Winter 2013
It’s hard to believe nearly 14 years have passed since this photo was taken. My hubby, Pete, and I have changed a bit since then. (Look, honey, you had hair then!) But one thing that’s still the same is the beautiful Gorge backdrop: there we are in a field of wildflowers above Mosier, the Syncline rising dramatically behind us. One of our fondest memories of that windy July day in 1999 was watching many of our Gorge friends show up just in the nick of time, straight from a great day on the river. Because truly, that was quintessentially “the Gorge” to us. Another favorite part was showing off this incredible place to all of our friends and family from out of town.
The Gorge is becoming an increasingly popular place to get married—not only for local couples, but for brides and grooms from afar as well. Some of them have ties to the Gorge; others are part of the growing trend in destination weddings, choosing the Gorge for its breathtaking setting and the myriad opportunities for wedding week activities for guests. Ultimately, most couples get married here for the same reasons we did: to share whatever is quintessentially “the Gorge” to them with their loved ones on that sweet day. Inside this issue, we’ve included A Complete Guide to Weddings in the Columbia Gorge. We hope you’ll find it useful and fun to read.
To revel in winter, we delve into the season with a story by David Sword about the Cooper Spur Race Team, which this season marks its 35th year as the Gorge’s premier youth skiing program (page 24). Bill Weiler explores some of the cross-country ski trails near Trout Lake (page 36), and Julie Raefield-Gobbo explores a different aspect of winter in the Gorge—the bald eagles who spend several weeks in January and February feeding at the mouth of the Klickitat River (page 46). Other stories include a profile of stained glass artist Peter McGrain (page 32) and a pie-making lesson with baker Julie Vance of Sweet Things by Julie (page 58). There’s more, too. Come, celebrate the season with us, Gorge-style. Happy winter!
JANET COOK, Editor
