 students from around the Gorge take part in three performances, a fundraiser for the FISH foodbank and Providence Hospice of the Gorge (columbiagorgedanceacademy.com). And don’t miss the Columbia Center for the Arts’ production of It’s a Wonderful Life in December and The Full Monty in February (columbiaarts.org).
16 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
Bald Eagle Viewing
2
Head to the mouth of the Klickitat River near Lyle, Washington, to see the bald eagles, which congregate here to feed each winter. In January and February, when migrating bald eagles join resident birds to feed on the winter steelhead run, it’s not uncommon to see dozens of eagles perched in trees above the river. The Friends of the Columbia Gorge host several eagle-viewing outings, where spotting scopes are provided. If you go on your own, mornings are usually the best time to see the most birds. The three-quarter mile paved loop at Balfour-Klickitat Day Use Park is a good place to start. Or take a walk upriver on the Klickitat Trail. (gorgefriends.org)
A Winter Cocktail
Local Hot Springs
4
What’s not to love about hot springs in wintertime? Check out the natural mineral springs at Bonneville Hot Springs Resort & Spa and Carson Hot Springs Golf & Spa Resort, both located a few miles from Stevenson, Washington. Both resorts, under the same management, offer spa amenities that feature the natural mineral hot springs located nearby. At the more rustic Carson Hot Springs, you can soak in the historic bathhouse that dates to 1923. At Bonneville Hot Springs, a heated mineral pool and indoor and outdoor hot tubs fit the bill on a chilly day.
5
This Sparkling Cranberry Sage Cocktail makes a festive refreshment through the holidays and beyond. Created, styled and photographed by Ashley Marti (localhaven.net).
INGREDIENTS • 1 Cup of water • 1 Cup of sugar • 2 Cups fresh or frozen cranberries • 2 Bunches of sage leaves (about ¾ cup) • Bottle of Prosecco or Champagne DIRECTIONS In a medium saucepan bring water and sugar to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Once the simple syrup is at a boil, remove it from the heat and add in the cranberries and sage leaves. Cover and let steep until completely cooled, about 2 hours. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Discard the cranberries and sage. To make the cocktails, pour two ounces of syrup into cocktail glass or champagne flute and top with Prosecco. To create cranberry garnish, use a long wooden toothpick and carefully slide 4-6 cranberries onto each one. Garnish the cocktail with one cranberry skewer and 1-2 sage leaves.
Flying L Ranch
3
For something a little different, head to the Mount Adams Lodge at the Flying L Ranch near Glenwood, Washington. Located on 80 acres on the eastern slope of Mount Adams, the ranch offers various accommodations, including lodge rooms, a guesthouse and cabins. In true B-and-B style, breakfast is served each morning in the cookhouse, which seats up to 32 people. (The cookhouse is available for group lunches and dinners, too.) In winter, ranch trails are marked for cross-country skiers and snowshoers. (mt-adams.com)
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 17
OUR GORGE
Mount Adams Backcountry
7
If you’re looking to escape the crowds that flock to Mount Hood during winter, head north to Mount Adams. Three winter recreation areas are located within a few miles of Trout Lake: Pineside/Snow King, Atkisson and Flattop. Each of these sno-parks provides access to miles of both groomed and ungroomed trails. Stop at the Mount Adams Ranger Station in Trout Lake for maps and information. Don’t forget your Washington sno-park permit (parks.wa.gov).
Skamania Lodge Resort
6
Treat yourself to a winter getaway at Skamania Lodge. If you can spring for an overnight, by all means do it. The expansive Cascadian-style lodge manages to feel cozy, and the amenities—fitness center, spa, indoor pool, outdoor whirlpool set among the tall trees just to name a few—make for plenty to do. But the lodge is worthy simply as a dinner destination, too. Go early and poke around the grounds, or relax in the Gorge Room in front of the 85-foot-high stone fireplace. Dine in either the upscale Cascade Dining Room or the casual River Rock restaurant. (skamania.com)
Classes at Knot Another Hat
8
Find your inner fiber artist at this friendly shop in downtown Hood River. Serious knitters and novices alike will find their people here, along with lots of amazing yarn and knitting accessories. The store hosts monthly Knit Nights, where you can bring your current project to work on with others. The shop also offers an extensive list of classes. If you can’t make it in to shop, all of its products are available online. (knotanotherhat.com)
18 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
Timberline Lodge
Cascade Huts
9
Ski or snowshoe to one of three huts, now under the ownership of Jason Taylor and Derek DeBorde—Hood River Valley natives who also own Lost Lake Resort. The huts, available by reservation, are located at various distances from the Barlow Pass Sno Park on Highway 35 and come with sleeping bags, lamps, a cookstove and cooking utensils. All you need to pack in is food, water and propane cylinders. (cascadehuts.com)
Sense of Place Series
10
Don’t miss these monthly lectures on topics related to life in the Gorge. Held the first Wednesday of the month from October through March, the series is put on by Gorge Owned (GO!) and takes place at the Columbia Center for the Arts. Upcoming lectures include Taste of the Gorge Terroir, Native American Art of Oregon, Mosier Centennial, and Oregon’s Special History in Conserving its Environment. (gorgeowned.org)
11
If you’re hankering to immerse yourself in winter (and/or Oregon history), there’s no better place than at Timberline Lodge. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977, the lodge was constructed as a Civilian Conservation Corps project in 1937, putting Oregonians to work during the Depression. With snowdrifts piled to the roofline and Mount Hood looming large to the north, Timberline is the quintessential mountain lodge. Stay for dinner, or better yet, overnight. (timberlinelodge.com)
Tilly Jane Trail
12
This historic trail offers one of the most rewarding backcountry experiences in the Gorge. Starting on a clearly-marked trailhead just below Cooper Spur Ski Area, the 2.9-mile trail follows a series of crests and ridgelines at a steady but moderate uphill grade. The trail meanders through woods and open terrain with spectacular views. A portion of it traverses a swath of forest burned in the 2008 Gnarl Ridge Fire. Stop for a rest at the Historic Tilly Jane Cabin—or better yet, plan ahead and reserve a spot to stay overnight. (recreation.gov)
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 19
OUR GORGE
home+garden
Get Your Home Ready for Winter • Clean the gutters. When freezing temperatures hit, clogged gutters and drains can form ice dams that prevent your drainage systems from working properly. This can lead to water seeping into your home, which can create all sorts of problems you don’t want to have. • Fix air leaks. Warm air in your home will escape out of any cracks and can make your heating system work harder and cost more to operate. Use caulk to seal stationary cracks and openings, and weather-stripping to seal things like windows and doors.
Rustic Retrofit
• Give your furnace some attention. Clean your furnace annually each autumn. Sediment build-up can cause your system to work less efficiently—or worse, become a fire-hazard. During the winter, change your filter regularly. A dirty filter will decrease airflow and energy-efficiency. If your furnace is ready to be replaced, buy an energy-efficient model, which is more cost-effective in the long run.
A Parkdale cabin gets winterized while staying true to its origins BY JANET COOK / PHOTOS BY ADAM LAPIERRE
N
inian Blackburn and his wife, Kat, had been searching for a home in the Hood River area for some time when they came across a cabin outside Parkdale in 2007. It wasn’t exactly what they were looking for, yet it was exactly what they were looking for. Blackburn, a professor of biochemistry at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, wanted a weekend retreat that could eventually become a more permanent home. A native of Scotland, he had recently—and somewhat reluctantly—sold his longtime family home where he’d grown up on a 4,000acre sheep ranch. He wanted to do it justice by finding a place equally beautiful to spend his spare time. The cabin was rustic, to say the least. But it was tucked cozily into a stand of trees and positioned per-
20 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
• Check your ducts. Make sure your heating ducts are properly sealed and insulated. A home with central heating can lose up to 20 percent of the warm air moving through the duct system. fectly to take in the view of Mount Hood looming to the south. Blackburn learned that the cabin had been built by someone he knew by reputation, though not personally: Dr. Gorham Babson, a well-known neonatologist and director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Center at OHSU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital during the 1960s and ‘70s. Babson had grown up in Hood River, where his parents owned an orchard, and he had built the cabin in the early 1970s.
• Light your way. With fewer hours of daylight in the winter, make sure your porches and outdoor paths are well lit. Buy energy-efficient bulbs; LED lights require little energy and some are made to withstand snow and rain. Consider installing lighting with automatic daylight shut-off and/or motion sensors.
Real Estate Sales and Service
The local family history of the cabin seemed fitting to Blackburn, because he was in a way “trading” his beloved generations-old family home in Scotland for a home in the Gorge. And, though the cabin was in need of much work, his intention was to keep it essentially the same. Blackburn bought the cabin, and for several years he and Kat came out on weekends. They loved coming out year round, but in the winter the cabin leaked from the roof, walls and windows, and there was little insulation. “We’d come, stoke the fire all weekend, and finally by the time we were leaving on Sunday it was up to about 62 degrees inside,” Blackburn said. Pipes under the house—where there was no insulation—had a history of freezing, and Blackburn had to shut off the water system and drain the pipes when he left. “It was a bit of an adventure,” Blackburn said. After a few years Ninian and Kat decided they’d like to make their home more of a viable retreat in all seasons, so they called Hood River’s Green
Call Today! Home Construction. In the spring of 2013, Green Home began a two-part process that included an extensive deep energy retrofit to the home as well as a small addition. Because the Blackburns didn’t want to alter the cabin’s interior, which is constructed of thick barn wood slabs that in places are marked with graffiti dating to the early 20th century, Green Home had to approach the weatherization project differently than most jobs.
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THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 21
OUR GORGE
“It had to be done surgically,” said Tom Reid, Green Home Construction owner. Instead of working from inside to improve the insulation of the house, Reid and his crew pulled the exterior walls off and worked from the outside in so they didn’t have to disturb the barn wood inside. Because of the many holes and gaps in the barn wood, a special netting had to be attached onto the exterior of it in order to keep a layer of blown-in cellulose insulation from going into the house. On top of the layer of cellulose (held in place by
plywood wrapped around the house), a 3-inch layer of rigid foam insulation was added before new boardand-batten siding was put on. The house got a new roof as well as ceiling insulation where there had been none, and Green Home reconfigured the pipes under the house so they would be buried in the newly installed insulation. Green Home designed and built a master suite onto the west side of the house, blending it nearly seamlessly into the layout and using chunky exposed timbers to help it fit in with the rest of the home. The cabin is fitted out with a heating control system that Blackburn can operate from his cellphone. Now, instead of spending the whole weekend trying to get the house heated, he can turn up the heat from his office in Portland before he leaves so the cabin is warm when he and Kat arrive. Perhaps the best part about it, for Blackburn, is that they were able to keep the cabin’s rustic character but make it an enjoyable retreat in all seasons. “We feel lucky to have gotten this place,” said Blackburn. “We think we did it justice.”
Residential and Commercial Design + Build Renewable Energy Systems Weatherization + Home Performance
541.386.7283 www.greenhome-construction.com 1824 Cascade Ave., Hood River, OR 97031 CCB#182083 • WA#GREENHC917JM
22 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
COLUMBIA GORGE REAL ESTATE columbiagorge-realestate.com • Change out a few decorative sofa pillows to winter plaid, sold velvet or metallic to change the feeling in the entire room. Etsy. com has adorable hand-made pillows that feature winter themes and add warmth to your space. If drafty windows are a concern, consider insulated drapery panels in rich colors. Overstock.com has a great selection.
Winterize Your Interior Decor Embrace the season with these tips to help "warm up" your home during the cold months BY MARY BOKOVOY
• First impressions set the tone. Consider fun signage as an alternative to a wreath: Add glitter to 18 inch letters spelling out JOY. Then add them to an over-sized vertical ribbon on your front door, and you just made your entire neighborhood smile. Or, buy live moss letters from Pottery Barn. • Decorate for the season versus holiday. This approach will save money and storage space when it comes time to swap out for spring and summer decor. • Make your home a showcase of happy memories by blowing up some new or vintage family winter picture. Have them printed on a canvas wrap at Walgreens. • Pull out some cozy throw blankets. Select throws that add color, texture and a little drama to your sofas and chairs (think faux animal fur).
