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 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS Amy Hunter, Hood River County Chamber of Commerce amy@weinsteinpr.com (503) 927-­‐5872 A.T. McWilliams, Google amcwilliams@google.com Columbia River Gorge Na<onal Scenic Area Stars in Expanded Google Maps – Oregon’s beauty is highlighted through new Google Maps Trekker images, which show “street views” of natural loca@ons accessible only by foot –
Hood River, Ore. – [APRIL 22, 2015] – With dramaLc waterfalls, mountain peaks, alpine lakes and the magnificent Columbia River and Gorge, the Columbia River Gorge NaLonal Scenic Area in Oregon and Washington is one of the United State’s most spectacular natural areas. Google is celebraLng this Earth Day by sharing the region with a global audience through today’s launch on Google Maps of panoramic images from 20 sites throughout the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River County, Oregon. The images were captured through the Google Maps Trekker program, which ouViWed volunteers from the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce with wearable Trekker backpacks. The Chamber staff then set out on foot to capture some of the region’s most spectacular (and car-­‐free) areas, from the Wahclella Falls Trail, which takes hikers to one of the Gorge’s most powerful waterfalls, to the side of Mount Hood via the Cooper Spur Trail, to Rowena Plateau, with its spectacular views of the Columbia River Gorge. The Columbia River Gorge is the first region in the Pacific Northwest to be highlighted by Google Maps Trekker. “We’re thrilled that Google chose the beauLful Columbia River Gorge NaLonal Scenic Area for its first Pacific Northwest Google Trekker project. Now anyone, anywhere in the world, can explore this breathtaking desLnaLon,” said Mike Glover, director of the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce. “We think Hood River and the Columbia River Gorge should be on everyone’s bucket list as a must-­‐visit vacaLon desLnaLon, and now Google Maps will give people a tantelizing preview of the spectacular natural beauty they can experience here.” “Hood River's striking scenery and natural beauty is unparalleled, and now it's available for everyone around the world to see, preview and inspire them to visit in person," said Deanna Yick, Google Maps Street View program manager. "Loaning our Trekker equipment to Hood River County Chamber of Commerce was truly the best way to create a virtual experience of such a spectacular place, as they know it best." Operated by an Android device, the Trekker consists of 15 lenses at the top of the mast, each angled in a different direcLon that enabled Google to sLtch together a 360-­‐degree panoramic view of the trails and car-­‐free areas hiked to by the volunteers. Over a period of three months in 2014, the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce Google Trekker team of four hikers three months hiked more than 40 miles while wearing the 40-­‐pound packs to capture the area’s wild highlights. “When people ask us for recommendaLons about where to explore in our wildly gorgeous backyard, now not only can we tell them, but we can show them via Google Maps,” said Rara Byrne, events assisant at the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce and one of the Google Trekkers. Some of the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River County sites and desLnaLons highlighted on Google Maps: •
Wahclella Falls Trail •
Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail •
Hood River Waterfront Trail •
Weldon Wagon Trail •
Panorama Point County Park •
Mosier Twin Tunnels •
Klickitat Trail •
Latourell Falls -­‐ Guy W. Talbot State Park •
Oneonta Gorge •
Lost Lake -­‐ Lakeshore Trail •
Rowena Plateau Trail •
Elowah Falls •
Hood River Pipeline Trail •
Falls Creek Falls •
Cooper Spur Trail The spectacularly beauLful Columbia River Gorge NaLonal Scenic Area is one of nine in the United States. It stretches 85 miles long and includes porLons of three Oregon and three Washington counLes. Formed by ancient volcanoes and sculpted by incredible floods, the Columbia River Gorge carves an impressive corridor through the Cascade Mountains in Oregon and Washington as the great river journeys to the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia River Gorge NaLonal Scenic Area Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on November 17, 1986. The area is overseen by the Columbia River Gorge Commission, which works in partnership with the United States Forest Service, the States of Oregon and Washington, four NaLve American Treaty Tribes, and the six counLes within the Scenic Area. About Hood River, Oregon Located at the crossroads of the spectacular Columbia River Gorge NaLonal Scenic Area and the magnificent Cascade Range and just an hour from Portland, Hood River is wildly gorge-­‐ous, offering outdoor recreaLon, dramaLc vistas, historic landmarks, bounLful fruit and fantasLc food, wine, beer and cider. The Hood River County Chamber of Commerce supports economic and tourism development in Hood River, Cascade Locks, Odell, Parkdale, Pine Grove, and Mount Hood. hoodriver.org ###