The dalles in the Columbia river compelled Lewis and Clark to make a portage- that is carry their canoes and supplies around the rough water. Judson says 'At Celilo Falls, again at The Dalles and again at the Cascade Rapids, they had to carry their boats and all their baggage.' A party of Astor's men did the same thing in reverse order, when after the building the first fort at Astoria in 1811, they ascended the river and built a log shelter at Okanogan before the winter came on.
This is one of two great rocks on opposite sides of the Columbia which represent opposing Indian chiefs in the contest for the hand of a beautiful dusky maiden.