• Switch out bed linens for toasty downfilled duvets. Pottery Barn has a great selection of fun bedding—check out their Best of Burton line for your teens. And I love outfitting vacation homes with the bedding from Home Goods which offer designer bedding for a fraction of the price. While there, pick up a few seasonal hand towels to bring the color story into your bathrooms. • Create a fall and winter centerpiece for your dining table in a favorite piece of pottery. I copied an example I found on Pinterest. Simply add silk leaves and battery lighted twigs (available at Walmart) to jazz it up. I prefer durable decor items such as silk leaves and velvet pumpkins (available at Safeway) that I can use year after year rather than buying new disposable items each year. They look better and save money in the long run. • If you have a collection of plates on display, swap out your summer selections for classic cold weather scenes. If you like the modern look, simply add decal letters to solid colored plates spelling out a sentiment like PEACE. • Lastly, remember to pull out classic books for your little visitors such as The Mitten and The Gingerbread Man. And place favorite games such as Scrabble, Checkers and Backgammon on the coffee table. Mary Bokovoy is the owner of Hood River reDesign, an interior design company specializing in vacation homes in the Columbia River Gorge. For more information visit hoodriverredesign.com.
The Dalles $340,000–Quality classic contemporary with views of the Columbia River Gorge from the viewing deck.
The Dalles $350,000–Excellent workmanship found in this 3200 sq ft mid-century home on a half acre in town.
Hood River $575,000–Custom home and cottage with mountain views, manicured half acre close to town.
“Sisters by Chance, Partners by Choice”
Becky Schertenleib, CRS, GRI, SRES Nan Wimmers, CRB, CRS, EPRO 714 W 6th Street I The Dalles, Oregon facebook.com/columbia.gorge.real.estate licensed in oregon and washington
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 23
OUR GORGE
locavore
Close to the Land Living a long-held dream on Jefferies Ranch BY RUTH BERKOWITZ / PHOTOS BY PALOMA AYALA
I
t started in the hot tub. That’s where Tim Jefferies and his girlfriend, Keely, were soaking on a fall night in 1982, when the Grateful Dead rocked the land and Ronald Reagan governed our country. Keely, then a 21-year-old from Milwaukie, Oregon, had aspirations of living in New York City, taking the subway to work and being surrounded by millions of people. But then she met Tim on a blind date. Like her, he was a Deadhead. In the hot water, Tim told Keely about his dream of living on his grandfather’s land in remote north-central Oregon, of having a family and building an energy-efficient home powered by the wind and the sun. He would get water from the ground, grow vegetables on the land and raise cattle like his father and grandfather. It was the complete opposite of Keely’s vision, but love has its way and she said “yes” to his dream. They got married, had two children, and lived like most others do, paying for electricity. They lived for a few years near Kent, Oregon—an hour southeast of The Dalles. Their rented house was right off Highway 97 and it was noisy, Tim recalls, with cars and trucks speeding by not far from their
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front door. He was always afraid of his young children getting too close to the road. In the summer of 1997, a van filled with orchard workers crashed and rolled, landing at the end of their driveway. Several of the passengers died instantly. “It was horrible,” Tim recalls. It was the final straw for him, the one that made him pursue his dream. Tim moved his family onto his grandfather’s 5,000-acre ranch in nearby Grass Valley, where a few cattle grazed on the dry grass. There was an old windmill and acres of sagebrush, but for the most part, the land was barren.
With knowledge gained from years of studying Mother Earth News and Home Power magazines, Tim and his family transformed an old mobile home into a dwelling unattached to utility companies. He found a few more structures in the area that were going to be destroyed and converted one into a guest room and the other into a laundry and utility room. Today, about 90 percent of their farm is made from recycled and repurposed products. All of it is off the grid. In the wood paneled laundry room, Tim shows me the essential inverter, which converts energy generated by the eight solar panels into usable power. The only power outage they’ve ever experienced, according to Tim, occurred not during a winter storm but one Christmas morning when their cat triggered the inverter switch. “I freaked out since I am the electric company and we had a house full of guests,” says Tim, who eventually solved the mystery. After lunch prepared by Keely—a salad from their garden and meat stew made with beef from their cows—we head outside to search for the cows. You’d think this would be an easy job, but 5,000 acres is vast. Tim divides his property into gated pastures to ensure the cows adhere to his take-half-leave-half guide for ranching. This, he explains, means that the cows eat only half of the grass blade so it grows back healthy. Tim has determined that one mama cow and her calf require about 30 acres a year to graze. Applying this formula, Jefferies manages a maximum of 175 cows.
Celilo Restaurant and Bar Pacific Northwest cuisine with an emphasis on locally grown products, extensive wine list, and full bar.
We cruise the rocky land in the Jefferies’ pickup truck. Their border collie, Rosy, follows us. “Cattle are designed to eat grass, which is what their ruminant stomachs are made for and not corn,” Tim explains. Grass-fed beef is healthier than corn-fed beef because it is lower in saturated fat and calories, he says, and higher in beneficial fats such as omega-3 fatty acids. Grass-fed beef, especially when the cattle aren’t fed a diet of grains before processing, also tastes a little different. The color of the meat is darker and depending on the cut, the meat may need to be cooked more slowly because it has less fat content. Unlike some of the other grass-fed ranchers, the Jefferies never feed corn or other grains to their cows. “I know that my beef is 100 percent clean,” Tim says. “There are no antibiotics, grains or pesticides.” He points to a blur on the horizon. “There they are,” he says, and we make our way to a cluster of a dozen cows grazing. Tim raises two breeds of cattle, the large white muscular Charolais and the smaller Hereford. We see two of his favorites in the herd. Old Yeller, a crossbreed, lets Tim stroke her back. At 16, she’s one of the oldest cows on the ranch. “She’s my friend,” Tim says affectionately. He’s also befriended a brown calf named Speckles whom he bottle-fed during her first few months. You can tell she likes him as she licks him with her rough tongue. “She’ll be a mama on the farm,” he says. The other cows that end up being processed are sold at the Hood River farmer’s market. If for some reason Tim has to give one of his cows antibiotics, that cow is sold at auction. We return to the house, and Keely shows me her photo album documenting the transition of their land from sagebrush to dream home. “It’s an
on-going process,” she says, describing their current project, a south facing greenhouse addition to their home. They have designed the addition specifically to grow plants in the winter and to help heat their home using passive solar energy. It’s been more than 30 years since Tim and Keely sat in that hot tub, discussing Tim’s dream of building an off-the-grid life. Much has changed since then, but the Jefferies are living that dream. “We’re content,” Keely says. “We have enough.” And they still discuss their dreams in their woodfired hot tub set amid the garden, perfectly located for a soak under the stars. Jefferies Ranch is part of the Gorge Grown Food Network (gorgegrown.com), and you can find them on Facebook.
Ruth Berkowitz is a lawyer, mediator and writer. She lives with her family in Hood River and Portland and is a frequent contributor to The Gorge Magazine.
Open Daily: 541-386-5710 16 Oak Street, Hood River, OR www.celilorestaurant.com Lunch 11:30-3, Dinner from 5
Celilo Catering: 541-490-0275 Weddings • Private parties • On/Offsite
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 25
OUR GORGE
style+design
Winter Style Never Looked So Cool
Textures, layers, knits and leather! Whether you’re in the city, wilderness or up at the mountain, these are a few of our favorite winter looks from some of our local all-weather brands and retailers. STYLED BY ROBIN ALLEN / PHOTOS BY JENNIFER ALYSE CLOTHING MODELED BY CALVIN VAN SISSEREN AND OKSANA POPADIUK
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Grey Matters Calvin: coat and sweater (The Ruddy Duck), hat (Gasoline Caps)*, pants (2nd Wind Sports), gloves (Pistil), shoes (Footwise) Oksana: jacket and leggings (The Ruddy Duck), tee and vest (Parts + Labour), quilted skirt (2nd Wind Sports), hat and gloves (Pistil), boots (Footwise), backpack (2nd Wind Sports) *G asoline Caps is a Hood River-based online company (gasolinecaps.com)
Local knowledge, local service and local experience make us the ‘go to’ shop for your new, used and demo equipment needs: Ski and snowboard tuning / Repair and mounting services / High-Performance Downhill Ski, Nordic Ski, Snowboard, Snowshoe rentals and demos Ask about our “Try before you buy” policy
gear for the gorge LOCAL KNOWLEDGE. LOCAL STAFF. LOCAL PRICES. NEW AND USED GEAR. Alpine Skiing / XC & Skate Skiing Backcountry Accessories Snowboarding / Gear Rentals Skateboarding / Hiking & Camping Kiteboarding / Windsurfing Standup Paddleboarding Apparel & Accessories
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK (541) 386-4644, 2NDWIND-SPORTS.COM 202 State Street, Downtown Hood River
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 27
OUR GORGE
Northern Exposure Calvin: jacket (Doug's Sports), shirt, pants and boots (The Ruddy Duck), hat (Pistil) Oksana: jacket (Doug's Sports), hat and mittens (Pistil), knit tunic dress (The Ruddy Duck), leather leggings and collared shirt (Parts + Labour), boots (Footwise)
Mod er n C o tt a ge L if esty le and C ont em p ora r y C lo t hing 509.427.2271 FIND US ON FAC EBOOK 240 SW SECOND S TRE E T D OWNTOWN S TE V ENSON
28 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
Outta Sight Jackets, pants, goggles (2nd Wind Sports), teal plaid shirt (The Ruddy Duck), hats and gloves (Pistil), Red "'ello" sweatshirt (Parts + Labour)
v i n tag e a n d nat u r e i n sp i r e d c o l l e c t io n s f o r hom e a n d g a r d e n (509) 427-4444 blo omsbur yshop.com 240 sW s e cond st re et d ow ntow n ste vens on
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 29
OUR GORGE
Resource Guide
roadtrip
Visit Bend visitbend.com Bend Chamber of Commerce bendchamber.org Mt. Bachelor mtbachelor.com WHERE TO STAY Tetherow Lodges 61240 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend tetherow.com The Oxford Hotel 10 N.W. Minnesota Avenue, Bend oxfordhotelbend.com
High Desert Getaway
Bend, and nearby Mount Bachelor, offer a perfect winter destination for the snow-minded
T
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Sunriver Resort 17600 Center Drive, Sunriver sunriver-resort.com DINING AND DRINKING 900 Wall Restaurant 900 N.W. Wall Street, Bend 900wall.com
BY DAVID SWORD / PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUNRIVER RESORT
he winter recreation choices available in the Gorge mean you don’t need to go far for world-class fun. But sometimes you get the urge for a roadtrip in order to experience winter someplace else. Less than a three-hour drive away, Bend fits the bill. Located in the high desert of Central Oregon, Bend has long been a top choice for recreation-minded souls. From spring through fall, people flock to Bend for everything from fishing to rock climbing to mountain biking. But during the shortened days of winter, attention turns to Mount Bachelor. Located only 22 miles from the city limits, the mountain has been attracting snow sliders since opening in 1958. Originally sporting only one chair and a surface lift, the resort today would awe skiers from that era; there are now 10 chairlifts (seven of which are high speed quads) covering nearly 3,700 skiable acres, with 88 named runs—the longest stretching for four miles over nearly 3,400 feet of vertical drop. If the natural terrain of “Bachey” isn’t quite
Entrada Lodge 19221 S.W. Century Drive, Bend entradalodge.com
Spork 937 N.W. Newport Avenue, Bend sporkbend.com Jackson’s Corner 845 N.W. Delaware Avenue, Bend jacksonscornerbend.com Crow’s Feet Commons 875 N.W. Brooks Street, Bend crowsfeetcommons.com The Sparrow Bakery 50 S.W. Scott Street, Bend thesparrowbakery.net
Getting There
Distance: 145 miles, Driving Time: 3 hours
Palate 643 N.W. Colorado Avenue, Bend palatecoffeebar.com
Bend is located in Central Oregon. From Hood River, take Highway 35 south to U.S. 26. Stay on Highway 26 to Madras, then take U.S. 97 south to Bend.
