Historic Hood River
Wahkeena Falls
Notes
W. F. Laraway has posed his party in a brightly lit patch neatly aligned with the Wahkeena Falls. W.F. is at the back of the group, so he must have a mechanical shutter timer on his camera. I don’t know who the man is sitting alone to the right, or what transgression caused him to be exiled to that post.
The falls were called “Gordon Falls” when the Columbia River Highway was being constructed, but were renamed in 1915 by a committee appointed by the Mazamas to “Wahkeena” after a Yakima word for “most beautiful.” The story published in the usually authoritative Oregon Geographic Names suggests Wahkeena was a new assignment as opposed to a restoration of the name in the language of one of the tribes who frequented the area. I wonder if the original name or names have been lost? Perhaps Mazama records would clarify their research in 1915.
There are trees growing where the Laraway party were sitting today, but you can still get close to this vantage point. Good luck trying to get the sun to line up like this, though!
Patti
It looks like a couple of other people are separated from the larger group as well, to the lleft and behind the group.
L.E.
In my older age, it is getting harder and harder for me to get down onto the ground and even harder to get back up. So, in recent HHR photos I am noticing more, that on outdoor outings, people had to sit on the ground. If they were lucky, there might be a stump or rock nearby.
I have been looking for the cable that triggered the camera.
nels
Is that lone ranger guy causing Mr. Laraway to have to broaden his field of vision and sacrificing a closer shot of the group?