Mossback's Northwest
Mossback’s Northwest: The mystery of Washington's Mima Mounds
What created those bumps that cover the prairie just south of Olympia? Earthquakes? Floods? Giant gophers? Knute Berger is on the case.
Knute Berger
Knute “Mossback” Berger is an editor-at-large and host of "Mossback’s Northwest" at Cascade PBS. He writes about politics and regional heritage.
Latest work
Mossback
A Journey to the Headwaters of the Columbia
The massive Columbia River travels more than 1,200 miles from start to finish. It crosses four mountain ranges, powers 14 hydroelectric dams and irrigates hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland, among other feats.
Mossback
The 1800s Influencer Who Made Tacoma Famous
In the second half of the 19th century, a businessman named George Francis Train rose to prominence through his success with global shipping and trade. As his wealth grew, so did his obsession with himself, and his tireless self-promotion made him a social media phenomenon of his age.
Mossback
Ralph Munro’s legacy passed Washington history to future generations
The longtime Secretary of State helped resettle refugees, supported environmental legislation and was a founding member of the state’s Heritage Caucus.
Mossback
The Deadly Mouth of the Columbia
The tumultuous mouth of the Columbia River, near Astoria, Oregon, is beautiful but deadly. Thousands of ships have capsized and wrecked on its shores over the centuries.