Today was a wonderful start to our journey down the Snake and Columbia rivers! Following breakfast, half the group boarded the jetboat and headed upstream, bouncing over riffles and rapids in the pursuit of scenery and wildlife. Very quickly we spotted a herd of bighorn sheep lollygagging near the water and everyone had a chance to snap photos of the animals strolling along a cliff face. Basalt columns intrigued us as we headed on, and the topography became more steep and precipitous.
We stopped at a Forest Service site for a break, gorging on fresh plums from their orchard and following around a flock of wild turkeys. We pressed on through some serious whitewater, hearing stories of miners and boats sunk in the river, before turning back at the base of Hells Canyon. Lunch was enjoyed at a small Nature Conservancy area with an orchard filled with mule deer and turkeys.
The other group boarded a bus in the morning with guest interpreter Miguel Inzunza to follow in the tracks of Lewis and Clark along the Clearwater River. Several stops were made at significant points of historical interest and the group even learned some basic survival skills, including starting fire! At the end of the day the groups were reunited at Nez Perce National Historic Park and enjoyed a brief park ranger presentation, film, and wander through the exhibits.
After dinner we learned about the great ice age floods which scoured the region of the Channeled Scablands and Columbia River Gorge, preparing us for what will see tomorrow.