Crux Fermentation Project 50 S.W. Division Street, Bend cruxfermentation.com
COLUMBIA GORGE live where you play!
enough for you, the resort offers up a slew of terrain parks as well as one prominently situated super pipe. In addition, the Nordic Center is not to be missed, with its 56 kilometers of skating and classic groomed trails. If you desire a more solitary experience, backcountry skiing options abound as well. Tumalo Mountain, which sits across the road from Mount Bachelor, has long been a target for the “earn your turns” crowd, and many locals get their “dawn patrol” ski fix accomplished by skinning up the Cinder Cone at Bachelor in the early morning hours before the area opens. When you grow tired of skiing or riding, there’s a tubing hill, sled dog rides and snow-machine tours. One of the best things about Bend is its climate. Perched at 3,600 feet, it’s drier than most other Northwest ski towns. And its inland distance
REID MARTIN
Because home matters. 503-704-7343 w w w. g o r g e v e n t u r e . c o m reid@windermere.com
and influence of the eastern exposure mean that storms often hang over the Cascades, leaving Bend and Mount Bachelor in bluebird heaven. With an average snowfall of over 460 inches each season, it’s no wonder skiers and snowboarders flock here from near and far.
David Sword, a former Hood River resident, now lives in Bend. He’s an occasional contributor to The Gorge Magazine.
Stay & Play in The Dalles Free SuperStart® breakfast All Guest Rooms are Smoke Free High Speed Wireless Internet Microwave • Refrigerator Cable/HBO Guest Laundry Pool • Pet Friendly 609 Cherry Heights Road The Dalles OR 97058 541-296-6888
www.super8.com
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 31
OUR GORGE
Gorge Wines Earn Acclaim
wine spotlight
Wineries from the Columbia Gorge fared well against more than 400 wines from around the Northwest in the overall judging at the 2nd Annual Great Northwest Wine Competition. • Gold/Best of Class: Maryhill Winery 2011 Malbec • Gold: Cascade Cliffs 2012 Reserve Estate Barbera • Gold:Maryhill Winery 2011 Sugarloaf Vineyard Mourvedre • Gold: Viento Wines 2011 Old Vines Retro Riesling • Silver: Analemma Wines 2012 Oak Ridge Pinot Noir • Silver: AniChe Cellars 2011 Moth Love • Silver: Cascade Cliffs 2012 Reserve Nebbiolo • Silver: COR Cellars 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon • Silver: Maryhill Winery 2009 Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Gorge Wines Rising A regional competition showcases wines from the Columbia Gorge, with satisfying results BY JANET COOK / PHOTOS BY ADAM LAPIERRE
T
he Columbia Gorge Hotel played host to the 2nd Annual Great Northwest Wine Competition in October. The competition is different from any other wine competition in North America in that the judges nominate the entries. “The judges are what we call ‘wine influentials,’” said Eric Degerman, president and CEO of Great Northwest Wine, which organized the event. “These are buyers for large restaurants and important wine shops along the West Coast.” The 16 judges for this year’s competition were asked to nominate their top 100 Pacific Northwest wines. This year, more than 400 wines were entered—up from 250 at the inaugural competition in 2013.
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New to the event this year was a separate judging category: the Columbia Gorge Wine Competition. “We believe in the wines of the Columbia Gorge and see it as one of the top emerging regions on the West Coast,” Degerman said. “We wanted to provide a nice snapshot of the Gorge to some of our Invite judges.” With the help of Robb Bell, owner of Cathedral Ridge Winery, who saw the competition as a great way to increase exposure of Columbia Gorge wines and worked to get his fellow winemakers to take part, 95 wines were entered in the competition. When the judging was done, Phelps Creek Vineyards 2012 Pinot Noir earned Best of Show, Double Gold and Best Red Wine, and Mt. Hood Winery’s 2013 Riesling earned Best White Wine.
• Silver: Maryhill Winery 2009 Cabernet Franc • Silver: Maryhill Winery 2010 Proprietor’s Reserve Malbec • Silver: Maryhill Winery 2009 Zinfandel • Silver: Maryhill Winery 2011 Marvell GSM Hattrup Farms • Silver: Maryhill Winery 2011 Proprietor’s Reserve Tavola Rosso • Silver: Viento Wines 2013 Allegre Vineyard Savvy Sauvignon Blanc • Silver: Viento Wines 2011 Underwood Mountain Vineyards Gruner Veltliner • Silver: Viento Wines 2012 Annala Vineyard Pinot Noir • Silver: Viento Wines 2011 Vento Red Wine • Bronze: AniChe Cellars 2011 7 Gables • Bronze: Cascade Cliffs 2012 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon • Bronze: Mt. Hood Winery 2013 Pinot Noir Rose • Bronze: Viento Wines 2012 Chukar Ridge Vineyard Sangiovese • Bronze: Viento Wines 2012 Retro Riesling
C athedral r idge W inery Award Winning Wines // Amazing Mountain Views
Wine Winter NG TASTI ily a open d nd u o r r yea {11-6}
Standard Tasting / Reserve Tasting / Tour & Tasting / Barrel Tasting / Cellar Tasting / Connoisseur Tasting
Also earning Gold were Cathedral Ridge Winery’s 2013 Bolton Vineyard Reserve Barbera, Maryhill Winery’s 2011 Hattrup Farms Mourvedre, Maryhill’s 2011 Marvell, and Phelps Creek’s 2013 Sauvignon Blanc. Of note, the Best Red and Best White winners were made exclusively with grapes grown in the Columbia Gorge. “It was exciting, but not surprising, that the two top wines were made with Columbia Gorge grapes,” Degerman said. “It shows that great wines are being produced with local fruit.” Degerman hopes to grow the Columbia Gorge Wine Competition next year. It’s a win-win for judges (many of whom are buyers) and for Gorge winemakers. “Not only were we able to spotlight some of the top producers in the Columbia Gorge, but we also introduced the region to some of the top wine buyers on the West Coast,” he said. “The wines being produced (in the Gorge) are definitely worthy of the attention and acclaim.”
Winery Tasting Experiences A FLIGHT FOR EVERY LEVEL OF INTEREST!
{
From Standard Tasting to VIP Connoisseur Tasting
4200 P ost C anyon D rive , H ooD r iver or, 97031 // 541-386-2882
DID YOU KNOW? The Columbia River Gorge is part of two American Viticultural Areas (AVA): the western edge of the Columbia Valley AVA and the entire Columbia Gorge AVA. The Columbia Gorge AVA extends from approximately Underwood Mountain to just east of Lyle on the Washington side of the river, and from the western edge of the Hood River Valley to a few miles west of The Dalles on the Oregon side. The Columbia Valley AVA extends into much of south and eastern Washington, with a small swath on the Oregon side of the Columbia River.
A local resource guide for the discerning foodie
Reviews & recipies: gorgeinthegorge.com
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 33
OUR GORGE
wine spotlight
General Tips for Visiting Gorge Wine Country • Refrain from wearing heavily scented items, such as perfumes and lotions. Even lipstick can affect your wine tasting experience. Allow the day to be filled with the aromas of wine.
Great Vintage to Come
The winegrowing season in the Gorge was one for the record books BY JANET COOK
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C
olumbia Gorge winegrowers are coming off one of the best growing seasons in memory. An early bud break last spring, followed by a warm, dry summer and early fall created higher yields and optimum fruit quality in many Gorge vineyards. “I’m sure 2014 will be considered one of the best vintages of the decade,” Lonnie Wright told the Oregon Wine Board in November. Wright, a vineyard management consultant and founder and owner of The Pines 1852, said yields around the Gorge growing region ranged from 10 to 25 percent higher than normal. Robert Morus of Phelps Creek Vineyards on the far west side of the Hood River Valley usually removes nearly half his fruit during the season in order to enhance the quality of the remaining grapes. This year, he left more fruit hanging on the vine than normal in order to slow ripening and extend the growing season. Optimal weather lasted right through harvest, resulting in a record-sized crop. Farther east, Rob McCormick, owner of Memaloose Winery in Lyle, also reported a stellar growing year. “It was a long, warm growing season with not a lot of rain problems,” said McCormick who, with his son Brian, operates five estate vineyards on both sides of the river—three near Lyle and two east of Mosier. Like many other Gorge winegrowers, McCormick had his largest harvest ever. “Everything looked terrific,” he said. “It was one for the books, really,”
• Explore varietals unfamiliar to you. Often these can be a delightful surprise. • Ask the tasting room staff questions. Gorge residents are proud to live here and serve local wines, and they love to share wine knowledge with others. • Don’t be afraid to use the dump buckets. It is not a sign that you don’t care for a wine, and no one will be offended if you spit out a wine or dump what is left in your glass. On the contrary, most tasting room staff appreciate that it may be necessary to not swallow every wine in order to maintain your wine tasting pleasure and your palate. • Try a mid-week excursion. Often tasters who visit on a weekday find the tasting rooms more intimate and the experience more one-on-one. • Have fun. Don’t take it too seriously. After all, wine is about enjoyment on your personal level. Drink what you like and enjoy with others. (Courtesy of Columbia Gorge Winegrowers)
Many of our relaxing tasting rooms are open throughout the winter and are a great interlude to the fantastic winter playground activities of the Gorge
GORGEWINE.COM
award-winning hand-crafted wines from estate grown grapes & fruit sourced from top notch vineyards
welcoming tasting room & patio
5.5 scenic miles south of hood river on hwy 35
541.386.1277 / wyeastvineyards.com currently open on weekends: noon-5pm or so after mid-april, open daily: 11am-5pm or so
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 35
kiteboarding season never ends Kiteboarding on the snow has turned the Gorge into a year-round kiting playground
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Rider: Aaron Sales Location: Mount Hood Aaron Sales rides the south side of Mt Hood with Mississippi head in the background. Photographer Richard Hallman shot this photo from a helicopter.
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 37
Rider: Aaron sales Location: Palmer Glacier, Mount Hood Less than a mile west of Timberline Ski area is a snowkiting playground on Palmer Glacier.
K I T E B OA R D I N G WA S B O R N O N T H E C O L U M B I A R I V E R M O R E T H A N 25 Y E A R S AG O BY H A R N E S S I N G T H E G O R G E ’S P OW E R F U L W I N D S W I T H OV E R S I Z E D ST U N T K I T E S. T H E F I R ST K I T E R S R O D E T H E R I V E R ’S R O L L I N G S W E L L O N WAT E R S K I S. W H O WO U L D H AV E T H O U G H T T H I S C R A Z Y I D E A WO U L D E VO LV E I N TO A S P O RT T H AT N OW H A S OV E R A Q UA RT E R-M I L L I O N PA RT I C I PA N TS WO R L D W I D E ? Rider: Aaron Sales Location: Cascade Mountains
S
ince its beginnings, kiteboarding has attracted a wide variety of athletes—including windsurfers, wakeboarders, surfers, skiers and snowboarders—who have all brought their own style and influence to this fast-growing sport. In the late 1990s, when the sport was still in its infancy, there was a small, diehard crew of kiteboarders in the Gorge who’d come from a snowsports background. We all wondered the same thing: If
you can use kites to ride across the water and fly through the air, why can’t you use them to power you across the snow on skis or a snowboard? There was only one way to find out. A small group of us headed up to Mount Hood’s Palmer Glacier,
launched our kites and quickly discovered that kiteboarding on snow worked amazingly well and had huge potential. Snowkiting in the great Northwest was born.
38 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
Rider: Aaron Sales Location: Mount Hood's South Face Using a 14 meter kite, Aaron Sales explores the South Face of Mount Hood.
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 39
Rider: Aaron Sales Location: Syncline, Wa.
On a mission to discover snowkiting locations around the Gorge, we searched for frozen lakes and open, snow-covered fields, but soon realized these weren’t the easiest locations to find. Large fields were generally at elevations too low to accumulate much snow and frozen lakes were usually deep in the woods, where the wind was too gusty. We began exploring some big-mountain terrain above the tree line on Mount Hood, Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens. These locations were definitely advanced, bringing a three-dimensional element to snowkiting with canyons, cornices, cliff lines and rock fields. We quickly found that our kites had more than enough power to carry us up 30-degree alpine pitches faster than a high-speed quad chairlift—but without the crowds or the cost of a lift ticket. Powder was now free if you knew how to find it and were willing to work to get there. Many of these locations took half-a-day just to access, however, so we remained on the lookout for accessible snowkite locations right in the Gorge.
Rider: Unknown Location: Hood River Sandbar Low snow levels make the Sandbar the most accessible Gorge Snowkiting location.
40 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
Rider: Aaron Sales Location: Mount Defiance
A few times a year, the snow level drops and a winter storm leaves us with a foot or two in the lower hills and even a fresh layer right down to the river level. This opens up a variety of snowkiting locations in Hood River’s East Hills, The Dalles Mountain Ranch and—the local favorite— the Hood River Sandbar. The Sandbar varies in shape and size each year depending on the Columbia River’s water level. It’s hard to ask for a better location because the wind can travel unobstructed down the Columbia Gorge, allowing snowkiters to ride in the same area where they kitesurf in the summer. Although the Sandbar is the easiest location to ride during a lowelevation snow storm, with a little exploration snowkiting locations Rider: Aaron Sales Location: Mount Defiance
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 41
Rider: Aaron Sales Location: Palmer Glacier, Mount Hood Late spring sessions on Palmers boney Glacier leave no room for error.
