Winter 2024-25
As I was editing the stories in this issue, I found the theme of place resonating again and again. In particular, a sense of place. One meaning of that phrase relates to the emotional bond people feel for an area, and it echoes in many of this issue’s stories. Take our piece on a new program called Audio Trails, an effort by the Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance that has placed QR codes along select trails in Washington (page 38). The codes allow trail users to access audio stories told by Native Americans, geologists, botanists and others, with the goal of deepening listeners’ understanding of the area. I took a walk on one of the trails myself and listened to the stories, moved by what I learned about a place I’d been countless times before.
Another piece, on Melchemy Craft Mead near Carson, also hums with a sense of place (page 22). In fact, Melchemy founders Tim O’Malley and Jeffree Mocniak seek to infuse their small-batch craft mead with that very thing by using local honey and other wildcrafted ingredients sourced nearby, and carefully stewarding the land surrounding the meadery. They call their efforts “an expression of the unique circumstances of this place.”
And then there’s our story on the actual Sense of Place lecture series. The aptly named seasonal series is celebrating its 15th year of curious, engaging conversations aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of local topics (page 42). In the words of series founder Amanda Lawrence, the monthly events are “a place to share the common threads we all care about in a way that isn’t threatening.” I’d be willing to bet that all of us, residents and visitors alike, share an emotional bond to this area. Let us use this shared sense of place — the common threads we all care about — to look after the land, strengthen our communities and care for the people around us that make it special. There are many ways to deepen your sense of place in the Gorge. We hope you find lots of opportunities to do just that in the winter months ahead.
Other stories in this issue include our cover piece on skating in the Gorge (page 10); a look at Art on Oak, a Hood River artist cooperative that’s been showcasing an eclectic array of local art for nearly a decade (page 18); and a story on where to go for a good hot soak this winter (page 32). We wish you a healthy and happy winter season. And for all the skaters in the Gorge, here’s hoping for some pond hockey weather. Cheers!
— Janet Cook, Editor
