WINTER 2021-22 thegorgemagazine.com
LIVING AND EXPLORING IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
Mosier Misfits
A sled dog team prepares for race season
Into the Wilderton Zero-proof spirits rise to the occasion
Kick & Glide Abundant cross-country skiing trails make for accessible winter fun
photo by richard hallman
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CONTENTS | WINTER 2021-22 FEATURE
ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BIRDS OF PREY The annual Winter Raptor Survey offers a wildlife photographer the chance to observe the birds through her lens
FEATURE
By Linda Steider
INTO THE WILDERNESS Jocelyn Akins has found her life’s work deep in the Cascade Mountains By David Hanson
32
Michael Hanson
OUTSIDE
OUR GORGE
46 THE MOSIER MISFITS
A sled dog team prepares for the winter racing season
10 VENTURES
By Don Campbell
14 LOCAVORE 18 EXPLORE
WELLNESS
22 IMBIBE
50 RESOLVING CONFLICT
Mediation center helps people settle disputes before they end up in court
By Ruth Berkowitz
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58 YOUR GORGE
10
Courtesy of Thad McCracken
4
54 PARTAKE
Jasmine Sallee
EDITOR’S NOTE
W
Carol@DonNunamaker.com RealEstateinTheGorge.com HoodRiverProperties.com
hen I was a kid, I used to imagine I heard Santa’s reindeer on our roof on Christmas Eve. Never mind that I hadn’t fallen asleep yet and it was probably only 8 or 9 p.m., which I’m pretty sure would’ve been too early for Santa to be hitting the Front Range of Colorado. Realistically, he was probably still on the East Coast. But that clicking sound! Reindeer hooves for sure. Of course they were up there, clopping around while Santa slipped down our chimney and did his thing. I recall more than once jumping out of bed and running to the window where, my cheek pressed against the cold glass, I strained my eyes trying to catch a glimpse of what was going on up there. This fall, my childhood imaginings were validated. At the Goldendale Reindeer farm, owners Tanya Clarke and Daniel Connell told me that reindeer have a tendon in their legs that makes a clicking sound. That must be what I heard up on our roof all those years ago. Who knew? I learned a lot of other things about reindeer during my visit, and even got to feed the reindeer. You can read about the newly-opened Goldendale Reindeer farm beginning on page 10, and plan your own visit to see these majestic animals.
MOSIER $669,000: Spectacular unobstructed Columbia River Gorge view from this custom home in charming Mosier. 3BR, 2BA, 1804sf on .23 ac, lovely open floorplan. Ideal location only 10 minutes to Hood River and 20 minutes to The Dalles. RMLS 21194426 Co-Listed with Jill Guenther, OR Broker
It wasn’t intentional, but this has turned out to be somewhat of an “animals issue.” Be sure to check out David Hanson’s piece on Hood River wildlife biologist Jocelyn Akins, who founded the Cascades Carnivore Project (page 32). Akins spends her days deep in the Cascade Mountains studying some of the range’s rarest inhabitants — wolverine, Canada lynx, fisher, and the Cascade red fox. And don’t miss Don Campbell’s story on the Mosier Misfits, a scrappy sled dog team owned and trained by Thad McCracken (page 50). McCracken has 26 active and retired dogs at his Mosier compound, and races many of them on a circuit that takes him to Wyoming, Montana and Alaska during the winter.
HOOD RIVER $678,000: Sweet 4BR, 2.5BA, 2572 sqft home on .13 ac in an established Heights neighborhood. Main level: hardwood throughout, BR ensuite, living room w/gas fireplace, kitchen/dining/sunroom, laundry. Upstairs: 3BR, BA, bonus room & laundry. RMLS 21022889
There’s a lot more in these pages as well, including a story about Hood River-based Wilderton and its zero-proof botanical spirits (page 22); a piece on chocolatier Jessica Wright and her business, Columbia Gorge Confections (page 14); and a photo essay on winter raptors (page 42), among other stories. We’ve also put together a special wellness advertising section highlighting some of the Gorge area’s medical professionals and health initiatives, starting on page 36. We hope you enjoy this issue. Have a great winter!
WINTER 2021-22 thegorgemagazine.com
— Janet Cook, Editor
LIVING AND EXPLORING IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
ODELL $1,850,000: Stunning Mt. Adams and valley view and huge opportunities! Successful, income producing Pear Orchard. This home offers the main house, a 2 story metal outbuilding, a newer 5 Plex H2A housing complex + an extra building site for an additional home. RMLS 21140984 Listed by Jill Guenther, OR Broker
Mosier Misfits
A sled dog team prepares for race season
Kick & Glide Abundant cross-country skiing trails make for accessible winter fun
About the Cover Photographer Ben Mitchell took our cover photo on a crisp, bluebird day last December on the Mt. Hood Meadows Nordic trail system. “We got up early to get there when the trails opened at 9 a.m., and it was quiet,” he said. “I came around a bend in the trail and everything looked beautiful and pure. I so rarely take vertical photos, but the lines of the groom, the classic track, and the trunks of the trees just all seemed in sync.”
Into the Wilderton Zero-proof spirits rise to the occasion
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WINTER 2021-22 II THE GORGE MAGAZINE
When you have read this issue please pass it on to a friend or recycle it. Together we can make a difference in preserving and conserving our resources.
WINTER 2021-22 EDITOR Janet Cook
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Renata Kosina
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Jody Thompson
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ruth Berkowitz, Don Campbell, David Hanson, Kacie McMackin Ben Mitchell, Linda Steider
COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Ben Mitchell
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Hanson, Kacie McMackin Ben Mitchell, Michael Peterson Linda Steider
TO ADVERTISE IN THE GORGE MAGAZINE please contact Jody Thompson jthompson@thegorgemagazine.com
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ourGORGE ventures 10 locavore 14 explore 18 imbibe 22
22
Hood River-based Wilderton’s non-alcoholic spirits pair well with Gorge adventures.
Lance Koudele
THE GORGE MAGAZINE II WINTER 2021-22
9
OUR GORGE I VENTURES
Jasmine Sallee Vince at Lasting Light (below)
Up on the Rooftop ... and at a Farm in the Eastern Gorge For a Goldendale couple, reindeer changed everything story by JANET COOK | photos by JASMINE SALLEE and VINCE READY
O
Vince at Lasting Light
wning a reindeer farm is not one of the things Daniel Connell and Tanya Clarke ever envisioned for themselves. Yet here they are, preparing their farm near Goldendale and their five reindeer for the holiday season, when visitors can come and learn about the animals, sip hot chocolate and make s’mores around a fire, and even visit with Santa. “When you think of reindeer, you think of Christmas,” Connell said. But in fact the couple’s farm, called simply Goldendale Reindeer, is open year-round to visitors who want to learn about
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WINTER 2021-22 II THE GORGE MAGAZINE
these stately animals. A good place to start is with this: in Europe, they’re called reindeer. In North America, they’re called caribou when in the wild and reindeer if they’re domesticated. But more about them later. Up until two years ago, the couple was living in Chico, Calif., where they both worked as emergency room nurses and had never given a second thought to reindeer or caribou. When Clarke’s mother had hip replacement surgery in September 2019, Clarke returned home to Tacoma, Wash., not far from where she grew up in Federal Way, to help with her mom’s recovery. Clarke began taking her mom on “field trips” around the area to help her gain strength and mobility. They started small, with a visit to a favorite drive-in for milkshakes. The trips got longer and more involved as time went on until Clarke set up their final one — which she called their “graduation trip” — to a reindeer farm in Leavenworth. “It was the most challenging due to the uneven
Vince at Lasting Light (both images)
Tanya Clarke and Daniel Connell opened their Goldendale reindeer farm this fall. They have five reindeer, including Holly, above, seen last spring when she was in velvet — the fuzzy coating on the antlers that feeds the growing bone.
ground and the long drive,” Clarke said. Connell happened to be there for it, too. “Tanya said, ‘I have a surprise for you, we’re going to a reindeer farm,’” Connell recalled. “I was thinking, ‘why?’ but my man sense told me to just keep quiet.” When they got there, however, both Connell and Clarke were instantly drawn to the animals. “Being with the reindeer was really calming,” Connell recalled. “They were beautiful and very majestic.” He began asking questions, trying to learn as much as possible about the animals. By the time they left, Clarke said, “Let’s open a reindeer farm!” That one farm visit turned out to be life-changing for the couple. They returned to Chico, where they’d lived for more than two decades, and began a whirlwind process that landed them in Goldendale with a reindeer farm. Since reindeer are not allowed in California, they had to look at other options. After a drawn-out search of several states, they narrowed it down to the Columbia Gorge, a place they’d visited several times over the years and loved. When they found five acres near Goldendale, with views of Mount Adams and Mount Hood, they decided that was it. They sold their house in Chico and bought the property in October 2020, then spent the winter remodeling the house and preparing the property for reindeer. Last spring, they bought five reindeer from a farm in Eatonville, Wash., south of Seattle. Connell and Clarke continue to work as nurses — Connell at Klickitat Valley Health in Goldendale and Clarke at Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles. When they’re not at work, they can be found pouring heart
and soul — and lots of good old-fashioned hard work — into the farm. The learning curve has been steep. Neither one had any kind of farm background. “We previously had no large animal experience — we’d taken care of a dog,” Connell said with a laugh. Early on, they spent days installing a fenced enclosure for the reindeer only to find out it wouldn’t be secure. They had to take it down and start over. Because reindeer are relatively rare, there’s a well-used network of reindeer farmers that spans the handful of states where reindeer are allowed — mostly in northern parts of the lower 48 states and Alaska.
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THE GORGE MAGAZINE II WINTER 2021-22
11
Vince at Lasting Light
The couple, both nurses by trade, find joy in their new farm life.
“The big key with reindeer is networking,” Connell said. “If you have a question, you throw it out there and someone will usually have advice.” They also have a local veterinarian they work with who helped them come up with an ongoing care plan for the reindeer, including vaccinations, hoof-trimming and other routine health checks. The couple’s current herd includes four females — Sprinkles, Jingle Belle, Willow and Holly —and a steer named Palmer. They hope to build their herd over time, but even “big” reindeer farms may have only 18-20 animals. For now, the herd size is perfect for their 45-minute tours, which start with a “Reindeer Rumination” where visitors learn about reindeer, followed by a chance to enter the reindeer enclosure and interact with the animals. “We focus on conservation,” Connell said. “There should be caribou out in the wild.” The last known wild caribou in the lower 48, a herd that
12 WINTER 2021-22 II THE GORGE MAGAZINE
roamed the Selkirk Mountains in northern Idaho and eastern Washington and ranged into British Columbia, were captured and transported farther into Canada in early 2020 in hopes of bolstering the population. Connell and Clarke also teach visitors some fun facts about reindeer. For one, reindeer are the only species of deer whose females have antlers. Males and females shed their antlers every year, but at different times — males in November and females after their calves are born in the spring. Their antlers grow in quickly — up to an inch a day. “They can go from a two-inch nub to a three-foot antler in a month,” Connell said. Reindeer are uniquely adapted to cold weather, with hollow hair that acts as insulation and also provides buoyancy, making them great swimmers. But they also adapt to warmer climates. “They pant like dogs, but they have a secondary mechanism,” Connell explained. In the cold, they shunt blood from their legs to their torso to keep their organs warm. In the summer they do the opposite, shunting blood to their legs. “They tend to stand in water to keep cool,” he said. On the farm, with no streams nearby, Connell and Clarke put baby pools in the reindeer enclosure during warm weather for the reindeer to stand in. Connell and Clarke still marvel at the change in their lives brought about by the animals, and love being able to share them with visitors. “They’re pretty unique creatures,” Clarke said. “I feel so much peace when I’m here with them.” To learn more, visit goldendalereindeer.com
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Mosier | $775,000
MLS 21021532
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I grew up in Hood River and am thrilled to be raising my own family here. I’m passionate about Real Estate, but also the ongoing prosperity and well-being of our local community. In addition to being a Realtor, I serve on the boards of the Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Foundation Board and Big River Community Land Trust. I’m committed to helping future generations enjoy the awesome Gorge lifestyle that we all know and love!