Photographer Richard hallman demonstrates that Skis work just as well as a snowboard. It's a personal preference.
eight miles from the nearest road. New snowmobile-accessible locations are popping up near Goldendale in the Simcoe Mountains, and even at higher elevations on Mount Adams. As more people get into snowkiting, new locations are being discovered and shared each year. Google Earth helps us find new terrain and the trails to access them. Just last year, I was touring Google Earth and found a new location in our own backyard near the summit of Mount Defiance. With a 30-minute snowmobile ride to the summit and some ski touring through the trees to an open slope, another new snowkiting location was born. It proves snowkiting is still very much in its youth, with so many locations yet to be discovered by anyone up for an adventure.d
have been discovered at the Syncline, Catherine Creek, the Bingen Marina, various golf courses from Carson to The Dalles and the low rolling hills near Goldendale. At higher elevations, backcountry skiers and split-boarders have discovered some accessible terrain at the base of Mount Hood near White River Canyon and half-a-mile west of Timberline’s Mile High Chairlift (as long as you stay out of bounds and away from the crowds and chairlift cables). Snowkiting continues to evolve. Much like jet skis allowed surfers to push the boundaries of big wave surfing by towing into waves, snowmobiles have opened up possibilities of accessing new terrain in and around the Gorge. Snowmobiles allow kiteskiers to pack multiple kites, skis and snowboards deep into the backcountry, and seek out terrain that was once untouchable. On Mount St. Helens, The Plains of Abraham offers a huge wide-open field that abuts rolling hills and big-mountain terrain—and is almost
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aaron sales, the former editor of kiteboarding magazine, has lived in the gorge for 13 years. he currently runs global sessions, an events company that showcases the gorge’s best outdoor recreation. he is on a mission to snowkite to the summit of mount st. helens this winter.
North American snowkite pioneers, Aaron Sales, Richard Hallman, Jacob Buzianis, and Tyler Brown on a multi-day snowkite back-country adventure.
Providing Neighborly Healthcare Since 1974
COLUMBIA GORGE 2015
PETER MARBACH “Peter Marbach’s exquisite imagery. . . reminds us of the simple joy of connecting with the land and the importance of preserving precious sites for generations to come.” — President Jimmy Carter
P
eter Marbach is an acclaimed landscape photographer proud to call the Columbia River Gorge home. He has produced several regional books and has numerous national publication credits. He finds great satisfaction in sharing his time and talent with conservation groups in Oregon and with the Mountain Leadership Institute’s humanitarian work in Nepal.
Printed in Hood River, OR, U.S.A. Published by
419 State Street, Hood River, OR 97031 541.386.1234 • sales@columbiagorgepress.com
Local photos. Local printing. Call 541.386.1234 to order your 2015 Columbia Gorge Calendar!
Columbia Gorge Press 419 STATE STREET • HOOD RIVER, OREGON 97031
For nearly 40 years, our dedicated team of local healthcare providers has been helping individuals and families achieve good health and wellness throughout their lifetimes. We are a community-based practice serving all of the residents of the Columbia River Gorge.
Located 22 miles South of the Columbia Gorge Scenic Area. Find us on the Top of the Fruit Loop Map in the beautiful town of Mt Hood.
LODGING Reservations: 541-352-6692
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THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 43
AT ONE WITH THE DIORAMAS
Take a tour through history at Gorge museums By Janet Cook • Photos by Michael Peterson
W
hen I was growing up, my family traveled a lot. Nearly everywhere we went, my father would locate the local museum and off we’d trot to spend a morning, or afternoon, immersing ourselves in the history of wherever we were. I’m sure my dad hoped we’d learn something, but his motivation was also partly selfish: he simply loved history and wanted to delve into those museums as much as he wanted us to. And who could blame him? What’s not to love about dioramas and artifacts and storyboards about things that happened right here long ago? What better way to learn about a place than to delve into its past? For anyone with an affinity for history—or just looking for something to do on a cold winter day—we have some top-notch museums in our very midst. From the tale of prehistoric times in the Gorge through 10,000 years of Native American history to the story of Lewis and Clark and everything that came after, it’s all here in well-curated form. And then there’s WAAAM, the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum. Wowzer. I frequently haul my kids to the museums. I hope they learn something, but secretly I just love being among all those dioramas.
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One of the highlights of the museum is the Grand Gallery, which focuses on the timber and fishing industries in the Gorge. The gallery features a replica of a fishwheel from the 1880s, a 1921 log truck and a steam engine that once powered a local sawmill. Hanging from the ceiling is a 1917 bi-plane, known as a “Jenny,” typical of the first planes that delivered airmail in the Gorge. If the weather’s not too crummy, outdoor exhibits include a diesel locomotive, logging equipment and a portion of the Broughton lumber flume.✦
THE COLUMBIA GORGE INTERPRETIVE CENTER MUSEUM 990 S.W. Rock Creek Drive, Stevenson, WA (509) 427-8211, columbiagorge.org Open daily, 9am-5pm This museum located just west of Stevenson is filled with fascinating history about the Columbia Gorge. The First Peoples gallery details the history of the Cascade Chinook, the first inhabitants of the Gorge. There is also a unique exhibit on the Lewis and Clark Expedition that examines it from the perspective of the Gorge village of Clahclehlah, which the explorers visited
in 1805 and again in 1806. The village was a vibrant center of trade at the time, and the exhibit contains many interesting artifacts discovered during an archaeological excavation in the 1970s. Other exhibits focus on multiple facets of life in the Gorge, from the natural history of the area and the development of pioneer communities along the river—including Stevenson—to the story of transportation along the Columbia. There’s even a Spiritual Quest Gallery which houses The Don Brown Rosary Collection. Thought to be the largest collection in the world, it includes a rosary used by John. F. Kennedy.
THE HISTORY MUSEUM OF HOOD RIVER COUNTY 300 E. Port Marina Drive, Hood River, OR, (541) 386-6772, co.hood-river.or.us/museum, Open Monday-Saturday, 11am-4pm This little gem on the Hood River waterfront near the marina underwent a major renovation a couple of years ago. If you haven’t been there since then, you wouldn’t recognize it. The modern, light-filled space is filled with a fascinating mix of local history ranging from Native American artifacts to lumber and fruit industry history to the early days of windsurfing on the
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The museum also features a research library, a collection of historic musical instruments, a kids’ activity zone and a museum store with exhibit-related items and other goods.✦
in 1932 in his Hood River Valley home on Dee Flat. The company, which Luhr’s son Phil eventually took over, grew to employ more than 300 people. It remained a Hood River icon for nearly 75 years until being sold to a Finland-based company in 2005. Dioramas and video footage of the manufacturing operation make for a fascinating look at this piece of local history.
Columbia. An exhibit detailing the deportation and internment of Japanese residents of the Hood River Valley during World War II is accompanied by a video that chronicles the ordeal these residents faced during and after the war. The Luhr Jensen & Sons Gallery tells the story of the longtime Hood River fishing lure company, which Luhr Jensen started
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WESTERN ANTIQUE AEROPLANE & AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM (WAAAM) 1600 Air Museum Road, Hood River, OR (541) 308-1600, waaamuseum.org Open daily, 9am-5pm This place is nothing short of amazing. Located adjacent to the Ken Jernstedt Airfield south of Hood River, the WAAAM boasts one of the largest collections of antique airplanes and cars in the country— all of which are still operational. The mu-
LET’S CELEBRATE! seum, comprised of three display hangars that cover a whopping two-and-a-half acres, contains 118 airplanes, 134 vehicles and 37 motorcycles. In addition, there are some 20 jeeps and other military vehicles as well as a collection of World War II-era weapons and other war memorabilia. The museum is the legacy of Terry Brandt, a lifelong pilot and airplane collector who, a decade ago, decided he would either have to auction off his extensive collection of antique airplanes or build a museum to house them. He chose the latter, and the first phase of WAAAM opened in 2007.
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990 SW Rock Creek Drive, Stevenson, WA info@columbiagorge.org // 509.427.8211 Printing Sponsored By: City of Stevenson & Skamania County Lodging Taxes
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 47
The museum has undergone two expansions since then, the most recent one completed a year ago. The museum continues its popular Second Saturday events through the winter where, weather permitting, cars and airplanes are taken outside where visitors can see them in action. Indoor events include demonstrations, special exhibits and hands-on experiences for visitors. “We really are a living museum,” says WAAAM director Judy Newman. When the kiddos tire of looking at historic planes and cars that they can’t touch, a large kids’ area features a life-like fleet that includes an airplane, helicopter, motorcycle, snowmobile and submarine all made locally from recycled items—and all of which the kids can climb, ride and “drive” to their hearts’ content.✦
COLUMBIA GORGE DISCOVERY CENTER AND MUSEUM 5000 Discovery Drive, The Dalles, OR (541) 296-8600, gorgediscovery.org Open daily, 9am-5pm The Discovery Center is a great place to while away an afternoon—especially with kids. This beautiful building at the west end of The Dalles (the award-winning architecture is worth seeing in itself) was constructed nearly 18 years ago as the official interpretive center of the Columbia
SHELTERWOOD PUBLISHING Exclusive publisher for artist Mary Rollins (541) 298-4040 { by appointment, please }
shelterwoodpublishing.com 640 Brentwood Drive East The Dalles, OR 97058
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Western Antique AeroplAne & Automobile museum
River Gorge National Scenic Area. It’s divided into wings featuring the natural and cultural history of the Columbia Gorge and the history of Wasco County. Well curated exhibits and artifacts take visitors on a journey through time, starting with the prehistoric Ice Age Floods, moving through 10,000 years of Native American history along the Columbia, the Lewis and Clark Expedition and early times in Wasco County—once the largest county in the nation. Many of the exhibits include interactive, hands-on displays that bring history alive for kids (and kids-at-heart). The Kids Explorer Room provides crafts and playthings related to the museum. A recent addition to the museum is the Solar Pavilion, which provides energy to the museum as well as an opportunity to learn how clean energy is gathered from natural resources.
Open Daily 9 -5 Closed: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Da y, New Years Da y
The WAAAM Air & Auto Museum has one of the largest collections of still-flying antique aeroplanes and still-driving antique automobiles in the country. The items on display at this museum are not only full of history, they’re full of LIFE! aircraft, automobiles, motorcycles, tractors, military jeeps and engines 1600 Air Museum Road, Hood River, Oregon (541) 308-1600 // www.waaamuseum.org
This winter, the museum hosts a traveling Smithsonian exhibit called “Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program 1942-1964.” The bilingual exhibit details the historic and controversial program, which brought millions of Mexicans to the U.S. as guest workers during World War II when a large number of American men went to war, leaving farmers with a labor shortage. The exhibit opens Dec. 5 and runs through Feb. 15.✦
Making History Come Alive…
ViSit Our HiStOriC Hood river Photo Blog Discover culture and history through fresh, engaging exhibits, and exciting programs explore hands-on activities and educational displays for families and children of all ages
300 East Port Marina Drive • (541) 386-6772 www.co.hood-river.or.us/museum OPEN: Monday-Saturday, 11am-4pm
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Lines of Design has women's clothing and custom apparel, as well as a specialty wine shop in the back.
Explore Downtown T H E DA L L E S , OR E G ON
Discover the historic downtown district of the Gorge’s largest city
At Sigman's Flowers & Gifts, you'll find custom floral arrangements and gifts, including Moon Struck Chocolates.
The Whole Ball of Yarn carries everything from yarns and patterns to spinning wheels and knitting accessories. The shop's upstairs is the Artisan Attic, a gift and antique boutique.
9 am: Head to Petite Provence for a French pastry and coffee. 10 am: Go to J.C. Penney for all your department store needs. 11 am: Head to Lines of Designs and check out options for custom apparel.
2 pm: Go antique shopping. Don’t miss Breezeway Antiques and Gifts.
Noon: Have lunch at Montira’s Thai Cuisine.
3 pm: Stop by The Whole Ball of Yarn for all your knitting needs, and check out the gifts and antiques in the Artisan Attic upstairs.
