Historic Hood River
Traveling in Style
11-3-2023
Notes
Ten years ago we saw this image of a carriage with six horses descending Eastside Grade, but this is one of those images you deserve to see in greater detail. I’ve cropped it so you can see the passengers and drivers more clearly, as well as the horses and the state of the road. It’s really hard to imagine what it was like to move around the valley in those days. A trip to town for food, clothing or supplies would have been an adventure.
kmb
An adventure, perhaps a mud covered adventure much of the year. Leaves me wondering, did they ever invent fenders for these carriages, to keep the passengers dressed in their finery clean during the wet, muddy weather?
Peter
Looking at the linked full-size picture, I think this must be near the exposed section of Highline Road, looking south southeast. I wonder if Mt. Hood would be visible if the background weren’t overexposed. The book “Pine Grove memories” says that Pete Neal singlehandedly built Highline Road over 117 days after losing a team of oxen down the hill before there was a road. The book says that was the only road to Pine Grove on the east side of the Hood River until 1897 or 1898
L. E.
It is fun to click on the older image and read Charlott’s comments.
This time of year, darkness comes early. Hopefully your horses know the way home, because your headlights don’t work so well.
j nelson
Lovely photo and so much to examine and speculate
about. Would not trade places with them yet admire their determination and hardiness.