Creation Encounter
2013 Tour Schedule

Unique Ecology and Geology of the Mid-Columbia Gorge

The Pine-Oak woodlands east of White Salmon, WA are an excellent place to study early spring wildflowers and the unique natural history of the Gorge. Led by Steve Hayley and John Hergenrather, this fun 3 to 4 mile hike will be a mix of biology and geology. Along the way expect to find a variety of wildlife including lizards, frogs, and interesting birds like the Lewis Woodpecker and birds of prey. We will see the effects of Gorge microclimates on the ecology and the various eco-regions represented in the Gorge. We will ponder why certain plants are endemic, i.e. found only in the Gorge.

Meet at Starbucks near the Hood River Bridge at 9:00 am and return by 3:30 pm. The cost of the trip is $25 for families and $15 for individuals. Price includes a small fieldbook with pertinent information from a biblical creationist perspective. As with all our day trips, bring fees with you the day of the trip. Please register below; more details will be sent upon registration.

Major Creation Evidence in the Columbia Gorge

On this hands-on, fun-packed day trip, we will collect cobbles transported 400 miles by Noah's Flood and find petrified wood. In some places the wood is only charcoaled and is still burnable, though it is said to be 15-16 million years old! On several short hikes, encounter evidence that recent and catastrophic processes laid down most Gorge rocks and fossils and not millions of years of natural processes. We will also find amazing plants and animals that speak of the hand of our Creator.

Meet at Starbucks near the Hood River Bridge at 9:00 am and return by 3:30 pm. The cost of the trip is $25 for families and $15 for individuals. Price includes a small fieldbook of Gorge information from a biblical creationist perspective. Please register below; more details will be sent upon registration.

The Mysteries of Peru Tour

The Seven Wonders of the Gorge Tour

So popular last year, this luxury bus tour with your guide Dennis Bokovoy, will be repeated again. With several short walks, we will enjoy Celilo Falls overlook, Fairbanks Gap Missoula Flood spillway and giant current ripples, Oregon Trail Deschutes River crossing, "Mystery Mima Mounds," the Mosier archeological site. We will also find petrified wood between basalt layers and collect quartzite cobbles transported from the Rocky Mountains. The cost of the trip is $40 per person. Please register below; more details will be sent upon registration.

Deschutes Wildlife Hike

Plentiful wildlife and sunny weather usually greet us on this 5 mile walk along the Lower Deschutes River. Passing through beautiful streamside habitat, we will watch many kinds of migratory birds and discuss the marvels that our Creator has endowed them with. We will collect fossil wood and discuss the Flood conditions that petrified them. Amidst exposures of Columbia River Basalt, we find occasional granite boulders and will ponder how they got there. Steve Hayley, John Hergenrather, and others will lead this outing.

Meet at 8:30 am (return by 3:30 pm) at the south end of the Deschutes River Campground. The cost of the trip is $35 for families and $15 for individuals. The price includes a useful field book on pertinent subjects. To facilitate wildlife sightings, there is limited enrollment, so register early. Register below; more information will be sent upon registration.

Carefully suspended Bushtit nest, using spider webs for strength.

Major Creation Evidence in the Columbia Gorge #2

Because it has been so popular, we are offering this trip three times this year: April 13, May 25, and October 5. The description is basically the same as the April 13 trip. The cost of the trip is $25 for families and $15 for individuals. Price includes a small fieldbook of Gorge information from a biblical creationist perspective. Register below; further details will be sent upon registration.

Wonders of the West Gorge

With a few short hikes, this hands-on family outing will explore the creation evidence between Troutdale and Cascade Locks. Led by Steve Hayley, John Hergenrather, and the Pikes, we will take the Historic Highway to Eagle Creek studying the wonders of Gorge biology and geology along the way. Collect quartzites in the Troutdale Formation which have come from over 450 miles away. Examine petrified wood and charcoaled remains of some forty types of tropical/semi tropical plants and ponder their recent and catastrophic formation. Understand the worldview issues implicit in the interpretive signs for the huge petrified logs at Bonneville. Trip ends at Cascade Locks with the fascinating geological and historical evidence for the legendary Bridge of the Gods and other Oregon history.

Meet at 8:30 am at Lewis & Clark State Park in Troutdale where we will caravan together to Cascade Locks where the trip ends at 2:00 pm. The cost is $25 per vehicle. Please register below and more details will be emailed before the trip.

Land of Fire & Ice in Central Oregon

The vast Central Oregon High Desert is full of mysteries that bring to light natural history from a biblical perspective. Our 3 day trip last year was just a teaser, this year we have a week-long camping adventure with our friends from Foundations in Genesis, Idaho. Our guides will be Craig Marcus and geologist Brent Carter from FIGI, Steve Hayley, John Hergenrather, and the Pikes from DSA. Field observations will include studying Northern Paiute pictographs at Picture Rock Pass and Dry Canyon. With a biblical creationist view of history, we will consider Fort Rock, Hart Mountain/Warner Lakes, the Lava Cast Forest, and the Paulina Lakes area. Post Flood Ice Age conditions very well explain the many playas and ancient shorelines, abandoned Indian encampments, vertical walled Dry Canyon, and the amazing Lost Forest.

Our base camps will most likely be La Pine State Park and Summer Lake Hot Springs. Limited places are available for this camping adventure, so please enroll soon if you are interested. Please call John Hergenrather at (541) 490-3396 for cost and more details.

The Mount Adams Recon

On this informal campout we will enjoy the beauty and study the history, plants, geology, and ecological challenges of this unique mountain with a Biblical view of earth history. On this recon, our small group will formulate plans for a DSA/Creation Encounter camping trip in September, 2014. Our base camp will be at Bird Lake and most of our day hikes will be throughout Bird Creek Meadows including Hellroaring Overlook. The cost for participating in the recon is $25 per person. Bring your own camping gear and food. Limited spaces are available. If interested, please call John at (541) 490-3396.

Major Creation Evidence in the Columbia Gorge #3

Early fall is a beautiful time to be in the Gorge. Because it has been so popular, we are offering trip three times this year: April 13, May 25, and October 5. The description is basically the same as the April 13 trip. The cost of the trip is $25 for families and $15 for individuals. Price includes a small fieldbook of Gorge information from a biblical creationist perspective. Register below; details will be sent upon registration.