1 pm: Spend some time browsing at Klindt’s Booksellers, the oldest bookstore in Oregon.
4 pm: Head to Sigman’s Flowers & Gifts, where you’ll find custom floral arrangements and other gift items. 5 pm: Stop at Clocktower Ales and choose from more than 30 beers on tap. 6 pm: Go to the Baldwin Saloon for dinner.
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Breezeway Antiques carries a wide variety of unique antiques and gifts.
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m a rket pl ace: hi stori c d owntown the dalles BREEZEWAY ANTIQUES AND GIFTS
SIGMAN’S FLOWERS & GIFTS
Eclectic mix of antiques and gifts in an historic building in downtown. 15 dealers bring a wide variety to the shop. Furniture, jewelry, baskets, clothing, household items and gifts for just about everyone! Fresh… Vintage…Inspired.
We are a full-service flower shop specializing in custom floral arrangements for all occasions. You will find a nice selection of plants, gifts, potpourri, candles, Moonstruck Chocolates, and more! We can wire flowers anywhere in the world or help you create a custom gift basket—a perfect thought for someone special.
(541) 296-5079 • 313 East 2nd Street Find us on Facebook
(541) 296-2171 • 200 East 2nd Street sigmansflorist.com
LINES OF DESIGNS
THE WHOLE BALL OF YARN
Experience a bit of the Gorge and also a step back in time when clothes were made to fit. We are a women’s retail store in the front and specialty wine shop in the back. Find a variety of brands, many made in the USA, as well as custom made and designed apparel under the Lines of Designs label. Our designs are made to flatter and fit. Enjoy wine tastings and a nice selection of locally produced wine sold exclusively at our location.
We are nestled in the historic IOOF building in downtown The Dalles. Discover a treasure trove of yarns, patterns, spinning wheels and fibers, and all the accoutrements necessary for creating a one-of-kind garment, accessory, or bit of home décor. Artisan Attic, our own gift and antique boutique, is located upstairs and offers an assortment of unique gifts. (541) 506-9276 • 421 East 2nd Street thewholeballofyarn.com
110 East 2nd Street • linesofdesigns.com
HIstOrIc HIgHWAy A ride like no Other
PADDLE HERE NOW Outrigger Canoe Club
KLICKITAT RIVER For Love of a Canyon
TROuT LAKE AbbEy Feeding the Soul
MOSIER’S CENTENNIAL Celebrating 100 years
CRAG RATS Real-Time Rescues
WILdCRAfT STudIO Sowing Creativity
WINTER 2014 thegorgemagazine.com
IntO tHe WIld the essence of Art
FALL 2014 thegorgemagazine.com
Art HAppens Here the Open studio tour
SUMMER 2014 thegorgemagazine.com
SPRING 2014 thegorgemagazine.com
A subscription to the area’s premier lifestyle publication SNOWKITING It’s Here, It’s Now
GOOD MEDICINE Tea for Everyone
AVALANCHE DOGS A Photo Essay
summer sipping Wineries, Breweries, Cideries and Distilleries of the Gorge (P. 66)
Subscribe now for only $19.99 (4 issues) or $29.99 (8 issues)…541.399.6333 // thegorgemagazine.com for more information The Gorge Magazine is published quarterly, new subscribers will receive the next available issue. If the post office alerts you that your magazine is undeliverable we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year.
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 51
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Find fresh-baked goods and lunch selections at Pine Street Bakery. Hood River Sewing & Vacuum offers premier brands as well as on-site service and repair.
Welcome to the Heights
Volcanic Bottle Shoppe has more than 200 bottled beers, as well as a dozen rotating beers on tap.
H O OD R I V E R , OR E G ON
11:30 am: Pick up some olive oil and unique deli items at Ovino Market. Noon: Head to Pine Street Bakery for soup and a sandwich on fresh-baked bread. 1:30 pm: Pick up a pound or two of fresh roasted beans at Hood River Coffee Roasters. 2 pm: Head to WAAAM, the renowned Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum.
Get to know this unique part of town by visiting the many local businesses here 9 am: Start your day with breakfast at Good News Gardening.
Rosauers Supermarket offers one-stop shopping with its deli, bakery and meat departments as well as Huckleberry's Natural Foods section.
4 pm: Stop at Rosauers for your supermarket needs, including a large selection of organic items in the Huckleberry’s section. 5 pm: Head to Volcanic Bottle Shoppe and enjoy the selection of more than 200 beers. 6 pm: Have dinner at the Hood River Taqueria or Marley’s Corner Pub.
10 am: Stroll among the retail and service shops on 12th and 13th streets, including Hood River Sewing and Vacuum and Apple Green. 11 am: Grab a hot drink at 10 Speed Coffee.
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At Good News Gardening you'll find winter gardening items, gifts and home decor as well as a cafe serving breakfast and lunch.
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m ark etpl ace : h o od river h eigh ts GOOD NEWS GARDENING
PINE STREET BAKERY
This winter stop in at The Garden Cafe, it,s the perfect place to warm up next to the fireplace. We serve homemade soup, sandwiches, salads, quiche, pot pie, biscuits and cornbread. And for breakfast we offer homemade muffins, oatmeal, French toast, waffles and omelets. Breakfast served daily at 7am, lunch served from 11am-3pm. Open until to 5pm.
Come share a sunny table with friends old and new! You might be sitting next to the local farmer, orchardist, rancher, or gardener who provided the goods that we turn into delicious breads, pastries, sandwiches, soups, and treats. Our menu changes with the seasons, reflecting the availability of local farm fare. Outstanding coffee provided by Nossa Familia. Follow us on Facebook or check our website for seasonal menu updates. We are open daily, 7am to 3pm.
1086 Tucker Road goodnewsgardening.com
ROSAUERS At Rosauers Supermarket you will find: a floral, deli, bakery, and meat department as well as Huckleberry's Natural Foods section. We offer you one-stop shopping for a broad array of natural and organic products that are viable and wonderful alternatives to the conventional supermarket world. We bake everything from scratch using only the finest, fresh ingredients… let us help you create the perfect wedding or special event cake! 1867 12th Street • rosauers.com
1103 12th Street • pinestreetbakery.com
HOOD RIVER SEWING AND VACUUM We proudly carry premium brands such as Miele and Simplicity vacuums and Necchi and Janome sewing machines. We offer on-site service and repair plus we carry a full line of accessories. Shop with confidence...we encourage you to try before you buy. Looking for a great gift? We have gift cards! Visit our web site for a schedule of our sewing classes. 1108 12th Street • hoodriversewandvac.com
A NEW BEAUTIFUL, FULL-SIZE MAGAZINE COMING IN FEBRUARY 2015
AN ULTRA DELUXE WEDDING PUBLICATION We present the area’s premier vendors, venues and resources in a beautiful full-size magazine available in print as well as a complimentary online version. Businesses of all sizes have the opportunity to reach thousands of potential brides and grooms. CONTENT INCLUDES Columbia Gorge Wedding Venues / Real Area Wedding Stories / Fashion Trends Food Styling & Signature Cocktails / Cakes & Gourmet Desserts / Vendor Resource Guide RESERVE AD SPACE NOW Micki Chapman (541) 380-0971 or mchapman@thegorgemagazine.com
#thecolumbiagorgeexperience
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 53
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Twiggs Shop from a wide selection of unique jewelry at Hood River Jewelers, Apland Jewelers (shown here) and Twiggs
Discover Downtown H O OD R I V E R , OR E G ON
10 am: Go jewelry shopping. Check out the variety of unique jewelry retailers, including Hood River Jewelers, Apland Jewelers, Twiggs and Silverado. 11 am: Head to Knot Another Hat to shop for yarn for your winter knitting project. Noon: Choose from a variety of restaurants serving lunch, including Sixth Street Bistro, Full Sail Brew Pub, and The Subterranean. Or grab a sandwich at Boda’s Kitchen.
1 pm: Head to Ground, Doppio or Dog River Coffee for a warm drink. 2 pm: Do some serious shopping at the unique downtown boutiques, including The Ruddy Duck, Plenty, Melika, Tread, 2nd Wind Sports and Doug’s. 4 pm: Don’t forget the little ones—head to Cutie Pie for upscale consignment items for kids up to age 10. 5 pm: Enjoy wine tasting at The Pines, Cascade Cliffs, Springhouse Cellars, Cerulean, Stoltz or Naked Winery. 6 pm: Head to Celilo for dinner. Other good options include Sushi Okalani and Double Mountain Brewery. 8 pm: Find some live music at River City Saloon, or head to Andrew’s Pizza/Skylight Theater for a movie.
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WINTER EVENTS Ring in the season at the Annual Hood River Holidays Kick-off Party on Dec. 5. Streets close for the Holiday Parade at 6 pm, culminating with the tree-lighting celebration at Second and State streets. Shops stay open late. (hoodriver.org)
Spend a day in this beautiful and vibrant hub of the Gorge 9 am: Have breakfast at Bette’s Place, or at Nora’s Table (Friday through Sunday).
Visit Knot Another Hat for all your knitting needs. The shop has a huge selection of quality yarn and knitting supplies, plus comfy seating with a view for hanging out and working on your latest project.
Don't miss the Hood River Holiday Pop-up Shop, open weekends in November and December, and every day from Dec. 12-24. Located at The Gallery at 301 on Oak Street, the shop features work from a collective of local artists. (Find it on Facebook.) The Columbia Center for the Arts hosts a variety of events during winter, including live theater ("It's a Wonderful Life" runs in December and "The Full Monty" in February), the Sense of Place Lecture Series (the first Wednesday of each month through March) and monthly rotating exhibits in the Art Gallery. (columbiaarts.org)
Find upscale items in season for kids age 0-10 at Cutie Pie.
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m a rketpl ace: d owntown ho od ri ver THE RUDDY DUCK
CUTIE PIE
We are a family owned and operated mini department store offering clothing, shoes, accessories and gifts for the whole family. We carry high-quality goods at reasonable prices and our stock is inspired by the Hood River lifestyle. A lifestyle rooted in a “work hard, play harder and look fabulous while doing both” philosophy. In addition to wonderful products our staff provides exceptional customer service.
Let us help you ease childhood transitions and make active parenting fun! We are an upscale consignment store with items for new moms and children (0-10): cloth diapers, nursing supplies, natural body products, toys, books, high-end gear, clothing and shoes. And we rent infant and toddler beds, backpack carriers, strollers, safety gates, high chairs, etc. for families visiting the Hood River area.
504 Oak Street • (541) 386-5050 ruddyduckstore.com • Find us on Facebook
212 4th Street • (541) 436-2777 Find us on Facebook
KNOT ANOTHER HAT
APLAND JEWELERS
Our mission at Knot Another Hat is to provide yarn lovers with quality products and services that will result in beautiful finished projects. We have everything you need to get started - from high quality yarns (including local hand-dyers) to patterns, needles, notions, gifts, and more. Come on upstairs in the Yasui Building, where we are waiting to help you discover (or enable) your inner fiber artist!
Craftsman jewelers and designers, we sell and repair in our state of the art shop. A second generation jeweler, Ken Apland brings 32 years of experience. Our other goldsmiths and designers bring an additional 30 years of combined experience. We have an intimate understanding of what an item might need, from rebuilding an heirloom to creating your own unique design from scratch.
(541) 308-0002 • 16 Oak Street, #202 knotanotherhat.com
216 Oak Street • (541) 386-3977 info@aplandjewelers.com
HOOD RIVER JEWELERS
TWIGGS
We are artists and professional jewelers. If you are looking for something special, we can custom design it. We work with silver, gold, platinum and more. We can use your stone or work with you to find the perfect stone for your needs. Hood River Jewelers also carries beautiful timepieces, diamond jewelry and designer collections.
You will find a great combination of home decor items plus unique artisan jewelry. Twiggs has beautiful glassware, ceramics, candles, wall decor, and more. This is the perfect place to find gifts for brides and bridesmaids.
