Praying for Oregon Counties: Hood River

Mount Hood

Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. Psalm 36:6

Traveling east from Portland on I-84 quickly puts you into the Columbia River Gorge. Hood River County is the first county going east, next door to Clackamas and Multnomah. This county lies in the transitional zone between the temperate rain forest of the Cascade Mountains and the high, dry desert of eastern Oregon. It is the second smallest county in the state in area, with only Multnomah being smaller.  

It is a latecomer, the 34th of 36 counties, established in 1908. The region itself was settled much earlier with pioneers taking up homesteads in the Hood River valley as early as 1854. Also, much of the Barlow Road lies in Hood River County, the first road - a toll road - built to give pioneers an alternative to floating rafts down the dangerous Columbia River to reach the Willamette Valley. Built by Sam Barlow, much of the route is now Highway 26.

In 1922 the Columbia River Highway, arguably the most scenic and artistic roadway in the state, was completed from Portland to the Dalles, 30 miles beyond the town of Hood River, and this greatly improved access to the county.

On those trips through the Gorge, I, along with many others, usually stop for a break in the town of Hood River, which is also the county seat. It’s a great place to stretch your legs and spend a moment watching the wind surfers out on the Columbia River.

However, my favorite stopping place in Hood River County is Cascade Locks, the other incorporated town. While smaller than Hood River, it has attractions including restaurants that overlook the river, and The Bridge of the Gods, a steel-truss bridge with a fascinating backstory that crosses over to the Washington side. It is a great place to buy fresh Indian-caught salmon, either from the local fish market, or at designated spots near the bridge or in a local parking lot.

A few years ago some friends and I boarded the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler, an authentic old sternwheeler, at Cascade Locks for a tour down the Columbia. Having viewed the river and waterfalls from I-84 for many years, this was a new and fascinating perspective. There were an amazing number of bald eagles along the route as well as the fishing stands of the tribal members who have the fishing rights there, but which are mostly unseen from the freeway.




The other way I’ve driven through this county is along the Mount Hood highway (26) from Sandy through the Mount Hood National Forest and around iconic Mt. Hood, located in the middle of the county. This is a beautiful drive through orchards of apple, pear and cherry trees before you get into the mountains. Mt. Hood itself is stunning up close, and Timberline Lodge, the massive rock and log lodge built in the 1930’s, is always worth a stop. This route, taking highways 26 and 35, comes out at Hood River.

How to pray for Hood River?

They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; Psalm 107: 37

Pray for a fruitful harvest for the orchards and the fishermen.

 Pray for wisdom and guidance for the commissioners and other leaders in the county. The county government is overseen by five County Commissioners with Mike Oats as chair, and Karen Joplin, Arthur Babitz, Bob Benton and Les Perkins as the other commissioners

 Pray for ongoing concerns with covid, wildfires and budget cuts for police and other essential services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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