emerging from the Wenatchee River Valley the landscape opens up, and is suddenly hot and arid ...this is the western edge of the Channeled Scablands, formed by the scouring effect of massive flooding some 15-20,000 years ago....although dry on the surface of it, this is actually a major fruit growing area, particularly apples and cherries, thanks to irrigation schemes tapping into the Columbia River

the view here is from Hwy 28, just south of East Wenatchee, where the mighty river bends towards the east