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When you ski, it’s always nice to have a local guide. It gives you confidence, no matter the conditions. The same goes for Real Estate. It’s key to have a local and experienced broker who knows the ins and outs of your neighborhood as well as the entire Gorge Real Estate market.
Hood River | $1.3M
MLS 21395637
PENDING
Candice Richards PRINCIPAL BROKER, OR MANAGING BROKER, WA
541-912-5999
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Hood River |
MLS 21100202
OUR GORGE I LOCAVORE
Chocolate Done Right Jessica Wright of Columbia Gorge Confections turns the beloved treat into a sensory experience story by RUTH BERKOWITZ | photos by MICHAEL PETERSON
B
efore you bite into a fine chocolate bar, take a deep breath and slow down. “Be mindful,” says Jessica Wright, founder of Columbia Gorge Confections. First, look at the chocolate. Examine its color and texture. Is it light or dark? Smooth and shiny or rough? Break off a piece. A clean snap means the chocolate has been properly tempered, or melted and cooled. Smell the chocolate. Hold it right up to your nose. Deeply inhale. Breathe again. Does it remind you of something sweet or floral? Is it more like black pepper or coffee? Perhaps a nutty or earthy fragrance? Now place a small piece in your mouth. Refrain from chewing it quickly. Feel it on your tongue. Let it melt in your mouth into a velvety liquid. You’ll be rewarded with a memorable sensation.
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WINTER 2021-22 II THE GORGE MAGAZINE
Jessica Wright and a selection of her bars.
“It’s a game changer to pay attention while you are eating chocolate,” Wright says. “However you eat chocolate, what’s most important is that you have an exceptional chocolate experience that stimulates the senses.” Wright has been playing with chocolate since launching her Hood River-based business three years ago. Along with chocolate bars, truffles and other chocolate-based treats, she creates a variety of sweets as well as custom cakes. Wright is not new to the food world. She began working in restaurants as a teenager growing up in Coos Bay. At 17, she enrolled in the culinary school at Lane Community College in Eugene, then worked in a number of restaurants in Portland and the Gorge, including Jake’s Grill and the Columbia Gorge
Fresh Holiday
Flavors
The Starvation Bar in dark chocolate, opposite top and above right, is Wright’s best-selling bar. She also makes hand-painted Rudolph and Santa truffles, and creates custom gift boxes with her chocolate and other local products, above left.
Hotel — learning the ins and outs of every position. She’s worked as a restaurant consultant and in lead chef positions. Wright gravitated to chocolate and sweets, and began planning her business not long after moving to the Gorge in 2017. One morning this fall, I join Wright in her downtown Hood River commercial kitchen to learn more about chocolate and to make the company’s signature Starvation Bar. She has named many of her bars after Oregon places, people and things, like the Cooper Spur Bar, Tsuruta (Hood River’s sister city), Quiver, and Oregon Coast. Other bars have names that make you chuckle, like Mazel Toffee and S’mores Please. She even sells a chocolate sausage packaged to fool you into thinking it’s meat. When I arrive in Wright’s shop, the chocolatier is on the phone with the distributor of her Swiss-made Felchlin chocolate. Her order bungled, Wright is discussing payment details, but her biggest worry is ensuring that she’ll have enough ingredients for the holiday season and Valentine’s Day. With the real possibility of a shortage of chocolate, Wright plans to hoard cacao. Being a chocolate lover, I wonder if I should do some premature buying, and she encourages me. “Buy early,” she says — advice she’s giving to all of her customers. “You never know what can happen.” In addition to chocolate bars and special seasonal truffles and treats, she sells gift boxes packed with her chocolate, Gorge wines and other local products, including pears, jams and lavender. Like wine, chocolate has a symphony of flavors. It also has a rich history, originating thousands of years ago when the Olmec people of Mesoamerica (the area of southern Mexico and Central America) extracted the cacao seeds from the fruit pod. The Olmecs figured out how to ferment, roast and grind the seeds to make a paste of sorts before eating. Subsequently, the Mayans experimented with the seeds even more, concocting a frothy, bitter drink from the beans that earned the Latin name for the cacao tree, Theobroma, which literally means “drink of the gods.” Next, it was the Aztecs who embraced the power of cacao, elevating it to a currency. Today, chocolate is prolific, found all over the world in both sweet and savory forms. In Wright’s kitchen, the dark chocolate couvertures (coin-shaped pieces of chocolate made with a higher percentage of cacao butter than
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Chocolates are counted and organized for flavor box orders, left. Wright makes fresh graham crackers for s’mores kits.
regular chocolate) melting in the double boiler emit a rich smell. Wright stirs the brown liquid mixture and checks the temperature with her laser thermometer. She is tempering the chocolate — the act of heating, cooling slightly and then reheating it. Some chocolatiers have a special machine to do the scientific work, but Wright uses her thermometer to help her manipulate the molecules. Once the liquid reaches 115 degrees, she removes the bowl from the heat and places it on her stainless countertop which naturally cools the chocolate to 97 degrees. If tempered correctly, the finished product has a smooth and glossy surface, and when you break the bar, the chocolate snaps cleanly. Wright learned this the hard way early on when she failed to also temper the cocoa butter that she uses to make her truffles. “When you mess up, it’s expensive,” she says. But as a seasoned chef and baker, she knows techniques are improved through trial and error. When she began making truffles, the chocolate in some of her special molds didn’t solidify, and many failed to smoothly slide from the mold. Stumped, Wright did some research and concluded that, like the couvertures, cocoa butter also requires tempering. Another expensive lesson learned came from cooling her chocolate too long in the refrigerator. The refrigerator helps the chocolate solidify, but if it’s left in the cold too long and absorbs the moisture, it can encounter a “chocolate bloom,” where the sugar crystals surface and the appearance and taste is suboptimal. “We left some chocolate in the refrigerator overnight and it was ruined the next day,” Wright says. “These stay for only 15 minutes,” she adds, placing the newly-made bars in the refrigerator. After removing the plain bars at the specified time, Wright sprinkles on the special toppings of the Starvation Bar: cacao nibs, Oregon hazelnuts, dried Oregon blackberries and a little bit of toffee. She muses, “If only the folks at Starvation Creek had this bar, they wouldn’t have been so hungry.” In the winter of 1884, a train traveling from The Dalles to Portland got stopped in its tracks about 10 miles west of Hood River because of heavy snow. The 148 passengers and crew had to work together to survive. No one died, mostly due to a group of Hood River residents who skied to their rescue with supplies. “I love the story because it’s about community,” Wright says. In her own small version of that story, during the early days of the Covid lockdown, Wright did not have a retail space and was making her chocolate and cakes from the kitchen of The White Buffalo bistro. To keep her business afloat and also “bring joy to people,” Wright and her employees delivered chocolates and treats directly to people’s homes. Now, Wright has a storefront where customers can purchase their favorite chocolate. Or they can slow down, sit at a table and order a glass of wine to pair with chocolate. She even serves homemade hot chocolate. It all makes for that sensory chocolate experience that Wright wants everyone to have. It truly is a game changer. To learn more, visit columbiagorgeconfections.com
Ruth Berkowitz lives in the moment and loves adventure. She came to the Gorge for windsurfing and when not out on her bike or the water, she is a mediator in Hood River. 16
WINTER 2021-22 II THE GORGE MAGAZINE
Photo by Peter Marbach
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OUR GORGE I EXPLORE
Mt. Hood Meadows
When the Snow Flies, Kick and Glide Local trails and dedicated Nordic areas offer accessible winter recreation story and photos by BEN MITCHELL
L
ike many outdoor sports, cross-country skiing saw a massive boom during the first winter of the Covid-19 pandemic (a depressing last half of a sentence to write), as the coinciding reduction in entertainment and recreation options saw cooped-up people search for new leisure-time outlets. Ski sales skyrocketed, resulting in shortages of gear –– a trend exacerbated by supply chain issues that have plagued all sorts of other industries. If you were lucky enough to grab a pair of skis, boots, and poles, but haven’t gotten
Around Hood River 18
WINTER 2021-22 II THE GORGE MAGAZINE
around to breaking them in, now is the time! Why? For a few reasons. Cross-country skiing is a great way to experience the outdoors, and it’s a low-impact snow sport that all ages can enjoy — and with a learning curve much less steep than that of skiing or snowboarding. It’s also relatively low cost compared to downhill skiing, both in terms of gear and access. Cross-country skiing options in the Gorge area are plentiful. We’ve highlighted a few here to help you get out and enjoy the snow.
MOUNT HOOD
Teacup Lake Sno-Park: Located 34 miles south of Hood River on Highway 35, Teacup is arguably the most well-known Nordic trail system in the area, and for good reason. Excellent and consistent groom, a wide variety of trails for all ability levels, killer views of Mount Hood (when it’s not cloudy, of course), a large parking lot, great trail signage, a cute warming hut, and fun events and races make this a popular place –– on peak weekends, it’s been Teacup known to park out. The 20-kilometer trail system is maintained by the Teacup Lake Nordic Club nonprofit, founded in 1979. An Oregon Sno-Park permit ($25) is required to park in the lot, and a trail fee/pass is required to use the trail system (17 and under ski for free). As Teacup is specifically for cross-country skiing, the snowshoes and the dog(s) need to be left at home. teacupnordic.org for prices and more info
An Oregon Sno-Park permit is required to park in the lot, and access to the trails requires the purchase of a Nordic track fee or a Nordic season pass. No dogs are allowed on any of the groomed Nordic trails. skihood.com/nordic for prices and more info
Mt. Hood Meadows
Mt. Hood Meadows: (Full disclosure: I work in the Mt. Hood Meadows marketing department.) Just across the way on Highway 35 is Mt. Hood Meadows Resort, which has its Nordic Center located on the southeast side of the Hood River Meadows (HRM) lot. While it’s far more famous for its lift-served terrain, Meadows is no slouch in the cross-country department either. Boasting 16.5 kilometers of groomed trails that take you past meadows with mountain views, through the woods, and to the gorgeous Sahalie Falls, Meadows also offers Nordic lessons and rentals if you were unable to snag cross-country skis. While Meadows’ lifts are super popular, its Nordic trails are rarely crowded, unless there is an event going on. Plus, you can ski right up to the Renaissance Cafe in the HRM day lodge for an aprés ski beverage and/or meal.
