Friends of the Columbia Gorge

Join Friends of the Columbia Gorge for Gorge Summerfest at our beautiful Cape Horn Preserve just outside of Washougal, Washington. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Columbia Gorge, this end-of-summer celebration is free, open to both Friends' members and the general public, and perfect for community members of all ages.

Enjoy dancing to live music from Portland multi-genre jam band , delicious offerings from food and drink vendors, unique creations from arts and crafts vendors, and learn from conservation organizations tabling at the event. We'll also have lawn games, a bouncy house for the kids (wind permitting), and a dunk tank! It's the perfect way to say goodbye to summer.

Don't miss out on this unforgettable party. Visit gorgefriends.org/summerfest to register.

UPDATE: As of 5 p.m. last night (Sunday, July 21), the Whisky Creek Fire in Mt. Hood National Forest just outside the boundary of the National Scenic Area near Cascade Locks has grown to 165 acres and is 0% contained. Track the fire at https://app.watchduty.org/ #/i/26990

Emergency closures have been issued for the following locations:

Campgrounds: Rainy Lake, Black Lake, and Wahtum Lake Campgrounds

Trailheads: Indian Springs, Warren Lake, Wahtum Lake, Mt. Defiance South, Wyeth, & Herman Creek Trailheads

Trails: Gorge #400, Herman Creek #406, Herman Bridge , Gorton Creek #408, Wyeth #411, Green Point Ridge #418, Deadwood #422, North Lake #423, Rainy Lake , Ridge Cut-off #437, and Nick Eaton #447

We have joined forces with Nonprofit Professionals Now to recruit our next Development and Database Coordinator.⁠
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The ideal candidate for this position should possess the following qualities:⁠
✅ Experience working with CRM donor databases.⁠
✅ A minimum of 2 years of experience in philanthropy within non-profit organizations; or a combination of education and experience that is equivalent.⁠
✅ Strong abilities in critical thinking and interacting with people.⁠
✅ A thinker who is skilled in analysis, able to identify areas for improvement, and discern data trends.⁠
✅ Excellent organizational and time management skills.⁠
✅ Capable of working independently and collaboratively as part of a team.⁠
✅ Demonstrates discretion in maintaining confidentiality.⁠
✅ Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.⁠
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For the complete job description and to submit your application online, follow the link in our bio.⁠
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Heads up for Gorge travelers. Make alternative route plans, as the Hood River Bridge is closed indefinitely.

Friends 2024 Photo Contest, Wildflowers and Wildlife Category Winner⁠:
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An American Kestrel at Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge in a wintry mix. By Jacob Begis.

Giveaway Alert! 🎉 Two lucky winners who donate to Friends today at gorgefriends.org/membershipdrive will win an awesome package of goodies for your next outing (think: coffee from Dragonfly Coffee House for the drive, containers to store your lunch, and some Ten Essentials!).

When you join Friends as a member, you support our outdoor youth education programs, which have grown and evolved over the past 15 years. To celebrate our members this month, join or renew at $100 or more, and we'll send you a limited-edition bandana for your next adventure. If you join our monthly giving program, The Beacon, you’ll receive our new Beacon Rock pin and a Save the Date for a special outing this fall.

Donating today means supporting the future stewards of the Gorge alongside Friends. We're inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards and Gorge enthusiasts through our youth programs, stewardship work parties, and increased access to this natural wonder.

Every share and tag helps grow our community dedicated to protecting the Gorge's iconic landscapes. Don't miss this chance to win an unforgettable hiking experience while nurturing a lifelong connection with nature!

Friends is thrilled to announce Dave Edwards Noyes as the grand prize winner of GorgeGram: Framed in Beauty, Friends’ ninth annual photo contest, for his photo of sunlit Oregon white oaks at Mosier Plateau Trail. Seven category-winning photos, a special camera phone sub-category winner, and nine honorable mentions were also announced. ⁠
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We'll be sharing all winners and honorable mentions here in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can view photo galleries of all the winners at gorgefriends.org/photocontest.
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Thank you to our contest sponsor Photo Supply and all who submitted photos!

An announcement from Friends Executive Director Kevin Gorman:

Dear Friends Community,

We’re a heartbroken crew at Friends of the Columbia Gorge today. Over the weekend, we lost our Land Trust Director Dan Bell to a heart attack. He was 52 years old. Our thoughts are with his wife Heather and his family who lost a husband, brother and son.

While I could extol Dan’s amazing accomplishments and the leadership skills he displayed over six short years in his role (and I’m sure we will in future writings), what set Dan apart from so many people was his unwavering, unflinching humanity. At his core, he was a very, very good person. He always worked toward the common good and sought pathways bound in caring for one another. His intelligence was wrapped in wisdom wrapped in empathy.

But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t fierce in his convictions. Dan and I had many disagreements over the years that, ironically, I cherish today. That’s because each of us came into our disagreements firm in our opinions but equally firm in the respect we held for each other. We each wanted to hear the other’s point of view and would typically reconsider our perspectives and find common ground. Our relationship was always strengthened following these tussles and it saddens me to think I’ll never experience those moments again.

