Trip Report

By June 15 it looked as if this trip would not go for lack of sign-ups. However, we ended up with 34 fine folks who were kind and forgiving to the leader who lost the Breitenbush Gorge Trail. Without an alert and psychic ranger, it would have been a disaster.

Cascadia State Park was lovely for an early rest stop. Clean, quiet and deserted except for us. Not many seemed to like the soda water.

Lunch was at Riverview where we began to get acquainted with the North Santiam River. Is this the most beautiful of our Oregon rivers? Perhaps it was the day - perfect summer weather. The River "dances down - the Cascades with the abandon of youth." Crisp, white water most of the time, with clear, jade pools and then the shimmering, serene "deep blue lake winding through soft, green hills" that is Detroit Reservoir.

The tiny county park at Niagara is a real jewel. It has everything - a Fern Walk and the river in all its aspects. Eighty-nine stair steps lead down into the gorge where the entire river plunges through a four-foot rock cleft. There is a nice waterfall and the remains of an 1890s water power project that cost $100,000 and failed.

The 34 enjoying the trip are Muriel Aufderheide, Beulah Barker, Margaret Block, Margaret Barnard, Ella Carrick, Marie Carstensen, Nelle Cline, Gerry Fehly, Juanita Fix, Irene Flynn, Bette Hack, Florence Givans, Jane Hilt, Margaret Hulegaard, Karen Loretz, Vi McClung, Peg Mountjoy, Bob & Marilyn Morris, Daisie Niccolls, Ruth Nichols, Ruth Norquest, Bonita Rickard, Helen Robbins, Margaret Rhodes, Enid Rondeau, Myrtle Smith, Helen Stovall, Betty Mae Stamm, Sarah Sundahl, Thelma Watson, Helen Weiser, Virginia West, and leader Grace Smith.

A nice hanky and rainhood were left on the bus. Call Grace at 345-6568.