Bennett Pass
Bennett Pass: If you’re looking for a little more of a rustic adventure, head to Bennett Pass, located just a couple of miles up the road from Teacup on Highway 35. Unlike Teacup and Meadows, Bennett Pass does not have groomed trails or as large a parking lot (but still enough space for 30 cars, although it will fill up on nice weekends), but the views of Mount Hood are absolutely fantastic, you can bring your doggos,
THE GORGE MAGAZINE II WINTER 2021-22
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and the only fee that’s required is (you guessed it) an Oregon Sno-Park permit. The trail system is labyrinthine and can get into some sketchy terrain (Google “Terrible Traverse” if you’re interested), but the classic route is to stay to the left for the first couple of miles or so until you come to the ‘Gram-worthy overlook of Mount Hood, then turn around and head back to the parking lot. fs.usda.gov/recmain/mthood/recreation and click on Bennett Pass
accessible via the Pineside and Snow King Sno-Parks. Part of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, this 20-mile trail system offers some great groomed beginner/intermediate options (the 3.7-mile Big Tree Loop is my go-to) and is less popular than the aforementioned Mount Hood Trails. However, the alpine views, where available, aren’t as epic, the snowfall is less consistent due to the lower elevation, you’ll likely hear the sounds of nearby snowmobilers, and you have to buy a separate, more expensive Washington Sno-Park permit ($50 for the season), since Oregon/Washington reciprocity ended several years ago. All that aside, it’s absolutely worth a visit. fs.usda.gov/recmain/giffordpinchot/recreation and click on Sno-Park: Pineside
Mt. Adams Pineside
MOUNT ADAMS
East Side Ski Trails: Located on the Washington side of the Gorge just a few miles north of Trout Lake are the East Side Ski Trails, which are Mosier Twin Tunnels
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Mosier Twin Tunnels: Snowfall in the Gorge isn’t rare, but most of the time, there’s not enough to play in. On the occasion that there is, take advantage of it, because accessible trails that are popular in the summer for hiking become even more gorgeous in winter, making a cross-country ski adventure here a real treat. The Mosier Twin Tunnels Trail (part of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail) on the east side of Hood River is a great example. It can be hilly in spots, but with a paved path that meanders through woods and past stunning overlooks, this trail is ideal for cross-country skiing when there’s only a few inches of snow, although I recommend using skis that you don’t care about scratching in the event that you kick and glide over some asphalt (make sure you turn around or clip out at the tunnels). You’ll need an Oregon State Parks permit ($5/day or $30/year) to park in the Mark O. Hatfield Trailhead lots. stateparks.oregon.gov and enter Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail Klickitat Trail: I’ve hiked on this trail plenty of times in the spring and fall, but have never gotten around to doing it in the winter. This railroad-grade trail that meanders alongside the scenic Klickitat River (the trailhead outside of Lyle is a great place to start) would likely make an absolutely fantastic cross-country skiing outing, especially during bald eagle mating season in January. No fee is required, but the trail does get rocky a couple of miles in, so a significant amount of snow (probably a foot or more) would be needed for a longer tour. klickitat-trail.org
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20 WINTER 2021-22 II THE GORGE MAGAZINE
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Ben Mitchell is a writer/filmmaker who lives in Hood River. He’s a frequent contributor to The Gorge Magazine.
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OUR GORGE I IMBIBE
Lance Koudele, Carson Artac (bottom left)
Cocktail Hour With a Twist Hood River-based Wilderton takes alcohol-free spirits to a whole new level story by JANET COOK | photos courtesy of WILDERTON
Brad Whiting knows whiskey. And bourbon. And gin. And vodka. He spent 14 years at Hood River Distillers, where he started in purchasing and eventually became director of distilling and procurement at the Hood River-based company. His job took him to far-flung destinations, where he learned the intricacies of distilling techniques and tasted regional spirits — bourbon in Kentucky, rum in the Caribbean, tequila in Mexico. “I fell in love with the art and science of distilling,” said Whiting, who also managed Clear Creek Distillery in Portland after HRD purchased the craft distillery known for its fruit brandies and liqueurs. So when he left his job in 2018 to strike out on his own, the natural thing would have been to launch a craft distillery, pouring his passion and considerable expertise into making his own versions of whiskey and the like. What he did instead was to launch Wilderton, a craft distillery that makes non-alcoholic spirits. “I sort of had this epiphany,” Whiting said. As much as he loved being immersed in the world of distilling, he knew it wasn’t the healthiest lifestyle. In his mid-forties, with a young child and an active lifestyle, he felt the need for a change. “But I didn’t want to leave that culture,” he added. Whiting set his sights on creating a non-alcoholic craft spirit that would stand on its own. “I didn’t want to just make a non-alcoholic version of whiskey,” he said. He was intrigued 22
WINTER 2021-22 II THE GORGE MAGAZINE
David Reamer
by British startup Seedlip, which was making non-alcoholic spirits from distilled botanicals. “I loved the idea of what they were doing,” he said. “But when I tried it and learned their story, it fell flat for me.” He began knocking on doors and talking with distillers — lots of them — about what he wanted to do, but he couldn’t get any traction. That is, until he connected with Portlander Seth O’Malley, who for years was head distiller at Portland’s Townshends Distillery, known for its unique, tea-based spirits. “I had heard of Seth and tasted his amazing botanical spirits, but we had never met,” said Whiting. Seth O’Malley and Brad Whiting, inset, bring complementary backgrounds to their non-alcoholic spirits venture.
Amarett Jans (both images)
O’Malley inspects a batch of orris root sourced from Albania, right. Above, he adds hot water to a bin of botanicals to start the steeping process.
“When I talked to Seth for the first time, his eyes lit up,” Whiting recalled. “He said, ‘I have no idea if we can do that, but I’m super intrigued.’” O’Malley has long had a fascination with all things botanical, and has been experimenting with them for years in everything from the culinary realm to tea, kombucha and perfume. With O’Malley’s botanical expertise and Whiting’s vision of creating zero-proof spirits worthy of an elevated drinking experience, the two set to work. They began experimenting with O’Malley’s huge library of raw botanical samples, including dried tea, leaves, flowers, roots, bark and resins — eventually going beyond O’Malley’s stock to source wild plants from around the world. “We weren’t trying to emulate an existing spirit, but come up with something completely different,” Whiting said. They were looking for intensity, balance and “a little bit of burn,” Whiting said. “It’s finding the balance of how to get all that into a liquid,” he added. “Seth is the mastermind behind it. He understands how different botanicals extract.” They landed on a production method that starts with essentially making a complex and powerful herbal tea from a multitude of raw botanicals. “A reference point that sometimes hits home for folks who know anything about spirits is that we use approximately 10 times more botanicals by weight than would be used to make a typical gin,” Whiting said. Then, it’s distilled through a vacuum still using spinning cone technology.
“This is really where the magic happens,” Whiting said. “The vacuum still distills at a very low temperature and very quickly, both of which are much gentler on our delicate botanical aromas and allow us to hyper-concentrate and clarify them without distortion.” In a “normal” still where the brew would boil at over 200 degrees, “our liquids would be much less complex,” he added.
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THE GORGE MAGAZINE II WINTER 2021-22
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Wilderton’s two distillates are Earthen and Lustre, each with its own complex and vastly different flavor profile.
What Whiting had envisioned taking months ended up being a nearly-two-year process of perfecting recipes and methods. “It took a lot longer than I expected,” he said, laughing. But the result has been worth the journey. In December 2020, Wilderton debuted with two non-alcoholic spirits: Lustre and Earthen. “Lustre is the light version,” Whiting said. “Everything in it is bright and boisterous.” Earthen is more “bass,” he added, using a musical analogy. Lustre’s ingredients include bitter orange, tarragon and lavender, which combine for citrus, herbaceous and floral notes. Earthen has flavors of white peppercorn, pine-
Lance Koudele
smoked tea and cardamom, creating a profile encompassing exotic spices, wood and smoke. Although the flavors are complex, there are still “identifiable tastes as it spends time in your mouth,” Whiting explained. “The complexity plays two roles. At the bar, it can be the base of a cocktail. At home, that complexity makes it so you can make a cocktail and not have to mix 17 things with it.” Wilderton enters the non-alcoholic marketplace at an opportune time. The no- and lowalcohol beverage sector has been growing steadily for several years, with explosive growth during the last year alone. According to data and analytics firm NielsenIQ, zero-proof spirits sales grew
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WINTER 2021-22 II THE GORGE MAGAZINE
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113 percent over the last year. Nielsen also found that 78 percent of non-alcoholic beverage buyers were also purchasing alcoholic beer, wine or spirits, suggesting that moderation is a factor. “Non-drinkers have been the seed of the non-alc industry,” Whiting said. “But for us, the opportune space is the person who is reassessing their relationship with alcohol.” Wilderton can provide a pacing opportunity, he adds, and a heightened drinking experience when an alcoholic beverage isn’t warranted. It can also appeal to a broad realm of occasions and gathering places. “We’re spirits-adjacent,” Whiting said, “but we can also be in, for example, forward-looking coffee shops.” Wilderton is already doing well in specialty groceries around the region, including New Seasons and Zupan’s Markets. “When we get people to taste it, they get it right out of the gate.” Ultimately, Wilderton gives people looking for a non-alcoholic alternative the opportunity to go beyond the “mocktail” — a term Whiting dislikes. In fact, he wants to break down the assumption that a cocktail has to be made with alcohol. “It’s about, here’s a unique flavor for your cocktail that happens to be non-alcoholic,” he said. Whiting thinks we’re in the early stages in the evolution of nonalcoholic spirits. “I think we’re at about 20 percent of where we’re going. In two or three years, my vision is that in bars there will be a cocktail list, and some drinks are alcoholic and some are non-alcoholic,” Whiting said. “I’m here,” he added, “to elevate it.” To learn more, go to wildertonfree.com
HOLIDAY COCKTAIL COURTESY OF WILDERTON
Amy Holt of Peas Thank You
THE “APPLE VALLEY” 2 oz Fresh Apple Cider 2 oz Wilderton Earthen 1/4 oz Fresh lemon juice 1/4 oz Simple syrup 2 dashes Aromatic bitters, such as Angostura
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, stir, and pour into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with a star anise and/or orange peel.
Muddle and Wilde
26 WINTER 2021-22 II THE GORGE MAGAZINE
Come stay a while.
N E W L O C AT I O N 7 0 8 O A K S T.
Columbia River Gorge Residential Real Estate Market Update WASCO COUNTY
SOLD
290 AVG. SOLD $
JAN21 - OCT21
ACTIVE PENDING
35 47 $360,000
LUXURY - $1M+
SOLD
2
AVG. SOLD $
ACTIVE PENDING
6 1 $1,380,000
HOOD JAN21- -OCT21 OCT21 LUXURY - $1M+ HOOD RIVER RIVER COUNTY COUNTY JAN21
SOLD
210 AVG. SOLD $
ACTIVE PENDING
19 42 $610,000
KLICKITAT COUNTY
SOLD
229 AVG. SOLD $
ACTIVE PENDING
63 46 $439,000
SKAMANIA COUNTY
SOLD
93
AVG. SOLD $
JAN21 - OCT21
JAN21 - OCT21
ACTIVE PENDING
19 25 $480,000
SOLD
35
AVG. SOLD $
ACTIVE PENDING
10 5 $1,320,000
LUXURY - $1M+
SOLD
11
AVG. SOLD $
ACTIVE PENDING
6 6 $1,420,000
LUXURY - $1M+
SOLD
4
AVG. SOLD $
ACTIVE PENDING
1 1 $2,100,000
INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE RMLS. RESIDENTIAL: UNDER $1M, ATTACHED, DETACHED, CONDO & MFG. LUXURY: RESIDENTIAL OVER $1M. ATTACHED, DETACHED, & CONDO
Windermere Real Estate Columbia River Gorge
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gorgewindermere.com
LOC A L | E S TA B LI S H E D | G LO BA LLY CO N N EC TE D TYGH VALLEY
240 ACRE PEAR & CHERRY ORCHARD
$1,500,000
RMLS 21351235
THE DALLES
$1,100,000
4 BED / 3.5 BATH / 4,893 S.F. / 1 ACRE
RMLS 21678945
PENDING
CONNIE THOMASIAN
CONNIE THOMASIAN
REAL ESTATE BROKER | OR & WA 541-288-7288 conniethomasian@gmail.com
THE DALLES
5 BED / 3 BATH / 4,380 S.F. / 0.23 ACRE
$575,000
RMLS 21102728
REAL ESTATE BROKER | OR & WA 541-288-7288 conniethomasian@gmail.com
THE DALLES
3 BED / 2.5 BATH / 1,603 S.F. / 0.21 ACRE
$544,000
RMLS 21333840
RIVER VIEW
PENDING LISTED BY KIM CHAMNESS
SHAY RYAN-BLAKESLEE REAL ESTATE BROKER | OR & WA 503-819-6419 srblakeslee@windermere.com
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
CONNIE THOMASIAN
REAL ESTATE BROKER | OR & WA 541-288-7288 conniethomasian@gmail.com
HOOD RIVER THE DALLES CASCADE LOCKS GOLDENDALE BINGEN WHITE SALMON STEVENSON
LO C A L | E S TA B LI S H E D | G LO BA LLY CO N N EC TE D THE DALLES
19 SPACE RV PARK | 3 MFH SPACES
$950,000
RMLS 21239711
gorgewindermere.com
HOOD RIVER
ZONED C2 / 3,876 S.F. / 0.40 ACRE
$1,900,000 RMLS 21229111
PENDING
ANDREA WOOD
CONNIE THOMASIAN
REAL ESTATE BROKER | OR 541-386-5609 andreawood@windermere.com
REAL ESTATE BROKER | OR & WA 541-288-7288 conniethomasian@gmail.com
WHITE SALMON
2 BED / 3 BATH / 2,297 S.F. / 2.13 ACRES
$2,300,000 RMLS 21452121
WHITE SALMON
4 BED / 2 BATH / 2,017 S.F. / 0.50 ACRE
$739,000
RMLS 21138678
PENDING
PENDING TANNER HALL / ALISHA NIGHTINGALE REAL ESTATE BROKERS | OR & WA 253-985-5400 tanner.grg@windermere.com
