11/30/08 We actually could have taken any car here (all nice paved roads, twisty albeit crawling with slow-poke Sunday drivers, and a parking lot at trail head). But we did take the Rux. A hike in the Columbia Gorge is always picturesque with waterfalls ranging from mere trickles to the towering Multnomah falls. And lots of moss. The first picture below I call 'M Meets Moss Monster'.

Not bad for a half-hour drive from our downtown dwelling. And yes, I did resist taking any pictures of the Multnomah Falls itself - it's allegedly the most photographed waterfall in the country and was jammed with tourists to boot. Thankfully in the upper reaches of the trails peoplage was sparse and tranquility plentiful. We needed that.