The Columbia River is the largest in the Pacific Northwest Region and fourth largest river in North America. This river forms in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada and flows northward first in British Columbia then southward from British Columbia into Washington State. After flowing across the state of Washington, it arrives at the Oregon border just southeast of Pasco, Washington, turns west and forms the border between the states of Washington and Oregon before emptying into the Pacific Ocean near Astoria, Oregon

Originating in British Columbia, it flows from snow melt above Columbia Lake some 1,243 miles to the Pacific Ocean near Astoria, Oregon.

The Columbia River drainage basin includes all of the Columbia River and its tributaries that drain the Pacific Northwest region of North America into the Pacific Ocean. This drainage basis covers or 258,000 square miles (668,000 square kilometers). This drainage is roughly the size of France and extends into seven states of the United States and one Canadian province.

In common usage within Washington state, the term often refers to a smaller area, generally the portion of the drainage basin that lies within eastern Washington.

The Columbia and its tributaries have been central to the culture and economy for thousands of years. They have been used for transportation since ancient times in order to link the many cultural groups throughout the area. The river system hosts many species of anadromous fish which migrate between freshwater habitats and the saline waters of the Pacific Ocean. These fish, especially the salmon species have been the core subsistence for native peoples.

Washington-Oregon border, Pacific Ocean. 46.244167, -124.058056

Columbia Lake: 50.163835, -115.8291660

Saffron Peak glacier: 50.173933, -116.463168

1243 miles (2000 km)

The largest tributary of the Columbia river is the Snake River

Source-Saffron Peak, Columbia Lake, Windermere Lake, Beaver River, Columbia West River, (Kinbasket Dam), Goldstream River, (Revelstoke Dam), Illecillewaet River, (Arrow Lake, Keenleyside Dam), Kootenay River, Pend Oreille River, (Canada-US border), Clark Fork, (Flathead),

Source-Saffron Peak, Columbia Lake, Windermere Lake, Kicking Horse River, Blaeberry River, Kinbasket Lake, Bush River, Sullivan River, Kinbasket River, Cummings River, Canoe River, (Kinbasket Dam), (Revelstoke Dam), Jordan River, Whatshan River, (Canada-US border).

Colville River, Spokane River, (Lake Roosevelt, Coulee Dam), Grand Coulee River, (Rufus Woods Lake, Chief Josepth Dam), (Lake Pateros, Wells Dam), (Lake Entiat, Rocky Reach Dam), (Priest Rapids Lake and Dam), Snake River, Walla Walala River, (Washington-Oregon State Line)

Kettle River, Sanpoil River, (Lake Roosevelt, Grand Coulee Dam), Nespelem River, (Rufus Woods Lake, Chief Josepth Dam), Okanogan River, Methow River, Entiat River, Lake Entiat, Rocky Reach Dam), Wenatchee River, (Priest Rapids Lake and Dam), Yakima River, (Washington-Oregon State Line).

(Lake Wallula/Lake Umatilla, McNary Lock and Dam), Umatilla River, John Day River, (Lake Umatilla, John Day Dam), Deschutes River, Hood River, (Bridge of the Gods), (Bonneville Lake and Dam), Sandy River, Willamette River, John Day River, Youngs River, Lewis and Clark River, Pacific Ocean.

(Lake Wallula/Lake Umatilla, McNary Lock and Dam), (Lake Umatilla, John Day Dam), Klickitat River, White Salmon River, Little White Salmon River, Wind River, (Bridge of the Gods), (Bonneville Lake and Dam), Washougal River, Lake River, Lewis River, Kalama River, Cowlitz River, Elochoman River, Grays River, Deep River, Chinook river, Wallacut River, Pacific Ocean.

While still in camp here in the Columbia River Gorge, I examine the possible routes for me to drive and have decided on the following. First, I will drive northeastward on US 395, into Washington section and follow the Inland Desert Route across the Washington Columbia Plateau ecoregion taking me to the western edge of the city of Spokane and second into and through the Washington Rocky Mountains Northern Rockies ecoregion, the same ecoregion that the sandhill cranes are in but a different state, and a distance of some four hundred and fifty miles, as the birds fly. Finally, a little before ten this morning, I start the jammer engine, drive out of the state park, take the westbound entrance ramp onto IH 84 and drive to Gresham, Oregon and stop at the hf-mart to restock my food stores.

After a very comfortable sleep, I awake to the bright sun shortly after six this morning, rise, walk about fifty feet to the rest stop mens room and upon returning to the jammer, I climb in, start the jammer engine, drive out of the rest stop area on IH 90 and then drive twenty miles west to Moses Lake, where I exit the interstate and drive to a w-mart. Once I am in a parking spot, I grab my electronics bag, walk inside and set up my computer at a window table.

I stay here until about six this evening, when I pack out, start the jammer and continue west on IH 90

Awake, dress in my summer blues, start the jammer engine and drive to the w-mart. Once I park, I then walk inside the cafe to purchase a large black coffee, after which, I drive back to IH 90 and continue west out of Idaho and into Washington, which it does not take me long to drive through Spokane and arrive at exit 217 which is US 2.

I turn right on US 2 and continue west upon the Columbia Plateau until I arrive at Wilbur, Washington, where shortly after driving through town, I turn right on SH 21 which connects to SH 174 and I drive west over the top of the plateau.

Later, I connect to SH 17 and continue to Bridgeport, Washington, cross the Columbia River to the north side and continue around to Pateros.

Up before daylight and go into the mart for the facilities and to buy two gallons of water for the radiator because the cooling system has developed a slow leak even thought the cause of the leak is unbeknownst to me as yet. I will try to look for the leak at the next campsite I stay in. Also, the engine has a rattling noise when it idles and I haven't a clue where the noise is coming from. I just hope that it can be fixed with out too much expense.

After filling the radiator, I head up the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area to take photos of the gorge and the waterfalls.

On one last short tour before the real plunge into the Journey On, I find myself on the road again on this day traveling east along SH 20 through Okanogan, then Omak where I turn right on SR 155 on the Coulee Corridor National Scenic Byway heading to the Columbia river and the Grand Coulee dam

This morning, I awake at a trail head on state highway 20 and then continue my tour east towards Montana. The Going to the Sun road opens on this Friday, the 21st of June and I would like to be in the park during that time or soon after.

Driving west on state highway 20, I drive through Oakanogan and Omak, then south along the Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway and the Coulee Dam to Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area before connecting with US highway 2 and then Interstate 90 to Montana.

After traveling through the Colville reservation, I drive through Nespelem, Washington were Chief Joseph is buried and soon after the Columbia river comes into view

Next, I stop in Coulee Dam, Washington to visit the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation visitors center to get a park map and sticker, after which, I drive across the Columbia river just below the dam and stop at the visitors center on the south side of the river. After leaving town, I turn east on SR 174 and stop above the dam for a couple more photos.