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
CAROL THAYER
REAL ESTATE BROKER | OR & WA 360-904-4778 carolthayer@windermere.com
HOOD RIVER THE DALLES CASCADE LOCKS GOLDENDALE BINGEN WHITE SALMON STEVENSON
LO C A L | E S TA B LI S H E D | G LO BA LLY CO N N EC TE D STEVENSON
4 BED / 2.5 BATH / 2,728 SF / 2.1 ACRES
$739,000
RMLS 21100700
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NORTH BONNEVILLE
3 BED / 2 BATH / 2,316 S.F. / 2.05 ACRES.
$895,000
RMLS 21425803
PENDING
PENDING
RACHEL BROUGHTON
REAL ESTATE BROKER | OR & WA 541-921-3458 rbroughton@windermere.com
NORTH BONNEVILLE
4 BED / 2.5 BATH / 2,034 S.F. / 0.47 ACRE
$649,900
RMLS 21376335
JACKSON VANDERPOOL REAL ESTATE BROKER | OR & WA 360-600-6997 jacksondv@windermere.com
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
JIM JOSEPH
REAL ESTATE BROKER | WA 541-490-6899 jimljoseph88@gmail.com
SKAMANIA LANDING
$695,000
RMLS 21300700
3 BED / 2 BATH / 1,953 SF / LAKE VIEW
CAROL BRADLEY
REAL ESTATE BROKER | WA 971-533-3646 carolbradley@windermere.com
HOOD RIVER THE DALLES CASCADE LOCKS GOLDENDALE BINGEN WHITE SALMON STEVENSON
Into the
Wilderness Jocelyn Akins has found her life’s work by going deep into the Cascade Mountains to study some of the rarest animals that live there Story by DAVID HANSON Photos by MICHAEL HANSON and courtesy of JOCELYN AKINS
SNOWMOBILE WON’T START. AGAIN.
The pink and purple Atari-like graphics on the sled’s hood give away the machine’s advanced age. No surprise it’s refusing to crank. Strapped to the back of the sled are touring skis, a small backpack, and a frozen, sinewy beaver carcass, its pelt removed. Jocelyn Akins, a Hood River-based wildlife biologist, is 10 miles in to the Mount Adams backcountry, in the sub-alpine’s black and silver forest of burned fir trees. A useless snowmobile would set off a series of extremely problematic steps to return home. Akins calmly retrieves her greasy tool kit and peels back the hood with a smile on her face confirming that this is nothing new. With a fresh spark plug and an aggressive yank on the pull cord, she gets the 1996 Phazer humming again and she’s off, higher up the flank of Mount Adams. Just before reaching tree line (and the wilderness boundary) she parks the sled and clips into backcountry skis to climb another 500 feet to what seems to be the mountain’s highest pocket of stubby sub-alpine fir trees. Then the science begins.
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Akins, 43, founded the Cascades Carnivore Project (CCP) in 2008 to study the presence and conservation needs of some of the rarest animals in the Cascades: wolverine, Canada lynx, fisher, and the Cascade red fox. In 2018 she discovered Pepper and her two kits (offspring), the first wolverines reproducing in Washington’s South Cascades in a century. Akins documented the wolverine Joni and her mate Van who reproduced two kits in 2020 on Mount Rainier, the first time in the national park in a century, and then reproduced another two kits in 2021. “These discoveries have been incredibly exciting,” Akins says. “A single animal is not a population, but females and their kits give hope that wolverines are gaining ground in the region.” From the Columbia River to the Canadian border, Akins ventures deep and high into the mountains where she finds trees to construct imaginative scaffolds, planks and ladders leading to bait — beaver carcass, deer head, elk femur. She mounts wildlife cameras on nearby trees and sets them to trigger with an animal’s movement. The traps’ custom designs accomplish three things: attract the animal; encourage the animal to climb in a way that exposes its chest and throat so the camera can capture identifying characteristics; and catch the animal’s fur (DNA) on strategically placed rough spots. For Akins, the better she knows the animals, the better her research can speak up for them and what they need to thrive as climate changes and recreational pressures increase in the mountains. The wolverine was extirpated from Washington state in the 1920s due to fur trapping and accidental deaths from traps meant for other predators. They have recently trickled back in to the Washington Cascades from British Columbia and Alberta. Akins estimates their numbers in Washington to be only 40-50, and other researchers estimate between
Jocelyn Akins notes Pacific marten tracks in the Mount Adams backcountry, above, and prepares to set a wolverine monitoring station with bait on the north side of the mountain, below.
THE GORGE MAGAZINE II WINTER 2021-22 33
Jocelyn Akins hoists a frozen beaver carcass as bait for a wolverine monitoring station on Mount Adams. 290-1,000 live in the contiguous U.S. By necessity they are extremely elusive, solitary animals. Their oversized paws act like snowshoes as they travel over territories of roughly 50 square miles. For winter shelter, they burrow 15 feet into snow, and they’ll use other snow pits as freezers to bury carcasses for later consumption, the frozen meat torn from the bone thanks to a unique sideways-aligned molar. The Cascade red fox is perhaps more threatened than the wolverine, though neither are listed as threatened species (the red fox might be listed in Washington by 2022). A product of the Ice Age when it roamed the frigid present-day Midwest, the cold-weather-adapted fox evolved to become distinct from the lowland red fox. As the Ice Age glaciers receded and temperatures warmed, the Cascade red fox, distinguished by its white-tipped tail, followed the cold. The Cascades now act as sky-island refuges for the furtive species. Akins picked some hard animals to know. “I’m definitely driven by the fact that these animals live in super
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rugged places,” Akins says. “I can go out and do the research where maybe others can’t or aren’t willing to.” _ There’s a romance to the wildlife biology profession: Goodall (apes), Birute Galdikas (orangutans), Darwin (everything). But to do it right requires near complete commitment to a particular species, which requires being in their habitat as much as possible. From a young age Akins’ dad would coerce her and her siblings onto early morning slogs ascending through dark forests to dewy wildflower meadows until they reached her dad’s Shangri-La, the rugged alpine, a place as unforgiving as it was liberating. “It wasn’t fun at all as a kid,” Akins recalls. “But when you left the forest, things opened up, and then it’s like the Sound of Music up there, walking along ridge tops. My dad only liked the alpine. The forest was too hemmed in.” Grizzly bears were her first love. Akins followed them into Alberta
Wolverine “Joni” and kits
Wolverine “Wildy”
At right, Akins with a custom designed wolverine monitoring station, and below, setting a camera at a multi-species monitoring station.
and greater Yellowstone. That research contributed to listing the grizzly as threatened in Alberta. But bears hibernate, so what to do in the winter? Akins spent some months tracing the writings of Alfred Russel Wallace and David Quammen in Indonesia. She went to the Canadian Arctic eight times with a geologist to find diamonds. Ultimately, she completed her doctoral research on the Cascade red fox. She directed her career toward that species, coupled with wolverine, ensuring she’d be spending her time where she first learned to love the outdoors as a kid. “A lot of science is about asking the question and then seeking an answer,” she says. “But what if that answer is hidden in some tropical jungle on the other side of the world? I decided to base my work in the place where I wanted to be.” There’s an obvious parallel between Akins and her four-legged scientific subjects. They seek the rugged places for the solitude. Being able to survive up high in winter affords the wolverine and Cascade red fox an advantage since they don’t have to compete with other animals for food up high. Akins, too, benefits from the scarcity of science in her chosen field: as they say, if it was easy, everyone would do it.
Her work is physically challenging, but it’s unconventional in a professional way, as well. Akins ensured scientific autonomy for herself by creating CCP, her own nongovernmental research organization. With CCP she has near-complete freedom to answer the questions she wants to ask. But it’s risky. She has to develop and maintain funding. Sometimes she has to rely on cranky old snowmobiles. And she has to continue venturing deep into the mountains, regardless of weather or available resources or the variabilities of being a mom herself (now, like her dad, “encouraging” her own kids into the alpine). She’s running a small business dictated by the rigors of science and a belief in the value of presenting, with evidence, indisputable facts. “This is a total life’s work for me,” Akins says. “To understand the natural history of these species and how they fit into the overall mountain ecosystem. And how climate change is impacting them because things are changing fast in the mountains.” Cascades Carnivore Project has opportunities for community volunteers to participate in carnivore monitoring and research — both in the field and from home. Donations are also welcome: cascadescarnivore.org
David Hanson is a writer, photographer and video producer based in Hood River. Find his editorial and commercial work at ModocStories.com and weddings at CascadiaStudios.com.
Wolverine “Wildy”
Wolverine “Joni” and kits
Wolverine “Pepper” THE GORGE MAGAZINE II WINTER 2021-22 35
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Health + Wellness RESOURCE GUIDE TO THE GORGE
As we head into the second winter of the coronavirus pandemic, we’d like to offer a special thankyou to the many dedicated healthcare professionals in the Gorge who have worked so hard over the last year and a half to help our communities get through these challenging times. With widelyavailable vaccines and boosters, and lingering mitigation measures, there’s hope that the virus will continue to recede. Unfortunately, it’s not over, and we appreciate our healthcare providers who continue to be there for patients day in and day out, despite the many hardships they endure. We’re fortunate here in the Gorge to have top-notch providers in every field, as well as several highlyrated hospitals, providing solutions to all of our healthcare needs. We salute all healthcare workers for their commitment to the health and wellness of our communities. Thank you for all you do!
Paloma Ayala/ stock.adobe.com
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Hood River County Health Department 541-386-1115 hoodrivercounty.gov/health
LICENSED DENTURIST DENTURIST
North Central Public Health District (Wasco, Sherman & Gilliam counties) 541-506-2600 ncphd.org
Our board-certified urologist, Dr. Amanda VanDlac, provides exceptional care and treatment for all urologic conditions.
Klickitat County Health Department 509-493-1558 (White Salmon office) 509-773-4565 (Goldendale office) klickitatcounty.org/289/Public-Health
UROLOGY HOOD RIVER
Skamania County Community Health 509-427-3850 skamaniacounty.org/ departments-offices/community-health
(503) 488-2323 | oregonclinic.com 1790 May Street, Hood River, OR 97031
Excellence in denture care! Melanie E. Chapman LICENSED Melanie E. DENTURIST Chapman LICENSED DENTURIST
FREE Chris R.