It is likely that Friends will work with Dan’s wife Heather to hold a memorial service for Dan on one of our land trust preserves sometime soon. In the meantime, our staff will be grieving and discussing how to move forward collectively.

I’ll wrap this up with one of my favorite photos of Dan. At Heartleaf Bluffs, the place he worked so furiously to protect, standing there with a smug smile like he doesn’t have a care in the world. I suspect this is how he’d like to be remembered.

Kevin

Join us for Friends’ first ASL Gorge Nature Walk & Sign event, where we'll embark on a sensory adventure, engaging our senses of sight, touch, smell, and taste. This free outing, guided by Park Rangers from the U.S. Forest Service and Oregon State Parks, will feature interpretation by local ASL interpreters Sarah Daegling and Dawn Riddle.⁠
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Please note that due to limited space, registration is reserved for D/deaf or hard of hearing, along with their family and friends.⁠
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Visit: gorgefriends.org/ASLwalk
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We didn't want to post this photo until the results of our 2024 photo contest were revealed (hint: it'll win something), but with a possibly historic aurora display coming tonight...well, we didn't really have a choice! This is from the brilliant Jarrod Lyman, taken at Vista House last September during a solar eruption.

If you're planning to go to Crown Point tonight, keep in mind that the crowds may be huge and parking will likely be extremely difficult. Here are a few alternatives, courtesy of KOIN.

𝗝𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁
15652 Bluff Rd, Sandy, OR
Pro: Sweeping, panoramic views to the north and east
Con: Could attract crowds

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸
2900 W 5th St, Washougal, WA
Pros: More secluded, lack of light
Con: Northern view slightly restricted

𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁
39210 Historic Columbia River Hwy, Corbett, OR
Pros: More secluded, lack of light pollution
Con: Vista House overflow could make it crowded

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸
1120 SW Council Crest Dr, Portland, OR
Pro: If it is a bright show, the view over Downtown Portland could be spectacular
Cons: City light pollution, closes at midnight

𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁
Hood River, OR
Pro: Amazing views to the North
Cons: Light pollution, potential to be crowded

Catherine Creek Labyrinth Trail to Upper Labyrinth Viewpoint · Friends Of The Columbia Gorge # # # Before you register: - [Read our Liability Waiver](https://gorgefriends.org/waiver). You will be asked to check a box acknowledging you read the waiver during registration._ - Confirm your availability. Due to limited spots, and to be respectful of everyone's time, ** _please only register for t...

Join us this Thursday, May 9th for a hike from:

Catherine Creek Labyrinth Trail to Upper Labyrinth Viewpoint, where we will get to experience this trail through award-winning guidebook author Craig Romano’s perspective.

Moderate hike at 4.2 miles with 950-ft elev. Gain

REGISTER AT:
tinyurl.com/hikeromano

🐾 Calling all dog lovers! Join us this Tuesday, May 7th for a pawsome hike with your furry friends! Let's leash up, hit the trails, and give our pups and ourselves a wonderful time in nature. See you there! Check out these pups who joined us at our last dog walk. 🌳🐶

Join Friends of the Columbia Gorge for our annual meeting in Hood River on April 21, 2024, and be among the first to learn about Friends' next big endeavor, including new land acquisition, climate resiliency work, and trail building!

After the meeting concludes, come with us to explore Friends' newest preserve, a breathtaking cliffside property near Lyle, Washington. We’ll reveal our name for the new preserve during the annual meeting and discuss why it’s one of Friends’ most treasured acquisitions in our history.

RSVP at gorgefriends.org/annualmeeting.

Thank you to all our amazing volunteers who showed out to Sams Walker this morning to help us plant lupine. It really brings us so much joy to be able to see and hangout with our community of volunteers. We can’t wait to see you at our next outing🪻

🌼Join us at our next stewardship event on April 19th at the Balfour-Klickitat Day Use Area, WA
🌸Can’t make it! We have another event April 26th removing Scotch Broom at our Camas Patch Preserve in WA

Happy Friday! The balsam root is in full bloom in Lyle. If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, we highly recommend checking it out🌼

Grab a friend and come down to White Oak Books this Thursday in Vancouver for an exciting event featuring a book reading and fundraiser in collaboration with local writer Stephanie Feldstein. The event is from 6:30-8 pm. We can't wait to see y'all there📚️⁠
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Friends of the Columbia Gorge, alongside a group of other conservation organizations including Vancouver Audubon Society and Friends of the White Salmon River, has filed a lawsuit against the Washington Department of Natural Resources for failing to fulfill its obligation to propose critical habitats within 30 days of the listing of the western gray squirrel as an endangered species. After the listing on Dec. 28, 2023, the agency had until Jan. 27, 2024 to do this, but they have not. The western gray squirrel is a crucial indicator of the health of rare oak woodland habitat in Washington, but estimates suggest that fewer than 1,500 individuals remain, putting the species on the brink of extinction in Washington State. We expect a response from the state in the coming weeks.

