Day 4 - Hood River, Oregon to Roosevelt, Washington

Today was dry and warmed up to the upper 70s by the afternoon. We covered a solid 78 miles with 3,500 feet of climbing, with two of the biggest climbs occurring early in the ride and the third just after lunch. It was our first 1,000-foot climb, and we anticipate many more. We also enjoyed a nice tailwind, which is always welcome! As we moved further east along the Columbia Gorge, the scenery changed. From Hood River to The Dalles, we saw more beautiful pine trees and open prairies with stunning views of the river. We also got to see snow-covered Mt. Ranier and a glimpse of Mt Hood. After lunch, we crossed into Washington state and continued through grass lands, with volcanic outcrops, and a few vineyards and hop farms sprinkled across the landscape. The area is very sparsely populated as we headed toward Walla Walla, but there were still cool views of the river, hydropower dams, and windmills to amuse us!