CONSULTATION
Chapman
Chris R. Chapman LICENSED Chris R. DENTURIST Chapman LICENSED DENTURIST
Excellence Excellence
Two offices to serve you! Hood River 926 12th Street | 541-386-2012 The Dalles 414 Washington St. | 541-296-3310
Current COVID 19 precautions are being taken
FREE FREE
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CONSULTATION
s p e c i a l
a d v e r t i s i n g
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MEETING EACH OTHER WHERE WE ARE, NOT WHERE WE WANT EACH OTHER TO BE It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. – Frederick Douglass
Breathe Healthier Breathe Healthier T Breathe Live Better Healthier Live Better he above statement speaks to the work we can do as parents, communities and a society to build strong, confident children. I believe a good rule to live by when raising children is “Better a broken bone than a broken spirit,” which was poignantly expressed by Lady Allen of Hurtwood, a prominent promoter of child welfare. As a social worker, I continually do research and am currently being inspired by the work of Wendy Mogel, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist who wrote the book, “The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Raising Self-Reliant Children.” She speaks to the importance of meeting our kids where they are, not where we want them to be. I find this to be good wisdom and sound advice in helping us to provide the kind of guidance children need, as well as inspiring us to support one another. Meeting someone where they are – whether a child or adult – means putting aside our wants for them and endeavoring to understand where they are in their journey. It begins by listening without judgment, asking questions openly and honestly, and above all recognizing they are human. As a therapist, I aspire to meet my patients where they are – giving them what they need when they need it. If you or someone you may know would benefit from speaking to a professional, call Skyline Health Medical Clinic at 509-637-2810 or visit myskylinehealth.org. We are here to help.
Live Better Skyline Health Medical Clinic Counselor KRISTOFFER LINDSTROM, LINDSTROM, MSW, LICSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Washington & Oregon
Breathe Healthier What's Your Reason to What's Your Reason to Breathe Healthier Quit Quit Smoking? LiveSmoking? Better Live Better At Skyline Health, we understand taking care of the mind and body is essential to achieving better health and stronger individuals. You can trust our friendly, compassionate staff to be your partner in health – working diligently to provide the highest quality of care at every stage of life. Caring for you and caring about you.
What's Your Reason to Talk to your Health Care Team Talk to your Health Care Team A Tobacco Cessation Specialist is A Tobacco Cessation Specialist is Quit Smoking? ready to help! ready to help!
Breathe What's Your Reason to What's Your Reason to Mid-Columbia Medical Center 541-506-5819 Mid-Columbia Medical Center 541-506-5819 Healthier One Community Health HR 541-386-6380 One Community Health HR 541-386-6380 Quit Smoking? Quit Smoking? One Community Health TD 541-296-4610 One Community Talk to your Health Care Team Health TD 541-296-4610 Live A Tobacco Cessation Specialist is Better to your Talk to your Talk Health CareHealth Team Care Team ready to help!
A TobaccoSpecialist Cessation A Tobacco Cessation is Specialist is Mid-Columbia Medical ready toCenter help! 541-506-5819 ready to help! One Community Health HR 541-386-6380 Mid-Columbia Medical Center Mid-Columbia Medical Center 541-506-5819 One Community Health TD541-506-5819 541-296-4610 One Community Health HR 541-386-6380 One Community Health HR 541-386-6380 One Community Health TD 541-296-4610 One Community Health TD 541-296-4610
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Creating Healthy Smiles For A Lifetime! The premier pediatric dental specialists in the gorge!
Meet Dr. Renelle Conner Dr. Renelle Conner is enthusiastic about providing excellent orthodontic care for children, teens, and adults. “I love working with people and changing smiles. Changing a smile, builds confidence. Building confidence for a person, changes their life! My career as an Orthodontist allows for a beautiful melding of biology, chemistry, psychology and art, which I utilize to feed my passion for creating beautiful smiles in confident faces.” Dr. Conner grew up in a small town in Washington. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Eastern Washington University. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree she went on to excel in dental school, earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree, from the University of Washington. Following dental school, Dr. Conner received a Master’s in Orthodontics from A.T. Still University- Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health. Dr. Conner’s hobbies include decorating cakes, making espresso, and reading. She also enjoys traveling, meeting new people,
and trying new things.
Free dental exams for children 3 and undeR Call and set up a free consultation for braces at either location. We are accepting new patients.
541.387.8688 419 State St. Suite 4 Hood River
541.296.8901
1935 E. 19th St. Suite 200 The Dalles
S O L E A Offering dental laser technology Anesthesia and pain free dentistry
J. Kyle House DDS, FAAPD Pediatric Dentist
s p e c i a l
a d v e r t i s i n g
s e c t i o n
ALLERGIES IN THE GORGE: NOT JUST A SEASONAL PROBLEM
T
he allergy season in the Columbia River Gorge can be a real challenge for many people. The Gorge is unique in that we are in a wind-dominated corridor; we get allergens/pollens from the east and west, depending on the prevailing wind, as well as our local allergens. Some plant pollens do have predominant seasons, but it is common for patients to be allergic to different things in multiple seasons. Wintertime allergens are frequently mold and dust mites. Tree pollen allergies dominate spring. In summer, grass pollens prevail and can be particularly problematic and long-lasting. This is also the time of year when stinging insect allergies cause problems that can be life-threatening for the sensitive allergic patient. Fall takes us into the weed season. Patients with animal allergies (including household pets) suffer all year around. Common allergy symptoms include: fatigue due to poor sleep, stuffy or runny nose, drainage in the back of your throat, cough, difficulty controlling asthma and/or eczema, itchy eyes, and sometimes rash or anaphylaxis. There are several measures you can take in your home if you are allergic. If you have wintertime symptoms, you should invest in dust mite covers for your mattress and pillows. You will want to minimize “clutter” in your sleeping area. If you were thinking about getting rid of carpet in your bedroom, you can add one more reason to your list. You can also add an air filter to your sleeping space. If you have animal allergies, you don’t need to get rid of your pets but if you can keep them out of your sleeping space and the area you spend the most time each day, you can minimize exposure. If you have forced air heat, you will
COMPREHENSIVE ALLERGY TESTING AND TREATMENT SPECIALTY ENT CARE We’re open in our NEW LOCATION at 1784 May St., in the Hood River Heights. Our clinic features a large, family-friendly waiting area and an expanded allergy testing and treatment space. Free parking is available in the clinic parking lot. We’re committed to providing personalized, comprehensive care for all ages in a friendly, patient-centered environment. In addition to comprehensive allergy testing & treatment, we provide specialty ENT care for:
Sinus Disease Asthma Ear infections Meniere’s Disease Ear Wax Vertigo
Earaches Tinnitus Hearing Loss Hoarseness Tonsils & Adenoids Sore Throat
Hyperthyroidism Salivary Gland Disease Thyroid Disease/Goiter LPRD/GERD Parathyroid Disease Pediatric ENT Health
want to make sure you change the filters annually. Allergen vacuum bags are also a good idea and are inexpensive and easy to find (Ace hardware, Home Depot etc.). When allergies become problematic enough that they prevent you from pursuing normal activities such as exercise, outdoor recreation, enjoying public gatherings or eating out, it is time to seek medical counseling. Allergy testing and specific treatment based on the results of these tests can drastically improve quality of life and sleep for most allergic patients, and be life saving for those who suffer from anaphylactic level reactions.
Dr. Mendy Maccabee, Board Certified ENT and Allergy Care FACS, FAAOA Left to right: Cathie Ward RNBSN, Gabriela Benavides CMA, Stephanie Serak Office Manager, Mendy Maccabee MD FACS FAAOA, Amanda Alvarez MA, Lisa Sponhauer NP
1784 May St., Hood River, OR 97031 • O: 541-436-3880 • F: 541-436-3881 • mendymaccabeeENT.com 40
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HEALTHY CONNECTIONS Jefferey Horacek, MD Internal and Functional Medicine Physician Heather Nielsen Horacek, LPC, CHWC Counselor/Health Coach, Practice Administrator
Do you long for a health care provider that sees and understands you, and makes time for your story? At Healthy Connections, the relationships with our clients are our #1 value and priority. We limit our practice membership in order to give each client the time and caring attention necessary to restore and promote wellness. Healthy Connections provides a unique medical service in the Columbia Gorge. Combining personalized internal medicine expertise
with deep-dive functional medicine diagnostic and evaluation tools, Jeff Horacek, M.D., helps his clients resolve their health issues, understand what is “too much” and “not enough” in their life that might be helping or harming them, and create new, lasting health habits for optimal longevity. Dr. Horacek brings to his practice nearly 30 years of experience as a primary care physician, with a compassionate heart, a detective’s mind, and a strong passion for helping others heal and thrive. Together with his wife, Heather, a mental health counselor, mindfulness teacher and wellness coach, their team approach is based on the following: • Belief in our clients’ wisdom and motivation. • Holistic care, focusing on mind, body and spirit. • Appreciation of the complex interconnections of our body systems (our gut is connected to our brain which is connected to our hormones, etc.). • A focus on optimal health – not just the absence of symptoms or dis-ease. • A collaborative partnership with each client to take an active role in health restoration. • A preference for natural, non-toxic therapies – harnessing the body’s ability to heal itself. HEALTHY CONNECTIONS has a new Hybrid Insurance+Membership Model, billing most major insurance companies and including many non-covered services with our membership fee. We are currently accepting new clients. healthyconnectionshr.com 541-716-5786 33 Nichols Parkway, Suite 300, Hood River
P R E PA R E D N E S S T I P S
GET READY
GORGE
Make a family emergency plan – What’s on your evacuation list?
Pack a Go-Kit for car.
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES • Build a Go-Kit of emergency supplies. Start with your camping or travel box • Stock up – 3 days to 3 weeks • Use the Go-Kit checklist here: https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit • Have a Go-Kit in your car year ‘round • Expect power outages and find alternatives
FAMILY EMERGENCY PLANS • Opt-in to Hood River County Citizen Alerts: www.HoodRiverSheriff.com/ events/emergency-alerts • Think about your family plans – an out of state contact you all call to check in; safe meeting places; how you would reconnect if separated. • Practice it – talk through as a family
www.GetReadyGorge.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/hrcso
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ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
BIRDS
OF
PREY
THE ANNUAL WINTER RAPTOR SURVEY OFFERS A WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER THE CHANCE TO OBSERVE THE BIRDS THROUGH HER LENS Story and photos by Linda Steider
T
oward the end of each year, I look forward to my winter raptor surveys as a volunteer for East Cascades Audubon Society. I began in the winter of 2015-16 when an “open call” for volunteers came through our local birding group to pick up an established survey route. That compelled me to take a series of workshops to learn more about birds of prey, including where to find them, distinguishing characteristics, and how they live, breed and die. Jeff Fleischer is our project coordinator, as well as a generous mentor and cheerleader. He founded Winter Raptor Surveys in 2004-05 in Oregon, which is a prime area for wintering raptors, and included the initial Gorge territories of Hood River, The Dalles to Dufur, and Maupin. He continued to expand it, adding the Washington side of the Gorge in 2010-11. Our surveys now cover all of Oregon, most of Washington and Idaho, as well as small segments in northern California and northeast Utah. There are currently more than 452 routes with 350 volunteers. Once a month, I drive two established routes. My original route is along the Washington side of the Columbia from Bingen to Dallesport, including many side roads leading to open fields and forests. This allows an opportunity to see all the various species we have. We’re careful to not interrupt the lives of raptors, to quietly observe them from a distance. When stopping too close to a bird of prey, it will fly away, using energy it needs for hunting, especially during a bleak winter. Watching their behavior through binoculars or a long camera lens from farther away offers a more natural observation and is truly an amazing experience. Territory disputes, mating rituals, nesting, hunting or fishing, and eating — these behaviors are fascinating to watch and an education in itself.
JUVENILE BALD EAGLE
Each raptor is counted and entered into a data form which is electronically submitted after each survey. Fleischer compiles all the routes into charts and an interactive map on the East Cascades Audubon Society website. Our recorded data from December through February (and optional months of November and March) helps determine wintering populations of raptors in the Gorge and across the Pacific Northwest. The two main reasons I volunteer are to place myself where the raptors are to further study and photograph them, and to gain firsthand knowledge about the well-being and lives of our local raptor population. If you’d like to learn more about raptors and our surveys, Jeff Fleischer has a slide show presentation at ecaudubon.org/wrs-ppt.
