Hi, thanks for asking about the Columbia River trail segment. The section between Hood River and Mosier is roughly 14 miles and takes about 4 to 5 hours at a moderate pace with stops. The surface is mostly compact gravel with some paved sections near the trailheads. I did it last Saturday and conditions were good overall — a few muddy spots near the tunnels but nothing you can't walk around easily. The old railroad tunnels are the highlight, especially Mosier Tunnel which is about a quarter mile long and completely dark so bring a headlamp. There's a gradual climb from Hood River to the tunnel entrance then a nice downhill into Mosier. The views across the Gorge are worth the effort. We stopped at the Mosier Market afterward for sandwiches and coffee. If you want to make it a loop you can take the bus back from Mosier to Hood River but check the schedule because it runs every 90 minutes. I'd suggest starting by 9am to have ample time for breaks and photos. Parking at the Hood River trailhead was easy at that hour. Let me know if you need details on gear or the shuttle timing.

One thing I forgot to mention — there's a small section near the Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead where the trail narrows and shares a short stretch with an access road. It's only about 200 yards and clearly marked. Nothing tricky. If the winds are strong they sometimes close the trail through the tunnels for safety so check the Gorge trail alerts before you head out. The wildflowers are still blooming in the open meadows especially the lupine and balsamroot which was a nice surprise for mid summer. We saw a pair of red tailed hawks circling near the Mosier plateau around midday. Binoculars would be a good addition to your pack.

I got your question about the soil mix for raised beds and I can share what worked well for me. I used a blend of about 40 percent topsoil, 30 percent compost, 20 percent peat moss, and 10 percent perlite by volume. I mixed everything in a large tarp before filling the beds which made it easier to get a uniform consistency. The compost I used was a mix of mushroom compost and aged horse manure from a local farm. I let the beds settle for about a week after filling and then planted seedlings directly. The drainage was good and the plants seemed to establish quickly. I watered deeply twice a week during dry spells and added a thin layer of shredded leaves as mulch to retain moisture. The tomatoes and peppers did especially well in that mix. If you are using untreated cedar or fir for the bed frames that will hold up nicely for several seasons. I would avoid pressure treated lumber near edible plants. For the bottom layer I laid down landscape fabric before adding the soil to suppress any grass or weeds coming through. That step saved a lot of weeding later on. Let me know the dimensions of your beds and I can help estimate the quantities more precisely. I have a spreadsheet I put together with volume calculations based on bed height and length that I can share if that would be helpful for your planning.