(541) 386-6440 • 415 Oak Street hoodriverjewelers.com
305 Oak Street • (541) 386-6188 Find us on Facebook
sales@columbiagorgepress.com
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541.386.1234
Commercial printing at an affordable price. THETHE GORGE GORGE MAGAZINE MAGAZINE // WINTER // FALL 2015 2014 55 47
Mt. Hood Meadows
The Mt. Hood Meadows Professional Ski Patrol employs an avalanche dog program that is designed to provide certified Avalanche Search K-9’s to the response plan at the resort, specifically for incidents involving people caught in avalanches and buried under the snow. Hood River-based photographer Trent Hightower, also a professional patroller at Mt. Hood Meadows, has spent countless hours with the dogs and their owner/handlers over the past couple of years. He’s photographed them on various kinds of training exercises all over the mountain, as well as just being dogs.: Dave Baker hikes with Barrett
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Dave Baker and Stella on rappel during high-angle training
Jena Christiansen gives Barrett a break
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Dave Baker and Stella in formation
Penny waits patiently for her turn at burial training
Jena Christiansen and Dave Baker with Stella and Barrett
Penny is rewarded for digging Dave Baker out on a training burial
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Dave Baker and Barrett start a hike on the upper mountain
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Jena Christiansen with Barrett and Dave Baker with Stella
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HealtH care so close and personal, it’s like you haven’t left Home.
S K Y L INE HOSPI TAL Inpatient Care • Swing Bed Care Surgical Services • Digital Radiology Physical Therapy • Full-Service Laboratory 24/7 Emergency Services
S PECIALT Y CLI NI CS General Surgery • Orthopedics Cardiology • Neurology • Podiatry Pain Management • Travel Immunization w h i t e s a l m o n , wa s h. Serving the entire Columbia Gorge area
treat yourself for the holidays
(509) 493-1101 • skylinehospital.com
Come see our new location at: 810 13th Street Hood River
available at SUPPORTING HEALTHY, ACTIVE KIDS: Pre-Birth through 21 years
181 WEST JEWETT WHITE SALMON, WA
509.493.1470 W HITE S ALM ON F AM ILY P R ACTICE. CO M
541.386.2300 • nwpediatrics.com URGENT CARE ON CALL 7 DAYS A WEEK UNTIL 10PM Dr. Hankins • Dr. Beaman • Dr. Martin
810 13th St (across from the hospital) • Hood River
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 61
OUTSIDE
Here are a few suggestions. Remember, the window for these conditions is usually short. Ice takes a few days to build up and can be gone in a day or two once warmer, wetter weather from the west moves back in. Pay attention to the forecast and time your trip accordingly. And as always, use caution and common sense when embarking on outdoor adventures in the Gorge.
Get Your Ice On
Adventure can be found in winter’s frozen beauty STORY AND PHOTOS BY ADAM LAPIERRE
Although fingertips, toes and noses might protest, the frozen depth of winter is an opportune time for unforgettable adventure in the heart of the Gorge. Extraordinary scenes await when wind and weather conditions align and turn anything liquid—which we have a lot of in these parts—into a solid state of frozen wonder. Several times each winter, strong low-pressure systems get trapped over the region. This generally results in sunny skies and plunging temperatures in the Gorge. It also means extremely strong east winds, which funnel frigid, lip-chappingly dry desert air from east of the Cascades through the high walls of the Gorge, where they build from breezy in Hood River to umbrella-annihilating strength by Rooster Rock and Crown Point. These weather patterns tend to last several days at a time—sometimes even a week or two. With their accompanying wind chill factor verging on that of a Siberian ski slope, it doesn’t take long for the many creeks, waterfalls, lakes and inlets in the Gorge to be transformed into frosted scenes from a Christmas
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snow globe, complete with ice-skaters spinning pirouettes on frozen ponds and dramatic black cliffs ornamented by bright white skyscraper-sized icicles. For some, these conditions mean a rare opportunity to dust off crampons, ice screws, ropes and axes and spend a day scouting and scaling hundreds of feet of frosted rock. For others, it’s a chance to break out the old ice skates and take a nostalgic cruise, or find some friends for a pick-up game of ice hockey. It’s also a great chance for a hike to a familiar waterfall transformed into something new, or simply a drive along the Historic Columbia River Highway to enjoy the sights from the comfort of a heated car.
MULTNOMAH FALLS When this two-tier, 611-foot waterfall gets lathered in a layer of gingerbread frosting and vanilla ice cream, it is truly a sight to behold. After gazing from the lower viewpoint, the short hike up to the first bridge is highly recommended if the trail is open. WATERFALL HIKES Entire guide books have been dedicated to the many waterfalls gushing over the walls of the Gorge on both sides of the river, and when frozen, each one is transformed differently based on geographic factors such as height, steepness, stream flow and wind exposure. Access and distance from the trailhead will be the determining factor in winter, so it’s best to choose your own adventure based on conditions, weather forecasts and the capabilities of your party. ICE CLIMBING If you’re an ice climber, you’ll know where to look. If you’re not an ice climber, odds are you won’t be pickaxing your way up a route any time soon, but you can
still watch in relative warmth and wonder why on earth anyone would want to do such a thing. Once ice has had several days to build, the best locations for watching these crazies are on lower-flow waterfalls that freeze over completely creating thicker, sturdier ice. A go-to spot for many climbers is called the Crown Jewel, which is a small unnamed waterfall near Crown Point. Spectators can watch from the small park at the Rooster Rock State Park exit, on the south side of I-84. CROWN POINT It’s not fun for very long, but a visit to Crown Point at the peak of a wintertime easterly is quite a phenomenon. Sustained winds can easily reach 60 miles-an-hour, with gusts at the scenic Vista House often clocking more than a hundred. Imagine testing hearing aids and roller skates behind a jet engine. If you’re lucky, you’ll time a visit with a live broadcast of the evening news, when an unlucky reporter in high heels wearing ski goggles screams into a microphone while trying not to get blown over like a Christmas tree in a tornado. ICE-SKATING If the weather has been cold enough for long enough, many small inlets, sloughs, ponds and puddles in the Gorge become perfectly skateable. Finding the right spot might take a little local knowledge or exploration, but there are plenty out there. High wind can ripple ice and make it too rough for skates, so try to find sheltered areas. From Hood River, a worthwhile trip is up to Laurance Lake, just south of Parkdale. The lake regularly freezes over, the road is plowed and it’s common to see games of ice hockey being played in front of the dramatic forested backdrop of this mountain lake. You’ll see two lakes along Laurance Lake Road. The first, a settling pond for the local irrigation district, is shallower and generally freez-
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es over first. Laurance Lake is a couple miles farther up. Bring a broom for this trip, as you may need to brush snow off the ice. TAMANAWAS FALLS This gorgeous waterfall, located along Highway 35 between Parkdale and Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort, is best known as a summer destination, where hikers can refresh in the mist of the 100foot falls after a 1.8-mile hike from the trailhead. Cold Springs Creek pours over a basalt cliff that is undercut enough for a small trail leading behind the falls. In a winter freeze, after ice has had time to build, massive tree-sized icicles span the entire height of the falls, turning the trail behind it into a bright blue illuminated room of rock and ice. For those capable of making the hike in winter conditions—which often requires snowshoes—this is a worthy adventure.
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THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 63
ARTS+CULTURE
Art to Thrive On
Troutdale’s Infusion Gallery offers artists much more than just a place to display their work BY DON CAMPBELL • PHOTOS BY EMMA BROWNE
Ask for a definition of art and you’ll get more answers than there are bristles in a paintbrush. Ask the Soaring Hearts artists at downtown Troutdale’s Infusion Gallery, and you’ll get one: Art is life. Infusion Gallery has become a soulful and creative part of Adult Learning Systems of Oregon (ALSO), Inc., a not-for-profit organization that provides invaluable supported living, residential and vocational services to developmentally challenged adults in the greater Portland area. The organization, which sup-
64 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
ports some 150 people, operates 21 group homes, 13 supported-living locations, and two vocational-training centers with a focus on employment for the individuals who attend. In that mix for the past two years is the Infusion Gallery, under the artistic and passionate eye of one Parris Foley. The professionally run space displays works by some 30 Northwest artists in a variety of mediums, but also includes creative and display space for the Soaring Hearts artists, all of whom are developmentally challenged and who both study art and work at the gallery. Foley, a self-described part-time artist, got caught in the economic crunch of 2008-09. “I needed something to feed my soul,” she says. She began volunteering with ALSO on the vocational side, offering art instruction. She immediately recognized the intrinsic power that art held. Non-responsive residents were coming alive, and those with latent or undiscovered abilities were taking to brush and paint and other mediums like fish take to water.
In a brainstorming session with her supervisor, Foley hit on a fertile idea that quickly took root. She had a vision of a gallery space that could show her charges’ artwork as well as provide workshop space to create. ALSO CEO Brett Turner and other board members saw the value and moved the idea forward. Though in the grand scheme of ALSO, says Turner, “this might seem like a miniscule piece of it, I started understanding the bigger scope of services that could be provided to people with disabilities.” Foley happened to have a friend, Donna Erwin, who owned a gallery and frame shop on Troutdale’s main drag. A deal was struck, minor remodeling took place, and Infusion was born. Suddenly, Foley says, “Everything was falling into place.” Transforming the physical space, though important, pales next to the transformational impact Infusion has had on the budding Soaring Hearts artists. What Foley has done, and is continually doing, is teach them to see. She puts the tools in their hands and gives them the chance to try. She guides them, encourages them, pushes them to create what they envision in their mind’s eye. She gives them technique, discipline, method. They find their way out of introversion and darkness and they give back art. “I look at each person’s challenge and work with them,” Foley says. “They sample different mediums, and find ones they like. Oh, how they blossom.” Jack (we’ve left last names out to respect privacy) had a substance abuse problem. In his 40s, he was reclusive and withdrawn. He found his way to
the gallery and put his hands to paper. His initial efforts—as one would expect—were trepidatious and clumsy. The turnaround over time has been remarkable. He now produces astounding works of detail and insight. “He told me,” says Foley, “that because of art, his life has new meaning. He’s a changed person. His parents attribute it to the gallery. His whole life now is art.” Mike is severely disabled, bound to a wheelchair by a body that betrayed him. But he, too, found a spark at Infusion and now enjoys a boundless passion for creating art. He says he works at the gallery “because it has allowed me to expand my artistic horizons and learn lots of new techniques and how to use those techniques in my stuff that I do outside of the gallery.” It has also allowed him to meet, work and become friends with a new group of people. “Without them and this gallery,” he says, “I would be totally and utterly lost.” Tina, a deaf 24-year-old who is teaching Parris Foley sign language, has bloomed into an accomplished artist. Her work, like most of the Soaring Hearts, hangs for sale on the walls at Infusion. One of her pieces went home under my arm. Each of these artists has clawed through their disability to find this new world. When their works sell, they make money, and like any gallery, a small commission goes back, in this case, to Infusion. With their art, they help sustain their training and sense of place. Art, in its truest sense, is meant to twang heart-
strings, to make you feel something achingly human, to force you to see beauty in wholly new and unexpected ways. In a way unfettered by filter or prejudice, these aspiring artists not only know now in their heart of hearts what art feels like, they can create it so you can feel it too. Infusion Gallery is located at 305 E. Columbia River Highway in Troutdale. For more information, go to alsoweb.org.
Don Campbell is a freelance writer who lives in Portland and Mosier. He's a frequent contributor to The Gorge Magazine.
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 65
WELLNESS
Banishing the Ego At First Light Academy, the martial arts are as much about mindset as they are about moves BY BEN MITCHELL • PHOTOS BY ADAM LAPIERRE
It’s after business hours on a Monday night in downtown Hood River, and as storefronts go dark, people gather in a brightly lit studio on Second Street. They don robes, break off into groups of two, and get ready to grapple. No, this isn’t a fight club, at least not in the Chuck Palahniuk sense of the word. The dojo is First Light Academy: a new martial arts gym offering instruction in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), kickboxing, and other martial arts. At the moment, there’s not much fighting going on, as First Light founder Alex Evans instructs the five men and one woman in his adult advanced BJJ class to engage in “Flow Rolling”—an exercise where training partners experiment with new moves at half speed. Partners take to the mats and roll around practicing grips, but Evans seems to sense his students may be getting antsy. “It’s frustrating at first, so be cool. Have a smile on your face if you can,” he tells them, walking from group to group in a black gi, or robe. “There’s no ego, there’s no competition—you’re like two acrobats trying to put on a good show.” There’s no room for ego in Evans’ dojo, where
66 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
the 26-year-old instructor teaches a brand of martial arts that regards inclusiveness, open-mindedness, humility, and respect as highly as it does mastering the chokeholds, grips, and submission moves that are the hallmarks of the wrestling-centric BJJ martial art, which is the academy’s focus. “Since it is a martial art or combat sport, it’s important that we set our ego aside and be more emotionally in-tune individuals,” he explains. “You want to make sure that you’re taking care of your training partner, that you both understand what your goals are for the session, and that you both walk away feeling that you helped one another.”