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RED-TAILED HAWKS
AMERICAN KESTRELS
AMERICAN KESTRELS, the smallest of our raptors and part of the falcon family, are often seen perched on utility wires and poles near an open field. They hover or “kite,” then dive for their prey which include snakes, rodents, insects and birds. They’re one of the few raptors with distinguishing colors between males and females; the males have blue bars on their wings from the shoulder to the tip. The oldest Kestrel found in the wild was almost 15 years old. RED-TAILED HAWKS are among the most common raptors found and are the most diverse in color; although they always have a dark head, light chest and dark belly band. The darkest, “Harlan’s,” are nearly black while the lightest, ‘Krider’s’ are almost white. With rare exceptions, adults have a red tail. In the wild, these hawks live less than 12 years. In captivity, they can live as long as 30 years. They return to the same area each year but not necessarily the same nest. Look for them perched at the top of power poles and soaring in flight. They hunt for snakes, rodents, small mammals and birds.
GORGEAREA
BALD EAGLES
RAPTORS
NORTHERN HARRIERS
NORTHERN HARRIERS are found flying low over open fields and marshes, often in an easy glide hunting for rodents, small mammals and birds. They are easily identified by their white ‘rump’ and round owl-like facial disk. Females are brown and white-streaked, while males are gray and white, thus called a “Gray Ghost.” They nest on the ground in dense vegetation and the male will mate with up to five females if the food source is plentiful. The oldest found was a 15 year old female.
BALD EAGLES mate for life and return to the same nest site each year where both parents share nest duty. You’ll find the greatest numbers of eagles at the confluence of all our rivers that flow into the Columbia and at both dams, following their food source. They eat fish but also birds, reptiles, amphibians, small- to mediumsized mammals and carrion. Non-residents start returning to the Gorge around Thanksgiving. Eagles can be long-lived — the oldest one found in the wild was more than 38 years old. By 4.5 to 5 years old, their head and tail have turned completely white. Newly fledged eagles have the darkest feathers with dark beaks and eyes. Sub-adults are often mistaken as Golden Eagles, but in flight, they can be recognized by the white patches of feathers in their “armpits,” and when perched you’ll see their legs are not feathered.
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ROUGHLEGGED HAWKS
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS have a white head with “Cleopatra eye-liner” flowing out from their eyes, a white chest, dark belly band and a white tail with dark tips. Their legs are “feathered to the toes.” Rare dark morphs are close to black and can be confused with Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawks. They are typically found on the east side of the Gorge, especially in open fields either perched on utility poles or hovering like Kestrels over their prey. Their diet consists mainly of rodents and small mammals with an occasional bird, frog or insect. They nest on cliffs in the Arctic and the oldest found was almost 18 years old.
GORGE-AREA RAPTORS
GOLDEN EAGLES
GOLDEN EAGLES are generally found near Lyle and east, are cliff nesters and the largest raptor found in the Gorge. Sub-adults have white “wrist” patches and white tail feathers with dark tips. The adults are mottled brown with a two-toned underwing. Both have a golden nape and smaller beak than Bald Eagles. If you find one perched in a tree or pole, you’ll notice their legs are “feathered to the toes.” Goldens feast on mammals, birds, fish and carrion. They are able to take down large birds the size of swans and mammals the size of sheep. Fast flyers, they can reach falcon speeds and are long lived, close to 30 years or more.
PEREGRINE FALCON
PRAIRIE FALCONS
PRAIRIE FALCONS, found on the east side of the Gorge, have creamy white bellies with dark spotting, tan or light gray backs, typical falcon “side burns,” and a white “eyebrow.” They nest in scrapes on cliff cavities, along rim rock canyons and buttes. They eat small mammals, insects and birds, and they steal rodents from other raptors. They only live 2.5 to 5 years in the wild. Prairie Falcon fledglings will stay near their scrape as their muscles further develop, perfecting their flight and hunting skills for a couple of weeks.
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PEREGRINE FALCON numbers are increasing and they are frequently spotted in rocky cliffs along the Columbia River as well as perched on high utility tower and pole perches. They are the fastest bird in the world, diving over 200 mph in pursuit of prey and have a normal cruising speed of 24 to 33 mph. Peregrines eat rodents, birds and bats. Mates exchange food in flight as do parents and fledglings. They nest on high cliffs away from predators and typically lay eggs on bare rock or take over an old hawk or raven nest. They have a dark “helmet” head, heavy dark cheek patches and black or dark steel-blue coloring on their outer wings. Males are bluer than females and their average lifespan is 7 to 15 years, although the oldest found was nearly 20.
COOPER’S HAWKS
GREAT HORNED OWLS GREAT HORNED OWLS are our most common owl and found throughout the Gorge. They nest in tree cavities, holes in cliff sides and will take over hawk’s nests. Their soft wings allow them to fly silently through a forest or open field searching for prey at night, which are mammals, birds and reptiles. Big yellow eyes, ear tufts and a white throat top a mottled brown, gray and buff-colored body. Feather patterns blend in with the bark of a tree so they can be difficult to find in daylight, but look for a bump that doesn’t belong to the tree shape. In captivity, a Great Horned Owl can live to at least 50 years; in the wild one was found that was 28 years old.
MERLINS
MERLINS are small falcons, but larger than a Kestrel, and can be difficult to find. Look at treetops or fenceposts at the edge of a forest or open grassy area. They use nests of other birds and prey on small birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects. They have a mottled gray, tan, brown or reddish chest with patches of white that almost look like polka dots. Their gray head has muted facial bars below the eyes, a white eyebrow and yellow eye-ring. They live 5 to 10 years; the oldest known Merlin was close to 12 years old.
COOPER’S HAWKS are the most common accipiter. Adults have a black “crown cap” and a blue-gray back with a white and rufous-colored front. Adults have red eyes while juveniles have yellow eyes and a white chest with brown streaks. They eat birds and small mammals as well as reptiles and insects. Found in forests, woodlands and neighborhood bird feeding stations, you might see one sitting singly on a conifer or deciduous tree branch. In the wild they live 10 to 12 years.
FERRUGINOUS HAWKS
FERRUGINOUS HAWKS have only been located here in recent years on the east side of the Gorge in agricultural areas. Larger than Red-tailed Hawks, they perch on utility poles and trees, but also on the ground, making them a challenge to find. They have a creamy white or pale gray head, tail and underwings, and a white chest and rufous back and upper wings. Their legs are feathered to the toes and they have a large gape or wide mouth. Watching them in flight as they hunt, they can look almost all-white with reddish accents and dark tips at the end of long graceful wings. Their prey includes small mammals, rodents, birds, snakes and large insects. They build large nests in trees, on cliffs, on power poles and on the ground. The oldest on record was nearly 24 years old. Linda Steider, a White Salmon resident for nearly 40 years, is a professional photographer specializing in wildlife and nature. Her work can be found at steiderstudios.com as well as Made in the Gorge, downtown Hood River at 108 Oak Street. She also volunteers for Global Owl Project, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Cascades Pika Watch. THE GORGE MAGAZINE II WINTER 2021-22
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Ray Bulson / Alamy Stock Photo
OUTSIDE
The Mosier Misfits A sled dog team of Alaskan Huskies prepares for the winter racing season story by DON CAMPBELL | photos courtesy of THAD McCRACKEN
I
t’s the first day of training for the 2021-22 sled dog racing season. Mosier’s Thad McCracken picks me up from Brenna’s Mosier Market. It’s 5 a.m., dark and chilly, with a star-lit sky and a fingernail of October moon. He pulls up in a big diesel flatbed outfitted with a multi-compartment kennel that accommodates his team of 17 Alaskan Huskies, known in these parts as the Mosier Misfits. They peer quietly out the slotted portholes, but even I can sense they’re anxious. Behind the rig, he tows a trailer loaded and strapped down with a beefy side-by-side ATV. I will
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learn more about that later. We chug toward I-84 and make our way to Highway 35, trudging up the black empty highway toward Mount Hood and the Frog Lake campground. Over the din of the diesel engine, road noise and the shakes and jitters of this full load, he tells me about this sport that forever changed his life. Sled dog is an arcane winter pursuit, not widely known or followed. Too bad. Races are held throughout upper North America in a December-to-March season, obviously in snowy climes. Teams are made up of Alaskan Huskies — a breed of dog that Embark Veterinary calls “essentially the Siberian Husky on steroids.” The canine genomics company goes on to say, “These guys were bred from Siberian Huskies in order to create a more physical and hardworking Husky. Compared to their Siberian brothers, the Alaskan Husky is larger, leaner,
BUILDING CUSTOM HOMES IN THE
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
Thad McCracken and his sled dogs compete in the Fur Rendezvous in Anchorage, Alaska, opposite top, and in Whitehorse, Yukon, above. Opposite inset, on a training run near home. Opposite bottom, the post-run routine.
and has greater endurance. These are happy-go-lucky dogs that love everyone. … The Alaskan Husky is all athlete.” McCracken’s been at it for 16 years, racing in what’s called the “open class,” which means you can harness up and run however many dogs you want, often times up to 30 miles or more per race, and sometimes over multiple days. It’s a serious sport requiring dedication and a healthy budget. McCracken regularly travels as far north as Alaska and into Montana and Wyoming to race. He feeds his pack of 26 active and retired dogs extremely well, affords them full healthcare benefits, and extols a pure love for his hearty, healthy, pack-oriented troupe of some of the most joyous, excitable and thrilling canines I’ve ever witnessed. But let’s start with the irony that he was never a dog person. “Before I met my wife Colleen, I didn’t even dream of having a dog,” he says. “I was pretty heavily into ski mountaineering. Winter snow and the semi-extreme didn’t bother me at all.” He traveled a lot for work, and Colleen told him she was going to get a dog for company. “I said, at least get one I can take into the backcountry. She picked one up at the Multnomah County dog shelter. His name was Bernie, and I started taking him skiing with me.” On a backcountry trip to the Three Sisters Wilderness area, he ran into a park ranger who told him no dogs allowed unless they were harnessed working dogs. Undaunted, McCracken quickly snagged a workingdog permit for Bernie, a Swiss mountain dog/Australian cattle dog mix, fashioned a harness out of a dog backpack, gained approval from the ranger and headed into the wilderness. “We made good time that day,” he says with a laugh. “I got him home and got him set up” with the appropriate gear, and the duo were hooked. Skijoring, or skikjøring in Norwegian, means “ski driving” and is done these days, even up around Mount Hood, recreationally with horses, dogs and even motor vehicles. That sport got him around other enthusiasts with bigger dog teams, and he began helping them train their dogs. “I’d never advise anyone to go get a whole team of dogs,” he says. “Better to help somebody first. I did that for several years, and that began the progression.” It was a progression that quickly found them ramping up to 15 dogs and custom sleds at their Portland home, at Northeast Alberta and 29th — a decidedly urban neighborhood. “It was a very well-oiled machine,” McCracken offers, “though people thought it was chaos. But there was never a lot of noise.” One night,
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though, the team escaped. He got a call from a neighbor saying the entire pack had gone ripping by. The dogs stopped at a house similar to Thad and Colleen’s and made their way, after a half-hour ramble around the block, en masse to their front door. The neighbor took charge, marched them up the street and let them in the McCracken gate. Seeking more space, Thad and Colleen eventually found their dream homestead, acreage just outside of Mosier proper that had a 40-by-60-foot barn and plenty of room to roam. An electrical engineer by training, McCracken had moved into software design and, after stops at Intel and several other companies, landed a job that allowed him to work remotely (well before pandemic times) and afforded him the time to train his dogs. Training for the season begins in early October, as temperatures drop. This morning, he navigates us to Frog Lake and meanders us back into an area that he and other mushers have U.S. Forest Service permission to use for training. Burgeoning sunlight chases away the stars and McCracken begins his ritual. He unloads the side-by-side and then lifts his dogs one by one out of their kennels and sets them on the ground. Each dog — all Colleen-dubbed with classic dog names including Rover, Spot, the obligatory Lady and Tramp, Benji and Spike, among many — stretches and dances around the parking lot, but always with an eye and ear on McCracken. He holds amazing control over the pack, a mandatory skill when wrangling 17 animals among themselves and other teams. He quickly clips them to short chains arrayed around the truck bed and trailer. Another sled-team couple, Robert and Ruth Ann Lee, arrives with their team and undergoes the same ritual. The dogs briefly inter-
The team on a fall training run south of Hood River; a magnetic board used to determine the dogs’ configuration for each run.
