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I still haven't hiked this grade, though I hope to soon. From Google Earth, there is little evidence of pavement, but there is definitely this retaining wall up there, so I am considering this to be a confirmed fragment. The roads through here baffled me for a long time until I realized how much the improved US 30 route diverged from the original Route 2 alignment, so I now believe that this fragment is probably the original, 1920s Columbia River Highway.
Yesterday, I added a new confirmed piece to the 1923 (paved 1927 / 1928) Old Highway, 2 miles E of Rufus. I'll admit, after 1/2 an hour, I thought this may have been a wagon road. And then, finally, 2 spots of nice asphalt showed through the moss and grass.
Right on top of the retaining wall, I found the proof that this extension is indeed the 1920's road. I also captured photos from below, to show the wall itself. A very nice relic along the Old Road!
"This obvious... grade is just above the old highways."
"2.5 miles E of Rufus, OR."
"Very close to the retaining wall is a run of original 1927 / 1928 asphalt. 2.5 miles E of Rufus, Oregon."
"View of Western Face of John Day Dam at the retaining wall and disappearing asphalt of the 1927 / 1928 Columbia River Highway."
"It includes this beautiful wall."
"The 1923 retaining wall on the Columbia River Highway. Located 2.5 miles East of Rufus, Oregon. Road paved in 1927 / 1928."
"A closer view of the unusual construction method used in building the 1923 wall. The rock work is in a rarely seen style."