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Oregon

The Faces of Oregon: Mt. Hood, Columbia River Gorge & Astoria

Program No. 1834RJ
From awe-inspiring waterfalls to towering Mount Hood, from ancient forests to food-trendy Portland, explore the many wonders of Oregon on this great Northwestern adventure.

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At a Glance

On four daylong field trips, discover the natural beauty and human history that make Oregon a state of wonder. Take in city highlights like the International Rose Test Garden, then explore the natural wonders outside the city, from the rugged Pacific Coast to the dramatic Columbia River Gorge to the volcanic Cascade Mountains. Each journey is accented by interesting, interactive activities, enhanced with interpretation from the program Instructor.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to 1.5 miles on varied terrain. Elevations up to 6,000 feet.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Gaze up at towering Mount Hood from majestic Timberline Lodge, one of the iconic great lodges of the West.
  • Stand in awe of the Columbia River Gorge’s magnificent waterfalls and captivating vistas.
  • Visit the rugged Oregon Coast, including the mouth of the Columbia River, known as the “Graveyard of the Pacific,” and the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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John Jarvie
John Jarvie is a history teacher at several colleges in the area with Clark College in Vancouver, Wash. as his main campus. He has been working for the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center for over a decade, giving information to visitors about state and regional points of interest, local history and the Oregon Trail.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of John Jarvie
John Jarvie View biography
John Jarvie is a history teacher at several colleges in the area with Clark College in Vancouver, Wash. as his main campus. He has been working for the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center for over a decade, giving information to visitors about state and regional points of interest, local history and the Oregon Trail.
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Jimmy Mohler View biography
Jimmy has served as a Study Leader since 2016, sharing her love of history and the outdoors. After a 25-year career as a CPA and teacher with emphasis on financial crime prevention in the U.S. and overseas, Jimmy shifted some of her professional energies to working at historic sites. She worked as a seasonal ranger on the Lewis and Clark Trail beginning in 1999. That led to speaking engagements and active volunteerism through the intervening years on that historic trail and others.
Profile Image of Vince Patton
Vince Patton View biography
Vince Patton loved exploring the northwest as a reporter for a public television show called Oregon Field Guide. Experiencing nature and wildlife made for the best job of his 37-year career in television. During that time, he won 10 Emmy awards and three dozen other national and regional honors. After retiring, he got deep into genealogy, discovering roots back to the earliest settlers of the U.S. He has lived and worked in Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas, but has spent over two decades in Portland.
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Eric Wheeler View biography
Eric Wheeler has over twenty years of experience as an architectural historian. He has written numerous National Register nominations, taught graduate level classes in architectural history and consulted with architects and realtors. Eric discovered the Pacific Northwest several years ago and continues to explore and interpret the captivating built environment of Portland and environs. Currently Eric designs and leads outings for his architectural walking Meetup group: Positively Portland Walking Tours. Eric has been leading walking excursions for Road Scholar since 2017.
Profile Image of Ryan Curtis
Ryan Curtis View biography
Despite growing up in sunny South Florida, Ryan felt a calling to explore the unique landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. Ryan’s family emigrated from Zambia in 1979, bringing a sixth-generation jewelry business with them. After studying economics at Florida State University, Ryan worked for Road Scholar for five years before becoming a full-time group leader and professional rugby referee. He is an enthused outdoorsman and enjoys skiing, hiking, and kayaking through Oregon’s natural bounty. These experiences have given him insightful perspectives into American middle-class life.
Profile Image of Suzanne Burd
Suzanne Burd View biography
Suzanne Burd recently retired from Columbia Gorge Community College after serving as a community education coordinator and the renewable energy technology program coordinator for 25 years. She has worked on Road Scholar programs in the Mid-Columbia region since 1996, covering topics such as wildflowers and the geology of the Columbia Gorge, skiing and the history of Timberline Lodge, the production and harvest of the Columbia Gorge’s diverse crops, the botany and geology of the John Day River Basin, and the Lewis and Clark expedition.
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Barrie Simpson View biography
After a long career in the technology, pharmaceutical, and hospitality industries, Barrie Simpson became a Road Scholar group leader. She was raised in New England; following high school, she made her way to Oregon, where she planted trees all over the West before going on to earn a degree in environmental engineering. Currently living in San Francisco, she is a historical group leader for SF City Guides, a waterbird docent on Alcatraz, and a long time member leader of the American Society of Quality (ASQ).
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Natalie DaSilva View biography
Natalie DaSilva is an Oregon Master Naturalist and Certified Interpretive Guide who enjoys nothing more than sharing her love for the natural and cultural history of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. After a long and rewarding career in health care, she is now focused on developing programs to inspire others to discover, experience, and protect these natural and cultural wonders. An avid hiker, Natalie spends much of her free time exploring the unique landscapes of Oregon and surrounding areas.
Profile Image of Toni Ketrenos
Toni Ketrenos View biography
Toni Ketrenos teaches in the Wine Studies Department at Linfield College in Oregon. Prior to joining the faculty in 2020, she worked in nearly all tiers of the wine industry, including production, distribution, and retail. She earned her diploma in wines from the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust (WSET) and Certified Specialist of Wine from the Society of Wine Educators, as well as other regional certifications. In addition to wine, Ketrenos loves to travel, kayak, sew, and hike with her son and Australian Shepherd, Azzi.
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Carolyn Devine View biography
Carolyn Devine has been a hike leader and naturalist for over 25 years in Oregon as well as the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland. Carolyn has a master’s in plant biology from the University of Michigan, and she has worked for a variety of nonprofits, the state of Oregon, and in adult education. She is the creative director of ArtAge Publications, and a freelance writer producing strategic copy for non-profits. Carolyn also has a beautiful garden teeming with hundreds of plants, and is learning classical guitar.
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