Summer 2014
When I was a kid, I spent a year living on a small sailboat with my family in the Pacific. It was an incredible adventure, and one of the most memorable things about it was seeing the native Polynesian islanders in their outrigger canoes. They were ubiquitous—paddling out to our boat to offer fruits, vegetables and other wares; paddling across lagoons from one village to another; paddling to go fishing; paddling their goods to market; paddling in outrigger races; paddling for the sake of paddling. The hand-carved wooden outriggers were everywhere and, among a few other things, they came to symbolize our time in that alluring place. So when I saw an outrigger canoe being paddled on the Columbia River last summer, I was thrilled. It turns out that the canoe belongs to the Hood River Outrigger Canoe Club, a group of outrigger enthusiasts who paddle regularly—and whose ranks are growing. Club member and frequent contributor Christopher Van Tilburg writes about outrigger canoeing, its history and how it came to be in the Gorge beginning on page 42.
One thing I love about the Gorge is that, no matter how well you know it, there always seems to be more to discover. Writer Don Campbell found that out when he set out to explore the Klickitat River. Located just miles from his Mosier home, he’d nonetheless rarely set foot there in his many years spent in the Gorge. He writes about the Klickitat—and why he fell so hard for it—beginning on page 58.
Other stories in this issue include a profile of Slingshot Sports and the wood core kiteboards and wakeboards the Hood River company makes in its North Bonneville manufacturing facility (page 14); a feature on the Trout Lake Abbey (page 80); a story about backyard beekeeping (page 20); and a round-up of Gorge food trucks (page 24). You’ll also find a special section devoted to the wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries of the Gorge. And there’s a whole lot more in here. Welcome, friends, to summer in the Gorge!
Janet Cook, editor
