Columbia Gorge_Wahkeena Fall/Devil's Rest

The Columbia Gorge, Wahkeena Falls, and Devil’s Rest—places where waterfalls and creeks grace the trail at every turn. Photo spots abound, and many visitors turn back once they’ve captured a picture with a gorgeous waterfall. But I kept walking, passing one steep switchback after another, my legs moving out of necessity, not vision.

I missed my people, my culture, the connections I left behind in my home country. The beauty of the trail was bittersweet. It was a trade: I could have stayed with my people but without the trail, and here I was on the trail, but without my people. At that time, I didn’t yet know how long it would take to build a community here. Had I known, I wonder if I would have chosen this path.

Yet, I’m glad I took the journey. It was hard. Reaching the top was a bit—or perhaps a huge—disappointment. But the path I walked was full of hope, love, and enjoyment. And what a memory it has become.

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Available in 8x10"