Anyone know of some good 3rd or 4th class routes in the columbia gorge? Some alternate routes on Table or Hamilton perhaps?

You should go pick up a copy of Olson's Gorge Classic Climbs book. There are quite a few "Adventure Climbs" that might be right up you alley.

I got mine from Climb Max in NE Portland.

Rock of Ages.

http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org ... _Loop_Hike

Munra Point has a Class 3/4 groove near the top. Ruckel and Rock of Ages has some Class 3 but none of these are sustained, just periodic. You could probably make Dogs Tooth Ridge on Dog Mountain into a bunch of Class 3 and 4 if you pick and choose between the gendarmes and ridges.

Those are just off the top of my head. Tim Olsen's Gorge Classic Climbs is the best thing out there for reference on this though. You can also order online at http://www.portlandrockclimbs.com/portland-rock-climbs

Somehow I never noticed the dogs tooth ridge page.. looks like a fun route! Thats what Im looking for.. without the oh so joyous poison oak of course. I've had some bad days with that stuff.

What I'm recommending, I have not done myself...so take it with 3 grains of salt.

Katanai Rock looks really cool! Here's some photos from Mazamas:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymadventures/sets/72157618298885006/

Mystery Trail looks like great fun as well...lemme look up some beta (or google it yourself). Eg. Kevin's got some nice shots from it to give you an idea ("MT" labeled ones):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28170238@N06/sets/72157606066304281/
also:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28170238@N06/sets/72157617892773583/

Think both of these will require a rope at least for rappels (from the photos I've seen).

I second what OJ & Brian say above about the book (the new Gorge CLassic Climbs). You can also buy online from Tim's website, here:
http://www.portlandrockclimbs.com/portland-rock-climbs
(not all things in there are technical). sorry - same as Brian's link.

All look like worthy adventures! especially for a quick day out of pdx.. I might wait until things dry a bit for the vertical moss action.. let the fingernails grow out too.

cougar hike, via elevator shaft. It starts out on the Multnomah falls trail. the beginning of it is the elavator shaft. you gain apx 1700 feet in just under 3/4 of a mile! After that it is pretty easy hike through the trees.

http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org ... Shaft_Hike

godskid5 wrote:cougar hike, via elevator shaft. It starts out on the Multnomah falls trail. the beginning of it is the elavator shaft. you gain apx 1700 feet in just under 3/4 of a mile! After that it is pretty easy hike through the trees.

http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org ... Shaft_Hike

Wow, that one looks pretty cool. Will have to give it a go.

You guys might want to check out a couple pages I've had up on SP that may help with this:

Overview page:
Columbia River Gorge


Little Cougar Rock page (Route page on this will have directions up to Big Cougar Rock too which is a short scramble)
Little Cougar Rock