When George and I returned home from canoeing on Saturday, we checked out the images of Gee Creek and the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge on Google Earth. It had been our hope to paddle across the Lewis River, sidle along the Columbia for a short ways, then paddle up Gee Creek to the Refuge. But, when we got to the mouth of the Gee, there was a huge log jam that prevented access up into the creek. You can imagine our disappointment when we realized there was no way to reach the Ridgefield wildlife area through water access. 
Google Earth showed a rich grassland, woodland and wetland area for the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge, and Gee Creek would have been a delightful meandering, circuitous route through the woodlands. But, the Google images showed numerous log jams and narrowing chanels that would have made canoeing impossible. I mentioned to George that we should Google Earth for future paddles, zooming down close to see what the obstacles could be. This would save us the wasted time exploring a route. We found it just mesmerizing to scan the rivers, check out the marsh areas, and see the entire overview of the Refuge through satellite images. They were very crisp, obviously taken on a bright sunshiny day. We saw the route we took by canoe, and later the route we took driving to the Refuge. Then we pulled the focus back to see the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area. What an amazing tool!
The Refuge nestles along the lower reaches of the Columbia River. The 5,218 acres contain a lush mixture of seasonal, semi-permanent, and permanent wetlands, grasslands, riparian corridors, and forests of Douglas-fir and Oregon white oak. These habitats, combined with a mild, rainy winter climate, provide an ideal environment for migrating birds and wintering waterfowl. Thousands of ducks, geese, and swans winter-over here. 
Although there are guided tours throughout the sanctuary, we took a four mile 'auto tour' that provided a grand sweep of the wetlands. Our van served as an observation blind on wheels. This allowed enjoyment with minimal disturbance. We also covered more territory. More than 180 species of ducks, geese, swans, and other migratory birds are here during the winter. The place is alive with the buzz of bird-calls.
There is a staff of volunteers who contribute to education programs and provide tours for visitors. This gentleman was introducing us to the Cathlapotle Plankhouse Project, which is a full-scale cedar plankhouse similar to those visited by Lewis and Clark over 200 years ago. The Clark Expedition saw 14 of these dwellings when they stopped at Cathlapotle to camp and trade with the Chinook Indians.
Radiocarbon dating has determined that human habitation here dates back at least 2300 years, making it one of the oldest sites in the active floodplain of the Columbia. I couldn't help but wonder how old some of these ancient oak trees are. They were simply huge, with weary limbs bent to the ground. 
This impressive communal dwelling is made of western red cedar, and is a setting for the environ- mental education, resource interpretation and special cultural events of the Refuge. Once I was inside, it was very dark, with the slats in the roof letting in only a slant of air. Sleeping compartments were along the sides, with a place for each family. Long sitting platforms lined a wall and several communal firepits were in the center. It was fun, imagining what life must have been like for the Chinook Indians. There was such a marvelous integration of community, much like what we strive for today.