mix and though it sounds raucous and delirious with some 25 or 30 dogs all waiting for the same command, it is hair-raisingly exciting. These dogs are born to run. Thousands of years of breeding have instilled in them the urge to pull, to run, to work together, to be strong as a pack of like-minded creatures. I am stunned by the control McCracken has over this would-be mayhem. He soon has the long gangline stretched out in front of the ATV, to which he harnesses each dog with a shorter tugline. He exhibits his own skill and strength as he clips them on. As the pack number grows, essentially from the two lead dogs back to the ATV, these runners know why they are there. They bark, they pull, they all just know what’s about to happen. I could offer a deeper explanation of McCracken’s team, of how they were bred, the reasons they are the chosen ones for this season, but it is better to just imagine the sleek and muscular beauty of these animals, on a road in the forest in the early morning sun. They are taut and ready. McCracken issues the command and off we go. He offers minor resistance with the ATV as they pull our vehicle. “Gee” means go left, “Haw” means go right. Aside from those commands, McCracken is essentially silent. The dogs know what to do. From the first race in mid-December in West Yellowstone, Mont., to the Wyoming Stage Stop and on to a major Anchorage, Alaska, fete and open-class championship called the Fur Rendezvous Festival (better known as Fur Rondy), which will find the streets of this Alaskan city lined with people joyously anticipating the end of winter, McCracken and company will race some five or six times (depending on weather). Colleen, a journalist, educator and partner in a non-profit Ethiopian school, and the couple’s two kids, Mary-Louise and David, will likely join him at some of the stops. It is the McCracken winter season. Back home, the tribe, composed of the 17 team members and nine “retired” dogs who live in the house, will often be loose to play and run around the Misfits’ compound. “The dogs will be running because everyone is running,” McCracken says. “It’s the joy of running in a group. That’s what they live for. They don’t care where or how far — none of that’s important. They just love to run.” Don Campbell is a writer and musician. He hides out at a secret fortress on a hilltop in Mosier and is a frequent contributor to The Gorge Magazine.
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• On-site consult • Elevation renderings • Computer-aided cabinet layout
We Help Build Better Communities
Hood River 541.386.1001
Pendleton
541.276.6221
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541.296.5414
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SERVING ALL COMMUNITIES IN THE GORGE *SINCE 2007* • • • • • • •
Service & Repair Industrial, Commercial & Residential Remodels New Construction Drain Cleaning Jetting Camera & Locate
campsplumbing.com campsplumbing@gmail.com
LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED OR #177235 • WA# CAMPSPL791P9 10% VETERANS DISCOUNT! Accepts: Visa, Mastercard & Discover
541-298-2267 THE GORGE MAGAZINE II WINTER 2021-22
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WELLNESS
Andrea Pacheco
Resolving Conflict Mediation center helps people settle disputes before they end up in court
MEDIATION FACILITATION CONFLICT COACHING RESTORATIVE PRACTICES USDA AGRICULTURAL MEDIATION TRAININGS
story by RUTH BERKOWITZ | photos by ANDREA PACHECO and courtesy of SIX RIVERS DRC
W
hat we all have in common is that we like conflict,” Marti Kantola told the audience filled with mediators celebrating her retirement from Six Rivers Dispute Resolution Center last winter. Kantola founded the nonprofit in 2002 at a time when people confused mediation with meditation, and went to court instead of sitting down at a table to resolve their disputes. The lack of awareness about mediation didn’t stop Kantola. She knew there was a better way, a less expensive and a more personal way. “If only people could talk to each other, make a connection and figure things out, then they would be happier with one another,” Kantola said, referring
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stock.adobe.com /megaflopp
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to her vision for a mediation center. Motivated to orchestrate peaceful solutions and instigate constructive conversations, Kantola started training volunteers and taught them the tools of mediation: active listening, empathy, open-ended growth mindset questions, brainstorming solutions and much more. Her first case involved a farmer who continuously woke up his neighbor with the bright lights from his tractor as he drove the fields in the early morning. The neighbor, an organic herb farmer, was so mad that one morning the two physically confronted each other and the sheriff was called to end their fist fight. Shortly thereafter, Kantola managed to get the two men to convene at her office where she facilitated a civil conversation. Kantola remembers that they were unable to resolve everything, but they did agree on a different route for the early morning tractor run, one where the headlights didn’t glare into the herb farmer’s bedroom.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINE & PAIN SPECIALISTS
Vertebral Compression Fracture Spinal stenosis Spinal nerve pain Staff members, opposite top from left, Colleen Regalbuto, Lori Loranger, Debra Pennington Davis, Andrea Pacheco and Ona Lawrence. Six Rivers Mediation serves seven counties in the Gorge region, helping with a variety of cases, above.
An interest in resolving agricultural disputes led Kantola to contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture and ask if Six Rivers could help problem-solve the issues facing farmers. The USDA signed on and thus began an arrangement where Six Rivers started assisting farmers throughout Oregon in resolving issues ranging from labor disputes to loan negotiations. Six Rivers also began teaming with local businesses, nonprofits and government agencies to provide trainings on dispute resolution and communication skills. They also taught enrichment courses and restorative justice in the schools. Over the years, the community witnessed the benefits of mediation. Confident that the center would continue to grow and succeed, this year, after 20 years of service, Kantola retired as executive director. Andrea Pacheco, who had been involved with the organization since volunteering in 2014, took the helm. In less than a year, Pacheco has steered the nonprofit successfully, increasing its size, budget and caseload. “Mediation can apply in a wide array of settings and contexts,” Pacheco said. “And we are not just solving the conflicts that we can see, but also preventing future ones.” She noted that many of the surveys filled out by clients post-mediation state that the process has made them feel more equipped to deal with future conflicts. “Mediation offers a safe place for people to work things out. It allows for conversations and creative solutions,” said Pacheco, who is especially concerned about the effects of the pandemic on people’s lives. “We live in a great place, but people are struggling.” To keep renters in their homes after the eviction moratorium is lifted, the State of Washington provided Six Rivers with funding for mediation. Pacheco hired a seasoned mediator, Ona Lawrence from Goldendale, to provide mediation services for landlords and tenants. “Many tenants don’t know that they have to pay back the rent (that they didn’t pay during the moratorium), and mediation could help them come up with a reasonable and practical plan,” Pacheco explained. The pandemic also impacted the court system, shuttering jury trials for months and forcing people to look at other ways of resolving disputes. At the same time, conflict in the community blew up like a balloon, making mediators and their skills more in demand than ever. Neighbors were having issues; some families were struggling with being together 24/7, and the polarizing politics of wearing masks and getting vaccinated elevated the heat on the street. When they couldn’t meet clients face-to-face, mediators turned to Zoom and other online platforms. Most mediators, including me, wondered how we could build trust and rapport with our clients on a two-dimensional screen instead of in a physical room together. How could we understand the whole story? How could we read body language or have the impromptu opportunities to connect?
and Arthritis
541-386-9500 1010 10TH ST HOOD RIVER 3601 KLINDT DR SUITE 200 THE DALLES 6542 SE LAKE RD SUITE 100 MILWAUKIE columbiapain.org
THE GORGE MAGAZINE II WINTER 2021-22
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The Role of a Mediator
GUIDE
IMPARTIAL
CARING
Empowering people in conflict to make solutions
Yet we adapted and learned to use breakout rooms to caucus (talk separately) with our clients. We found ways to peacefully resolve problems. In fact, online dispute resolution (ODR) worked so well that online mediation throughout the country has grown, and is here to stay. There are benefits. Mediating remotely is much less expensive than going to court, and resolutions can come more quickly. Environmentally, online mediation is greener because parties don’t have to drive to their meetings. Moreover, being online has eliminated geographic barriers; mediation is
AERIAL
PHOTOGRAPHY & CINEMATOGRAPHY
Stock photography & video footage available
PETERSON PRO MEDIA 541-399-2259 petersonpromedia.com
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available to clients all over the country, even the world. In Hood River, Wasco, Gilliam and Sherman counties, the district court requires parents filing for divorce to work with mediators. As a court-appointed mediator, I encourage parents to work together as a team even though they have opted to live in two households. Talking with a growth mindset is one crucial skill. Adapted from Stanford Professor Carol Dweck’s book, Mindset, talking with a growth mindset means asking open-ended questions, like, “Why do you think that way?” Or “What would be the benefit of this idea?” and refraining from taking a position before hearing the other party’s point of view. Compared to litigation where attorneys must zealously represent their clients, mediation suits most families and is one of the primary reasons why I prefer mediation to litigation, especially in family cases. Divorced parents still have to share the most important task of raising their children. Going to court often increases the rift between parents; going to mediation empowers them to design their future. In today’s digital world where some couples meet through a swipe on a dating app, many parents seem perhaps more comfortable making decisions from their computer or cellphone in their own home. They seem less stressed and relieved that they don’t have to travel to a mediator’s office and sit in the same room with their ex-spouse. One mediation I recently conducted over Zoom proved the benefits of being online. The father resided out of state and the mother lived in the Gorge. At first, they were belligerent, pushing each other’s buttons and choosing not to listen to each other. They spoke simultaneously and our discussions weren’t constructive. To avoid interruptions, we agreed to use Zoom’s power to mute one while the other spoke. It worked and gave each of them the opportunity to listen and to tell their story. Many prefer to avoid conflict, to walk away from a heated conversation, and sometimes that’s wise. Mediators, as Kantola noticed with the group celebrating her retirement, have the tools to engage in tough conversations — conversations that can ultimately make our community stronger. For more information about mediation or becoming a mediator, contact Six Rivers Dispute Resolution: 6rivers.org.
Ruth Berkowitz is a mediator in Hood River, and a board member of Six Rivers Dispute Resolution Center.
Celebrating 120 Years of Caring For our Community Being your healthcare partner means being there for you when you are in need of care. It also means helping you stay healthy and fit. Our hospital, specialty clinics, physicians and employees make up a one-of-a-kind healthcare system that is unique to the Gorge. With a philosophy built around person-centered care, you can look with confidence to MCMC as we redefine what it means to be a healthcare provider in the 21st century.
1901
2021
YEARS
Mid-ColuMbia MediCal CenTer The community’s center of health for 120 years,offering a wide array of healthcare services that blend state-of-the-art technologies with compassionate and customized care.
The dalleS Main Hospital Primary Care & Specialty Clinics Celilo Cancer Center Immediate Care Center Medical Fitness Center
hood river Specialty Clinics at Nichols Landing
To learn more, visit: mcmc.net | facebook.com/mcmchealth
PARTAKE I COOK WITH US
Beans & Greens Recipe and photos by KACIE MCMACKIN
This recipe is as simple as can be. In fact, in some ways it’s less of a recipe and more a series of suggestions. The options are pretty endless and what follows is simply my preferred approach and ingredients. I love white beans that are creamy and light, the briny and bright pop the fried lemon peel adds, the heat from the red pepper flakes, and the silkiness of the pesto. Feel free to add what you like and omit what you don’t. Ultimately, I hope you make this recipe your own. It’s become a staple in our house, especially when it’s dark out at 5 p.m. and I’ve somehow forgotten to make dinner. It’s healthy, quick to throw together, and perfectly satisfying while leaving room for dessert. Ingredients
Directions
• rustic bread, thickly sliced • 2 14 oz. cans Cannellini beans or similar white bean, drained and rinsed • one bunch of hearty greens like kale, roughly chopped or torn • 1 tsp. minced lemon peel • basil pesto • extra virgin olive oil • 3 cups vegetable or chicken broth • Parmesan cheese, grated • 1-2 cloves garlic, very thinly sliced • rosemary, finely minced • sea salt • flake salt • red pepper flakes • Italian parsley, coarsely chopped
Heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil in a medium pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, a pinch of red pepper flakes, rosemary, and the minced lemon peel. Sauté until fragrant, 2-3 mins. Add in your beans and toss all together, letting the beans heat through before adding the broth and brining up to a simmer. Let the broth reduce a bit as the whole dish comes together.
