I waited on a thankfully cloudy August morning as about 20 people I had only seen on a screen spilled out of cars and vans to greet each other warmly on the sloping hayfields of the Cape Horn Preserve. The Gorge Accessibility Project (GAP) Steering Committee was coming together to celebrate the wrap-up of a yearlong effort to design the site plan for future development of a fully accessible recreation area alongside the Cape Horn Trail. There were hugs and laughs as we enjoyed a meandering tour through the property and finally made our way behind the house to the amazing view up the Columbia River, where we stood full of awe and joy. The group looked out at the shining river below, the slim summer stream of Multnomah Falls, and the remnants of the Eagle Creek fire with bits of green now peeking out from the charred grey swaths. This was the first opportunity that most of this group had to visit the preserve and take in the magnificent view that we will one day share with everyone.
The day was planned to bring together a group of people who have diverse life experiences but are united in their love for the Gorge and the natural world around them. The GAP Steering Committee has been meeting since 2021—mostly virtually—to provide input and feedback on our plans to create accessible and inclusive recreation sites at Cape Horn and Catherine Creek that welcome as many communities as possible. Our August steering committee meeting was planned as an in-person day to connect and see how committee members’ feedback and ideas have culminated in a design. Communities represented in this group include outdoor enthusiasts such as people with disabilities; families with young kids; and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
In addition to the steering committee members, we were joined by representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, landscape architects from Mayer/Reed, and building architects from DAO Architecture. Mayer/Reed and DAO created incredible design plans for the proposed development at Cape Horn through funding assistance from Washington’s “Planning for Recreation Access” Program.
At long last, after a year of looking at these design plans, maps, and aerial photos on a screen, the group was able to explore Friends’ Cape Horn Preserve and feel the vision coming to life. After the tour, we came together in the empty on-site barn and shared a delicious tamale lunch—which may have been the most popular part of the day—prepared by steering committee member Rita Aguilar Robles. After communing together, the group got down to business poring over the latest site plans and feature designs.
Since May 2022, the steering committee, Mayer/Reed, and representatives from the U.S. Forest Service have been meeting virtually and picking apart different iterations of proposed plans for the development of the Cape Horn site. The vision was to create a beautiful, natural, accessible, and inclusive space that could share the wonder of Cape Horn with everyone.
Some key features that blossomed out of these meetings were: a system of loop trails that will connect to the already established Cape Horn Trail; a gathering pavilion for communities to connect; and a viewing structure that would shelter visitors from the unpredictable Gorge weather as they enjoy the awe-inspiring view—the highest elevation accessible viewpoint in the National Scenic Area; and signage in both English and Spanish. All of these features will be fully accessible within universal access standards. Together, we’ve been striving for something special at Cape Horn.
At the end of the day, we had the answers we needed to wrap up this iteration of the site plan. More importantly, we were able to create community with each other and celebrate the wonderful dedication and vision that our group brought to the Gorge Accessibility Project.
We are still planning and refining this long-term project, so things will change. Faces may change over time, but this vision for Cape Horn will continue.
Take me for instance. Over my five years at Friends, you’ve heard from me on everything from pollinators to native plants to tribal engagement. I recently moved into a new role with greater responsibility for habitat restoration and recreation access at amazing places like Cape Horn and Catherine Creek.
I am excited to move into this role, working with partners across the Gorge to make the Gorge better than it already is. There are very few accessible public recreation sites in the Gorge and none with a view like Cape Horn. It is an honor to work on a project to share the beauty of the Gorge with more people than ever before and to hopefully inspire a new generation to protect this special place with equity and inclusion in mind.