The academy is only a year old, but Evans is hardly a neophyte when it comes to martial arts. He moved with his family from Denver to Hood River when he was 4 years old, and became interested in martial arts after watching a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie at age 5. “I wanted to be Donatello—he’s the intelligent one, so I liked that about him,” Evans recalls. From there, Evans began taking taekwondo classes three days a week under the tutelage of Gary Muma, a longtime local instructor in Hood River. He earned his junior black belt in taekwondo by age 8 and his adult black belt by age 17—all while playing organized school sports like lacrosse and soccer. After graduating from Hood River Valley High School in 2006, Evans attended college at Portland State University and University of Oregon where he branched out into kickboxing and BJJ. Since then, Evans’ training regimen has increased to seven days a week. He calls martial arts “the bedrock of my daily routine.” He also travels to Portland to train and learn new techniques in BJJ, which he brings back to employ in his classes. Evans was an instructor at several academies around the Northwest before launching First Light in 2013, when classes were held at the Power Station gym on Cascade Avenue. Last March, Evans opened his studio downtown. Despite his years of experience, Evans notes that as a blue belt in BJJ, he still has plenty to learn—and that humility serves far better than hubris. “When you train jiu-jitsu there is no way to avoid losing face, because there is always going to be someone better than you,” he explains. “So you basically become comfortable with the idea that you’re not a tough guy, you’re not the world champion, there’s always someone that’s going to come into the room and be able to kick your butt.” Evans illustrates the point during a weeknight session of his BJJ “Firecrackers” group for kids ages 8-13, recounting a time in college when overconfidence during a match resulted in his own butt-kicking. His young students kneel in their gis and listen, while on
SPECIALIZING IN PERSONALIZED EYE EXAMS FOR ADULTS & PEDIATRICS
the other side of the room, parents sit quietly in folding chairs and watch, their shoes obediently removed. Evans thus doesn’t want his students to think they’re ready when they’re not. He informs several that their “Lion-Killer” chokeholds aren’t up to snuff yet, but to not worry. “It doesn’t make you a bad person, it makes you an awesome person,” he reassures. “Because it means you’re going to go home, work on it, and come back here and get it, even though you experienced a hardship.” The Firecrackers are one of two youth levels of instruction currently offered at First Light, the other being the “Sparklers,” ages 4-7. The academy also offers BJJ 1 and BJJ 2 instruction and classes in mixed martial arts (MMA) and striking. Evans welcomes martial arts newbies, so long as they are age 4 or older, and notes he has trained with people who are in their 70s. The beauty of BJJ, he says, is it is a “very accessible sport” and you can “make it what you want it to be.” Evans’ goal for anyone who attends First Light Academy is that they have fun, improve their martial arts techniques, and maybe even make a friend or two. “There aren’t a lot of situations in life where you really interact with people that are new to you in a meaningful way,” he says. “A lot of it is social networking, or mingling at a social place, like a bar. But here, you come in and sweat on each other and grind your elbows into each other’s faces, and if you can do that safely and walk away feeling good about it… that’s a good recipe for becoming really good friends with people.”
Proud participants in both InfantSEE and VisionUSA public health programs.
First Light Academy is located at 111 Second Street in Hood River. For more information, go to firstlighthoodriver.com.
in Downtown
Ben Mitchell is a writer who lives in Hood River.
photo by Sylvia Flores
At Indian Creek Family Eye Care, Dr. Chown is focused on delivering exceptional care tailored to each patient’s individual needs. Our staff is professional, courteous and efficient.
Rebecca Chown, OD, FAAO 541-386-1700 // www.icfec.com // find us on Facebook 1700 12th Street, Suite A // Hood River, Oregon
Flourish Natural Medicine www.FlourishNM.com www.GorgeNaturalMedicine.com
VISIT THe NeW
Wellness Center Hood River
We accept most major health insurance carriers
» Hood RIVeR
(541) 399-6644 116 Third St, Suite 215
» PoRTlaNd
(503) 477-7915 5440 SW Westgate Dr, Suite 245
info@flourishnm.com
Healthcare Services • Naturopathic Primary Care • Chiropractic Care • Massage Therapy • Acupuncture Treatments • Chinese Medicine • Food Intolerance Testing • Bio-Identical Hormone Therapies (BHRT) • Midwifery and Pediatrics • IV Nutrient Therapies • Autoimmune Disease Management • Men's Health and Andropause • Women's Health and Menopause • Sports Medicine
dr. Samantha Mathers founder and owner
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 67
OUR GORGE
Ingredients
partake
Sofrito Braised Chicken • 4 Bone-in, skin on chicken breasts • Goya Adobo All Purpose Seasoning with Cumin* • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil • ½ Cup white wine • ½ Cup sofrito* • 1 ½ 14.5 Oz cans tomato sauce • 3 ½ Cups water • 2 Cups low sodium chicken broth • 12 Pitted green olives, sliced • 6 Cloves garlic, peeled and very thinly sliced • 1 Bay leaf • Cilantro and sour cream for serving Sofrito • 5 Garlic cloves, peeled • ¼ Large yellow onion, peeled • 1 Packed cup cilantro, stems trimmed • ½ Red bell pepper, cored • ½ Cup extra virgin olive oil
Sofrito Braised Chicken RECIPE AND PHOTOS BY KACIE McMACKIN
M
y best friend and her husband own two amazing Puerto Rican restaurants, called La Isla, in Seattle and Redmond, WA. They make wonderful Rice and Beans, Pastelon, and plantains… did I mention their mojitos? Since we can’t get to their restaurants as often as we’d like, I begged them for their Arroz con Habichuela (Rice and Bean) recipe which starts with a flavorful Sofrito. My recipes are very slightly adapted from theirs, and I created the Sofrito Braised Chicken recipe to be served alongside. These dishes are perfect for a holiday party! Sofrito Braised Chicken Season the chicken with Adobo. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven, brown chicken on both sides, transfer to a plate. Add white wine to the pot, cook it down. Add sofrito, cook for five minutes, stirring regularly. Add tomato sauce, water and broth. Return the chicken to the pot, scatter with olives, bay leaf and garlic. Partially cover and
simmer on low for 1 1/2 hours. Remove the chicken, allow to cool, discard the skin and bones, shred the meat and return it to the pot. Simmer, uncovered for 1/2 hour. Discard the bay leaf. Season to taste with Adobo. Sofrito Mince the garlic, onion, cilantro and bell pepper in a food processor. Run the processor and slowly pour in the olive oil. Rice and Beans Heat a pot over medium heat. Add sofrito, cook for five minutes, stirring regularly. Add squash, potatoes, tomato sauce, water, beans, and olives. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until the potato and squash are tender. Season to taste with Adobo. Meanwhile, cook the rice according to the directions on the package.
Kacie McMackin is a food blogger, writer and photographer for gorgeinthegorge.com. She lives in Hood River and is a frequent contributor to The Gorge Magazine.
68 THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015
Rice and Beans • 1 Cup sofrito • 1 Medium acorn squash, peeled, seeded and cubed • 2 Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed • 2 Cans Goya Habichuelas Rosadas/ Pink Beans, drained and rinsed* • 1 ½ Cans tomato sauce • 5 ½ Cups water • 16 Pitted green olives, sliced • Goya Adobo All Purpose Seasoning with Cumin* • Niko Niko Calrose rice • Cilantro and sour cream for serving *Available at Rosauers and Safeway
Beverage Pairings Try pairing Sofrito Braised Chicken with these local wine selections • Syncline Grenache Carignan 2012, Lyle • Viento Savvy 2012, Hood River • AniChe Cellars 7 Gables 2011, Underwood
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 69
APPLE VALLEY BBQ
BACKWOODS BREWING COMPANY
Since 1991 Andrew's Pizza has been serving New York-style, hand-tossed pizza. Topping selections from basic to gourmet. Feel like a movie? Step through the Hood River restaurant and enter the Skylight Theatre…sit back and enjoy a firstrun movie while sipping on a pint of beer or a glass of wine. dine-in, take-out or delivery.
• Our meats are smoked using local cherry wood • Dry rub and BBQ sauces are all made in-house • Pulled pork, chicken, ribs, burgers, salads, vegetarian items • Nightly dinner specials • Local draft beer, wine, hard cider • All desserts fresh-made by Apple Valley Country Store • Outdoor seating available • Ask about catering Open: Wed-Sun at 11am to 8pm. Closed: Mon & Tues.
We, the Waters family, decided to open a new brewery in Carson, Washington. Our brewery is inspired by the finest craft breweries of the Columbia River Gorge and all around the Pacific Northwest. We are locally owned and our beer is locally brewed in the “Backwoods”. Enjoy delicious pizza, fresh salads and tasty appetizers in our family-friendly pub. Winter Hours: Thursday-Monday, 3pm-9pm
brian’s pourhouse
CAMP 1805 DISTILLERY and BAR (541) 386-1805 • CAMP1805.com 501 Portway Avenue • Hood River Waterfront
(541) 298-7388 • casaelmirador.com 1424 West 2nd Street • The Dalles
We are located in a charming historic house in the heart of downtown Hood River. Our guest dining experience is optimized by tastefully and passionately blending nature’s finest ingredients with impeccably friendly service, our mission since 1998. Outdoor patio for private parties, groups, and rehearsal dinners. Dinner served daily, 5pm to 10pm.
• Award winning spirits distilled on-site • Warm and inviting tasting room at the waterfront • Full bar serving craft cocktails • Local wines and beers • Menu comprised of fresh, locally sourced food • Bottles sold on site to take home Wed & Thur 3-8pm, Fri & Sat 1-10pm, Sun 1-8pm
Quality Mexican food prepared with the freshest and finest ingredients. Warm, friendly service and a lively atmosphere. Indulge in generous portions of flavorful sizzling fajitas,fish tacos, savory enchilada dishes and daily specials. Happy Hour margaritas, drink specials and 1/2 off appetizers from 4-7pm, Mon-Fri. Full service bar, take-out menu, gift certificates and catering services. Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.
celilo restaurant & bar
CROOKED TREE TAVERN & GRILL
DIVOTS clubhOuSe ReSTAuRANT
Celilo began with a desire to honor the bounty of this region and a commitment to a healthy and sustainable future. Our ever-changing menu reflects the seasonal highlights of the region’s growers and foragers. We offer the most innovative in fresh, local cuisine as well as an award-winning wine list, full bar, small plate menu, and happy hour daily from 5-6pm. experience the freshest foods here, today!
Our rustic mountain restaurant offers fresh creative food, a seasonally changing menu, local beers and wines, and well-crafted drinks. A perfect place to dine after a day of exploring the Mt. Hood National Forest. On Fridays we serve lunch and dinner. On Saturdays and Sundays we serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. View our menus online. Celebrate with a FREE entrée on your birthday!
A scenic choice with excellent food and personal service located in the heart of the Hood River Valley just minutes from downtown. Unwind with breathtaking views of Mt Hood and Mt Adams from our covered, wind protected patio. Relax with a beverage from our full service bar or enjoy some fabulous northwest cuisine at a reasonable price. Open Daily for lunch & Dinner. happy hour 3-6pm.
andrew's pizza & bakery
(541) 386-1448 • andrewspizza.com 107 Oak Street • Downtown Hood River 310 SW 2nd Street • Downtown Stevenson
(541) 387-4344 • brianspourhouse.com 606 Oak Street • Downtown Hood River
(541) 386-5710 • celilorestaurant.com 16 Oak Street • Downtown Hood River
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(541) 352-3554 • applevalleybbq.com 4956 Baseline Drive • Downtown Parkdale
(541) 352-6692 • cooperspur.com 10755 Coopur Spur Road • Mt. Hood/Parkdale
(509) 427-3412 • backwoodsbrewingcompany.com 1162B Wind River Road • Carson
casa el mirador
(541) 308-0304 • indiancreekgolf.com 3605 Brookside Drive • Hood River
(541) 386-4502 • dogrivercoffee.net 411 Oak Street • Downtown Hood River
(541) 386-3000 • doppiohoodriver.com 310 Oak Street • Downtown Hood River
doppio CoFFEE
double mountain brewery & taproom
Named one of 'America's top 10 coffeehouses' by USA Today
Relax on our patio, right in the heart of downtown…enjoy a hand-crafted espresso drink made with locally roasted, fair trade and organic coffee. Serving breakfast and lunch all day: panini, salads, smoothies, and fresh baked goods (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free options). Local beers on tap, and local wines by the glass or bottle. Free Wi-fi and our patio is dogfriendly. Open daily at 7 a.m.