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In a large skillet, heat another 2 Tbsp. olive oil over medium high heat. Place your bread slices in the olive oil and cook until toasted. Set aside. In the same skillet add a touch more olive oil if needed before tossing in your greens and letting them frizzle and fry and cook down. Taste your beans and broth for salt and heat, season to taste. To serve, place bread slices in wide bowls. Spoon on lots of beans and broth. Top with any combination of the following: more minced lemon peel or zest, basil pesto, Parmesan cheese, more rosemary, parsley, red pepper flakes. Finish with a healthy drizzle of olive oil and a shower of flake salt. Enjoy!
PARTAKE I EAT & DRINK
BACKWOODS BREWING COMPANY
BRIDGESIDE
BRODER ØST
509-427-3412 • backwoodsbrewingcompany.com 1162 Wind River Hwy • Carson
541-374-8477 • bridgesidedining.com Exit 44 off I-84, Cascade Locks
541-436-3444 • brodereast.com 102 Oak St. Suite 100 • Hood River
Backwoods Brewing is family owned and located in Carson, WA. Established in 2012, we offer delicious beers, hand-made pizzas, outdoor seating, and welcome all ages.
Stunning views next to the Bridge of the Gods – Bridgeside (formerly Charburger) serves tasty char-broiled burgers plus an extensive menu of breakfast items, chowders, fish & chips, salads, sandwiches, and desserts. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with friendly service.
Offering Nordic inspired breakfast and lunch to the gorge. Something new and exciting for the whole family to enjoy. Come try traditional recipes such as aebleskiver (danish pancakes), swedish meatballs, norwegian lefse (potato crepes) and lots more!
Open daily: 11:30am-9pm
Gift shop • Special event room & terrace
We look forward to serving you! #broderost
CASA EL MIRADOR FAMILY MEXICAN RESTAURANT 541-298-7388 • casaelmirador.com 1424 West 2nd Street • The Dalles
Quality Mexican food prepared with the freshest and finest ingredients. Warm, friendly service and a lively atmosphere. Indulge in generous portions of flavorful sizzling fajitas, fish tacos, savory enchilada dishes and daily specials. Drink specials & Happy Hour menu from 3-6pm, Mon-Fri. Full service bar, take-out menu, gift certificates and catering services. Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.
CELILO RESTAURANT & BAR
DOPPIO COFFEE
541-386-5710 • celilorestaurant.com 16 Oak Street • Downtown Hood River
541-386-3000 • doppiohoodriver.com 310 Oak Street • Downtown Hood River
Celebrating over 16 years, Celilo began with a desire to honor the bounty of the Northwest. Our ever-changing menu reflects the seasonal highlights of the region’s growers and foragers. We offer the most innovative in fresh, local cuisine as well as an award-winning wine list, full bar, small plate menu, and happy hour.
Relax on our beautiful patio in the heart of Hood River. Enjoy a hand crafted, in-house roasted espresso drink. Serving breakfast and lunch all day: panini sandwiches, fresh salads, smoothies and fresh baked pastries and goodies. Gluten free options available. Free Wi-Fi and our patio is dog friendly. Our tables are spaced apart and disinfected after each guest.
Open Tuesday-Saturday from 5pm
EL PUERTO DE ANGELES III
EVERYBODY’S BREWING
We are open and happy to serve you. Authentic Jalisco Cuisine. We provide a safe dining experience. Enjoy good food and good times. Offering daily lunch and dinner specials, served all day. Happy Hour Mon-Fri. Outdoor dining available (weather permitting).
Everybody’s sits nestled on the cliffs of White Salmon, overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. With awardwinning beers, globally-inspired food, welcoming atmosphere, and picturesque views of Mt. Hood, you’ll quickly discover why Everybody’s is a Gorge favorite.
A Gorge favorite known for authentic flavor and friendly service. Proudly serving Hunan and Szechuan cuisine since 1978. From our family to yours, we’re honored to have you at our table!
Open Daily 10am-9pm Dine-In or Takeout
Visit Website for Updated Hours | Indoor/Outdoor Dining and Takeout (Order Online or Call)
Open Tue-Sun, closed Mon. Call or visit Facebook.com/ ChinaGorge for updates on takeout & dine-in service.
541-308-0005 1306 12th Street • Hood River, on the Heights
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509.637.2774 • everybodysbrewing.com 177 E. Jewett Boulevard • White Salmon
GRACE SU’S CHINA GORGE RESTAURANT & TIGER LOUNGE 541-386-5331 • chinagorge.com 2680 Old Columbia River Drive • Hood River
PARTAKE I EAT & DRINK
GROUND ESPRESSO BAR & CAFE 541-386-4442 • groundhoodriver.com 12 Oak Street • Downtown Hood River
THE LITTLE SEVEN SEVEN RANCH HIGHLAND BEEF 509-767-7130 • L77Ranch.com
PFRIEM FAMILY BREWERS
541-321-0490 • pfriembeer.com 707 Portway Avenue, Suite 101 • Hood River Waterfront pFriem artisanal beers are symphonies of flavor and balance, influenced by the great brewers of Europe, but unmistakably true to our homegrown roots in the Pacific Northwest. Although they are served humbly, each glass is overflowing with pride and a relentless aspiration to brew the best beer in the world. We’ll let you decide.
Get your daily fuel for your Gorge sports and activities here! A long time locals favorite coffee house and eatery, Ground features fresh in-house roasted coffee, house made pastries and cookies with lots of gluten free options. We make our soups from scratch every day and source mostly local and organic ingredients. Nitro cold brew on tap.
Grass-Fed Highland beef from our ranch to your home. Email to discuss beef preferences and we will assemble a $250 or $500 semi-custom box for contactless pick-up. Boxes include steaks, roasts and ground beef. Or: Visit us at our Lyle Ranch Shop to shop in a safe, open space.
REMEDY CAFÉ
RIVERSIDE & CEBU LOUNGE
SOLSTICE WOOD FIRE PIZZA
Organic juice, smoothies, bowls, burritos & salads. House-made almond and coconut milks. Vegan and paleo options. Best quality organic and local ingredients. Organic espresso. Order Online - RemedyCafeHoodRiver.com
Welcome back to Riverside, where you’ll find the best food, drinks and views in the Gorge. Following guidelines for distanced dining indoors, outdoor on the waterfront, and takeout. Fresh menus change seasonally – plus an award-winning wine list and 14 taps with all your favorite local breweries.
Family-owned & loved by locals for 15 years! One-of-akind specialty pizzas & seasonal small plates. Sublimecocktails, craft beer, wine & ciders. Indoor & outdoor dining with views! Abundant vegan & gluten-free options.
541-716-4020 • remedycafehoodriver.com 112 Third Street • Downtown Hood River
Ranch pick-up for boxes: by appointment, daily Ranch Shop: by appointment, Saturday and Sunday
541-386-4410 • riversidehoodriver.com Exit 64 off I-84 • Waterfront Hood River
Open Daily | 11:30am-9pm
541-436-0800 • solsticewoodfirecafe.com 501 Portway Avenue • Hood River Waterfront
Serving Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner daily.
Order takeout from our website (above) or visit our Heights pizza truck for convenient takeout — whole pies and slices!
SUSHI OKALANI
THUNDER ISLAND BREWING CO.
YOUR PARTAKE LISTING HERE
We are the local’s favorite spot for fresh fish, Pan-Asian cuisine, and a huge sake selection, all available to-go only. We offer curbside pickup, 7 nights a week. With creative rolls, rotating specials, and fresh sashimi and nigiri, we also offer staples like Teriyaki, Tempura, and stir-fry dishes to satisfy all tastes. Phone orders only, starting at 4, pickup 5-8pm. Check IG & FB for specials and current menu.
A brewery and taproom located in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. The river and mountain views pair beautifully with craft beer and delicious food. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the patio. All guests are welcome, and are expected to follow Oregon state COVID guidelines. Cheers!
Dine-In, Takeout and Curbside Options. Kids Corner. WiFi. “Where Healthy Food and Your Cravings Meet!”
541-386-7423 • sushiokalani@gorge.net 109 First Street • Downtown Hood River
971-231-4599 • thunderislandbrewing.com 601 NW Wa Na Pa Street • Cascade Locks
Reservations are recommended. To book, visit thunderislandbrewing.com.
Contact Jody Thompson for more information: 425-308-9582 • jthompson@thegorgemagazine.com 541-399-6333 • thegorgemagazine.com The Gorge is a mecca for great food and drink: restaurants, cafés, wineries, breweries, food carts & more. Help visitors and locals decide where to dine and drink. They’ll see your ad in print and in the online digital edition of the magazine…for one affordable price! RESERVE A PARTAKE LISTING SPACE TODAY
THE GORGE MAGAZINE II WINTER 2021-22 57
OUR GORGE I YOUR GORGE
Last winter, after a February snowstorm, Hood River photographer Meg Kalmbach was driving through town with her camera looking to capture some snow scenes. She noticed people snowkiting on the sandbar and went to check it out. “It was like a party down there,” she said. “Everyone was hooting and hollering.” More and more snowkiters arrived until eventually there were about 30 of them taking advantage of the wintry conditions. “I’m just constantly surprised by the creativity and talent of the people here. They see an opportunity as soon as there’s snow on the ground and a little wind blowing,” she said. “It was fun energy to be around.”
The Photographer MEG KALMBACH moved to the Gorge three years ago from the East Coast when her partner took a job here. “I didn’t know anything about the area,” said Kalmbach. “It was really cool to discover what the Gorge was.” At the time, photography was merely a hobby. But shortly after moving here, inspired by the beauty all around, she upgraded all of her camera gear and began taking it more seriously. “It was hard to meet people at first, so I just went hiking all the time and took my camera with me,” she said. “My biggest passion in life now is going to remote areas and trying to capture it in a unique way.” The inspiration, she said, is endless. “I’m constantly blown away by the diversity and beauty of the landscapes here,” she said. megkalmbach.com
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SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD
Home sweet home.
Cyndee Kurahara LICENSED BROKER, OR/WA
541-490-1396
cyndee@copperwest.com instagram: cyndee_kurahara
SOLD
Cyndee is a NW native and has called Hood River home for over 20 years. She and her husband have loved bringing up their kids here. As new empty nesters, they are staying busy with their careers and the many recreational activities the Gorge offers! Winter is a great time to reflect on the past year and get ready for the new year. If your plans for 2022 include buying or selling Real Estate, Cyndee is ready to meet and help you achieve your goals!
HHHHH
Excellent support and results. Cyndee worked very hard in insuring it all came together!! She was always there and on top of everything! Would encourage all to let Cyndee help them! Would highly recommend her. She not only knew what to do but was a lot of fun to work with! Thank you Cyndee!
LOCALLY GROWN CANNABIS DAILY DEALS! TWO GREAT LOCATIONS IN THE GORGE BUY CANNABIS DIRECTLY FROM THE FARMERS
NOW OPEN IN THE DALLES HOOD RIVER
THE DALLES
602 OAK ST. IN DOWNTOWN HOOD RIVER OPEN EVERYDAY 9AM - 9PM
609 E. 2ND ST. IN DOWNTOWN THE DALLES OPEN EVERYDAY 10AM - 8PM
541-645-4396 | @frontierfarms_hoodriver frontierfarmshoodriver@gmail.com
541-288-8169 | @frontierfarms_thedalles frontierfarmsthedalles@gmail.com
F R O N T I E R FA R M S C A N N A B I S . C O M
