HOOD RIVER-WHITE SALMON RIVER AREA. 7 



mile from and roughly parallel to the course of the stream. Al- 

 though a part of these slopes is not too steep for cultivation, other 

 conditions are seldom favorable. Between the steep and precipitous 

 slopes and cliffs and the Columbia River there is a long, narrow 

 area of land, lying but little above the usual level of the water in the 

 stream. The surface of this strip is more or less gullied as a result 

 of annual overflows, and in the lower places marsh}- conditions exist 

 for a greater part of the year. 



On the western side of the valley the mountains rise abruptly from 

 the valley floor to elevations of 4,000 feet or more above sea level. 

 The lower slopes are included within this survey. • From Bloucher 

 southward along the main channel of Hood River to the mouth of 

 the West Fork of that stream and along the latter fork the mountains 

 rise almost precipitously from the stream and vertical cliffs of colum- 

 nar basalt are frequently exposed. 



The low range of mountains which forms the eastern boundary of 

 the Hood River Valley represents a spur of the Cascade Range, branch- 

 ing out near the base of Mount Hood and terminating in rocky bluffs or 

 to nearly vertical cliffs along the Columbia River. The western slopes 

 of this range, some of which are included within the survey, are 

 mainly too steep for cultivation, are generally rocky, and are less 

 heavily timbered than the mountains on the western side of the area. 



That portion of the area including the White Salmon River Valley 

 in the State of Washington lies directly across the Columbia River 

 from the Hood River Valley in Oregon. A few square miles in the 

 southwestern part of this section of the area lies in Skamania Coimty 

 and the remainder is in Klickitat County. The term Wliite Salmon 

 Valley, as generally used, refers to the drainage basin of the WTiite 

 Salmon River. There is but little land included within the present 

 valley of the White Salmon River in tliis portion of the area, and this 

 consists of a narrow, irregular strip on each side of the river. The 

 balance of tliis portion of the area consists of rolling or undulating 

 land, intrenched by the present stream valley and surrounded by 

 hills and mountains with moderate to steep slopes. 



At the extreme northern end of the valley is Mount Adams, with 

 an elevation of 12,470 feet above sea level, whose upper slopes 

 are covered with perpetual snow and glaciers. The \Vhite Salmon 

 River receives the drainage from its southern and southwestern 

 slopes, and following a southerly course enters the Columbia River 

 at a point nearly opposite the mou<h of the Hood River. The 

 gradual melting of the snow and ice affords a never-failing supply 

 of water in the White Salmon River. 



From the mouth of the White Salmon River northward for about 

 3 miles the channel is confined to a narrow, rocky gorge ^^'ith precipi- 



