MOSIER, Ore. -- On his way home from a goose hunting trip, a snowstorm forced Charlie Sadilek to take refuge at the Mosier twin tunnels in the Columbia Gorge.
The Nebraska native and another stranded motorist spent nine days admiring the sheets of snow from their perch high above the river, cooking geese and baking apples on camping stoves.
The only evidence that remains of their stay decades ago is a carving on an inner wall of the tunnel that reads, "Snowbound, Nov 19 to 27 - 1921, Chas J. Sadilek, E.B. Marvin." And, of course, the memories.
"My grandfather was very resourceful," Carolyn Forbes of Portland told The Oregonian newspaper. "And he was adventurous. I think the fact they stayed in the tunnel, it speaks to how independent they were."
Oregon will celebrate the reopening of the 4.2-mile section of the Columbia River Scenic Highway between Mosier and Hood River on July 22. Events will include a footrace and a dedication ceremony.
Sadilek's seven-passenger Hudson was stuffed with camping supplies when snow forced him to stop at the eastern end of the Gorge. The November blizzard chased seven other vehicles into the tunnel's dark, wet shadows.
According to Sadilek family history, the state highway department eventually cleared a path to the tunnel from Mosier. The stranded travelers were taken back to town on foot, except for Sadilek and another driver, Marvin, who couldn't afford motel rooms.
The two men made the most of their stay. They watched the fierce beauty of the snowstorm through the rock windows. They made themselves at home with Sadilek's camping gear. The other motorists left blankets and food before they went to town.
Once the storm passed, the motel residents walked up from town to visit. They complained about gouging by restaurants and motels in Mosier and shared a bottle of whiskey. The tunnel dwellers kept the bottle.
Finally, the state cleared the road from Mosier. But a snowslide blocked the tunnel's west mouth.
The November storm closed the highway until spring. The stranded motorists drove their cars down to the dock in Mosier. Sadilek rode his black Hudson home to Portland aboard a barge.
The tunnel functioned until 1954, when a rockslide blocked its west mouth. The state diverted traffic onto Interstate 84 below as speed and convenience outpaced the charm of the scenic roadway. Later, the tunnel was filled with rock to prevent its collapse.
In 1994, the state and federal government began work on the tunnels. Contractors carefully removed the rock while shoring up the roof, which had partially collapsed. When the debris was cleared, workers found the graffiti left by Sadilek and Marvin.
"Even the contractor thought it was neat," said Jeanette Kloos of the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The original carving was preserved as the tunnel was buttressed with rock bolts and concrete. Today, the carvings provide a historic footnote for hikers and bikers who use the scenic trail.