Vancouver group among those suing Washington over squirrel Vancouver Audubon Society and several other environmental groups are suing the state for failing to protect habitat for the endangered western gray squirrel.

Happy halfway to the weekend! It’s nice and sunny in the gorge today. We thought we’d share this picture to get you through the rest of the week☀️

Be a guiding light for the Gorge and become part of The Beacon, our monthly giving initiative 🌟 By joining The Beacon, your monthly contribution directly supports our mission to maintain the Gorge as a thriving and inclusive place. 

Your unwavering monthly support fuels conservation efforts, brings new life to trails, and educates youth to take action, ensuring the beauty of the Gorge for generations to come.
 
Together, let’s ensure that the Gorge remains a sanctuary of natural beauty and wonder. Join The Beacon today and be a beacon of hope for the Columbia Gorge! 💚

Twenty years ago today on Groundhog Day, Friends of the Columbia Gorge learned that Gorge conservationist Norman Yeon had included a $4.5 million bequest to Friends in his will. Here, Friends Executive Director Kevin Gorman tells the behind-the-scenes story of the most transformational gift in the history of our organization. Click the link below to read the full article.

https://gorgefriends.org/groundhogday

We're thrilled to announce that Friends will be leading a collaborative effort with the U.S. Forest Service to create a new trail linking Mosier to The Dalles! This is a major development in our Gorge Towns to Trails project, an initiative that aims to create a 200-mile, world-class trekking network encircling both sides of the Columbia Gorge.

From now through fall 2024, we will be gathering public input on a preferred trail corridor, potential trailheads, trailhead amenities, and types of trail use that align with local and regional values. The initiative will culminate in a comprehensive final report summarizing the outreach process, community engagement, and preferred concepts for the trail.

Your input is crucial in shaping this trail to reflect the values of our community. Throughout the year, we'll be hosting online open houses, targeted meetings, and providing other opportunities for public comments. We want to hear your thoughts on the preferred trail corridor, potential amenities, and the types of trail use that resonate with you.

Visit mosiertothedallestrail.org to learn more, then click the "Visit Open House #1" button on the webpage to take the public survey.

Together, let's blaze a trail of beauty and adventure in the Columbia Gorge!

Ever wondered what the Columbia Gorge would look like if the National Scenic Area Act had never been passed? Thanks to the magic of AI, we can get a glimpse into that alternate reality. 😮📸 ⁠
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Without the protection afforded by the National Scenic Area, the Gorge would have faced unchecked development, industrialization, and irreversible damage to its natural beauty. These AI-rendered images show landscapes vastly different from the ones we cherish today – a reminder of the importance of ongoing conservation efforts in the Gorge.⁠
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This also serves as a testament to the foresight and dedication of those who fought decades ago to preserve this stunning wilderness, including (humblebrag alert) Friends of the Columbia Gorge and our founder Nancy Russell.⁠
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What do you think about these images?⁠
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P.S. We know Beacon Rock State Park was established in 1935, so it likely wouldn’t have faced development pressure even if the NSA had not been created, but we loved this one so we included it anyway.⁠
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𝐁𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧-𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐞𝐧-𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧

Friends of the Columbia Gorge is pleased by yesterday’s announcement of a collaborative agreement to plan the removal of the lower Snake River dams. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Biden Administration, the states of Oregon and Washington, the Mid-Columbia River Treaty Tribes (Yakama, Umatilla, Warm Springs, and Nez Perce), and a coalition of environmental and fishing groups recognizes the need for the lower Snake River dams to be removed and pauses litigation between the federal government and the other parties in order to find a way to remove the dams, restore salmon runs, develop tribal energy projects, and replace the other services the dams provide.

Read more from EarthJustice and Columbia Riverkeeper at https://earthjustice.org/press/2023/us-government-sets-a-path-to-breach-the-four-lower-snake-river-dams.

It's almost January, which means peak bald eagle migration🦅in the Columbia Gorge will be upon us shortly! Tune in on Thursday, January 4, at 6 p.m. PST for a🆓webinar where we will take a deep dive into the lives of bald eagles, plus their seasonal migration and threats to populations. Register now at https://www.mobilize.us/gorgefriends/event/595318/
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Friends' Gorge on Tap is coming to Portland tonight! In partnership with Wild Diversity and People of Color Outdoors, everyone is invited to join us for a night of fun at TPK Brewing.
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The evening will feature a variety of games, silent auctions for your next adventure, and stories about the incredible work our organizations do.⁠
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Hope to see you there!
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Register for the free event at gorgefriends.org/gorgeontap.

🌲Join our team at Friends of the Columbia Gorge!🌲

We are looking for a talented and motivated HR Generalist to help us make a positive impact on one of the most beautiful places in the Pacific Northwest!

Position: HR Generalist (Half-time)
Location: Portland, OR area

🗓️ Applications close on December 23, so don't miss out on the opportunity to send us your application materials.

Visit gorgefriends.org/careers to learn more and apply.