A local favorite, serving up an ever-changing variety of ales and lagers that are brewed onsite. The highly-regarded brews are complemented by a menu of sandwiches, salads and delicious thin-crust New York-style pizza that has earned rave reviews. Outdoor seating available.
dog river coffee
Full service espresso bar featuring Stumptown coffee Breakfast burritos, pastries and more caffeinating your adventures since 2004 open: Mon-fri, 6am-6pm & Sat-Sun, 7am-6pm
(541) 387-0042 • doublemountainbrewery.com 8 Fourth Street • Downtown Hood River
open 7 days a week at 11:30am
everybodysbrewing.com White Salmon, WA
EVERYBODY’S BREWING
FARM STAND
FULL SAIL brew pUb
(509) 637-2774 • everybodysbrewing.com 151 Jewett Boulevard • Downtown White Salmon
(541) 386-4203 • farmstandgorge.com 1009 12th Street • Hood River Heights
(541) 386-2247 • fullsailbrewing.com 506 Columbia Street • Downtown Hood River
See for yourself why Everybody’s Brewing is a local favorite! We brew 12 different styles of beer plus seasonal selections onsite. The menu is filled with affordable food choices made with high-quality local ingredients. The atmosphere is warm and family-friendly. Enjoy the stunning Mt. Hood view from the outdoor deck, listen to free live music on Friday nights. Open Tues-Sun: 11:30am to closing
Hood River’s Natural, Organic and Specialty Food Market and Deli. We have a large selection of gluten-free, local, organic and specialty items; fresh fish, organic produce, natural meats, exotic sausages, local and European cheeses and wines. Our deli serves organic soups, salads, smoothies, and delicious, deli-style and vegetarian sandwiches and wraps.
If there is one thing a brewer loves more than great beer– it’s great food and great beer! Our northwest-inspired menu complements our award-winning brews and features seasonal, local ingredients. Swing by for a pint, grab a bite, tour the brewery or just soak up the view. Open daily at 11am serving lunch and dinner. Guided brewery tours are offered daily at 1, 2, 3 and 4pm and are free of charge.
grace su’s china gorge
(541) 386-5331 • chinagorge.com 2680 Old Columbia River Drive • Hood River (Located off I-84 and the base of Hwy 35) While visiting the Gorge…take a trip to China. Great Szechuan-Hunan taste. No airfare. Free Parking. Very happy family. great plates for more than 30 years.
GROUND Espresso Bar & Cafe
LOS REYES
(541) 386-4442 • groundhoodriver.com 12 Oak Street • Downtown Hood River
(509) 493-1017 • losreyesbingen.com 120 East Steuben Street • Downtown Bingen
Get your daily fuel for your Gorge sports and activities here! A long time locals favorite coffee house and eatery, Ground features fresh in-house roasted coffee, house made pastries and cookies with lots of gluten free options. We make our soups from scratch every day and source mostly local and organic ingredients. Feel like a having a brewski? Local beer and cider on tap.
Best Mexican food in the Gorge prepared with the freshest ingredients. Warm, friendly service and lively atmosphere. Indulge in generous portions of flavorful dishes like carnitas, pollo a la cream, chiles rellenos and more. Happy Hour drink specials and half-off appetizers from 4pm-6pm, Tues-Fri. Full-service bar, take-out and gift certificates available. Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday-Sunday
THE GORGE MAGAZINE // WINTER 2015 71
McMENAMINS EDGEFIELD
MOTHERS MARKETPLACE
ovino market & delicatessen and gorge cyder house
(503) 669-8610 • mcmenamins.com 2126 SW Halsey Street • Troutdale (off Exit 16)
(541) 387-2202 • mothersmarketplace.net 106 Highway 35 • Hood River
As the weather cools and winter takes hold, you may find yourself in need of a crackling fire or warm cocktail to battle the elements. With a house-made Hot Buttered Rum or a Fremont Furnace to sip on, roaring fire pits and nightly live music, we’ve got you covered during this stormy season. Ales, wines, and spirits are handcrafted onsite.
We are a locally-owned vegetarian health food market that emphasizes organic foods. Our deli features pizza by the slice, a juice bar, fresh soups, and smoothies. We have an organic produce section, over 100 bulk bins of “real food”, grocery items ranging from boxed and frozen foods to natural beauty care products, plus bulk herbs and supplements. Follow us on Facebook
PFRIEM FAMILY BREWERS
pietro’s pizza & Gallery of Games (541) 386-1606 • pietrospizza.com 107 2nd Street • Downtown Hood River
(541) 436-0600 • pitapitusa.com 1769 12th Street • Hood River Heights
Pfriem artisanal beers are symphonies of flavor and balance, influenced by the great brewers of Belgium, but unmistakably true to our homegrown roots in the Pacific Northwest. Although they are served humbly, each glass is overflowing with pride and a relentless aspiration to brew the best beer in the world. We’ll let you decide. Open 11:30am to 9pm daily
We offer fun games for all ages and three TVs so Mom and Dad can catch the game. Our extensive menu consists of a variety of pizzas, sandwiches, pasta, and a 24 item salad bar. It also includes broasted chicken, chicken wings, and seasoned fries. Place your to go orders at pietrospizza.com. Delivery available in Hood River and White Salmon. Free delivery to local hotels.
We believe you don’t need to sacrifice your health to get a quick, tasty meal. That’s why we start with our unique soft and roll-able pita bread, then fill it with your choice of lean, grilled meats, fresh vegetables, flavorful cheeses, and savory sauces. Conveniently located in the Rosauer’s shopping center next to Cherries Frozen Yogurt. Plenty of free parking! Fresh thinking…Healthy Eating
RIVER CITY SALOON
riverside & cebu lounge
SOLSTICE WOOD FIRE CAFÉ, BAR & CATERING
River City Saloon, an iconic Hood River fixture, is back under new ownership. Join us for brunch while you watch your favorite team on one of our seven big-screen TVs. Enjoy great food, 16 taps, a full bar, live music most nights, and a comfortable atmosphere (darts, pool, ping pong, pin ball). Open: Mon-Thur 4pm-2:30am; Fri 12pm-2:30am; Sat and Sun 9am-2:30am. Family friendly every night until 9pm.
Diners seek out Riverside for some of the best food in the Gorge—and Cebu for great bar food, drinks and live entertainment. With amazing panoramic river views, Riverside offers fresh menu choices that change seasonally for breakfast, lunch & dinner—plus an award-winning wine list. Check our website for current menus and our Chef’s Blog. cebu lounge: happiest hours in town, Mon-Fri 4-6 pm
(541) 321-0490 • pfriembeer.com 707 Portway Avenue, Suite 101 • Hood River Waterfront
(541) 387-2583 • Find us on Facebook 207 Cascade Avenue • Downtown Hood River
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(541) 386-4410 • riversidehoodriver.com Exit 64 off I-84 • Waterfront Hood River
(541) 436-0505 • ovinomarket.com 1209 13th Street • Hood River Heights
We carry a variety of cheeses and charcutery, local bread, antipasti, chocolate, olive oil, vinegar, and other gourmet items to create the perfect picnic. Try one of our Europeanstyle sandwiches for lunch and enjoy it in our Beer & Cider Garden with a glass of Gorge Cyder House “old world style” hard apple cider crafted right here at our location.
pita pit
(541) 436-0800 • solsticewoodfirecafe.com 501 Portway Avenue • Hood River, OR Enjoy views at the waterfront and our cozy wood fire warmth! Serving inventive pizzas with perfectly blistered crusts, wood-fired veggies, salmon, and s’mores. Creative cocktails, 11 local craft beers, wines and ciders on tap. Large heated patio and kids play area. Vegan & gluten-free options. Creative Catering and Community Events too!
(541) 386-3940 • stonehedgeweddings.com 3405 West Cascade Avenue • Hood River
stonehedge gardens
(541) 386-7423 • sushiokalani@gorge.net 109 First Street • Downtown Hood River
SUSHI OKALANI
THE GLASS ONION RESTAURANT
“The best outdoor dining in the Gorge.” –NW Best Places We are a favorite among locals and visitors. Our cuisine is a classic, European blend that utilizes fresh, local ingredients and pairs well with our select wines. Our gardens are the perfect setting for weddings. Full-service catering available. “Romantic setting and the best meal I had in town.” –The Los Angeles Times
Come find us in the basement of the Yasui Building, the local’s favorite spot for fresh fish, Pan-Asian Cuisine, and a rockin’ atmosphere! Lots of rotating specials, creative rolls, and a large sake selection means you’re always trying something new! Private rooms are available for groups up to 20 people. Take-out menu available online. Open for dinner nightly at 5:00, closing hours change seasonally.
Join us in our cozy dining room for delicious local food made entirely from scratch by Chef, Matt McGowan. His philosophy: use fresh, quality ingredients and let the dish speak for itself, keep it simple and clean. Enjoy local wines and craft beer on tap, free WiFi, featured artist every month, special events and wine dinners. Ask about catering and private parties. Winter Hours: Wednesday-Saturday 11:30am to 8pm
the gorge white house
THE RESTAURANTS AT SKAMANIA LODGE (509) 427-7700 • skamania.com 1131 SW Skamania Lodge Way • Stevenson
(541) 436-4600 • Find us on Facebook 113 3rd Street • Downtown Hood River
Featuring our own wines and hard ciders, regional wines and craft beers, farm fresh cuisine, local and u-pick fruit, cut flower fields, art, and more! Taste wine in our historic home and enjoy spectacular double mountain views. Nestled in the lower Hood River Valley just 4 miles south of town. Open: 10am-7pm, April through October. Days vary, check our website for details and off season hours.
The dining experience at Skamania Lodge is whatever you want it to be. From romantic dinners for two in the Cascade Dining Room to casual fare and jovial merriment with friends in the River Rock lounge, it’s the perfect season to enjoy the most delicious culinary delights and magnificent views offered in the Columbia River Gorge.
The “Gem” below the jewelry store, has quickly become a favorite of both locals and visitors alike. Striving for the highest in quality and consistency, our goal is to make your dining experience the best it can be. Serving the best steaks in town as well as gourmet italian and seafood. Martinis, cocktails, beer and wine. Open for dinner seven nights a week and happy hour daily from 4:30-6pm.
(541) 386-2828 • thegorgewhitehouse.com 2265 Highway 35 • Hood River
(509) 773-4928 • theglassonionrestaurant.com 604 South Columbus Avenue • Goldendale
the subterranean
(971) 231-4599 • thunderislandbrewing.com 515 NW Portage Road • Cascade Locks
(541) 436-1226 • volcanicbottleshoppe.com 1410 12th Street • Hood River Heights
VOLCANIC BOTTLE SHOPPE
whistle stop espresso & deli
An adventure-based brewery that is handcrafting creative and innovative beers in the Pacific Northwest. Thunder Island Brewing makes original beers inspired by a love for outdoor adventures, with a nod to local history and with a respect for all that the scenic Columbia River Gorge has to offer. Check our web site for what’s brewing. We are now serving food and are an all-ages brewpub, please call for hours.
We have the most extensive and diverse selection of craft and import beer, cider, mead, and gluten-free beer in the Gorge…enjoy it here or take it with you. We also offer wine, light food, an outdoor beer garden, and the best foosball table in town. OPEN 7 dAyS A wEEk
Situated across from an old train bridge, along the Columbia, is a historic building that houses a quaint little deli with much to offer. You’ll hear the whistle blowing and the trains rumbling by as you enjoy your favorite coffee drink or one of our homemade goodies. Select a bottle of craft beer or fine wine to complement the best smoked-salmon quiche in town. Indoor and outdoor dining.
THUNDER ISLAND BREWING COMPANY
(509) 427-0155 • Open Daily 5am to 8pm 50341 Highway 14 • Home Valley
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OUR GORGE
epilogue
Winter in Hood River, circa 1954. (Photo courtesy of The History Museum of Hood River.)
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Providence in Hood River Find health care where you need it • Great doctors • Convenient clinics • Award-winning hospital
541-386-3911
www.providence.org/hoodriver