Clarkston, Washington, Lewiston, Idaho, Clearwater and Snake Rivers
The National Geographic Sea Bird docked at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers this morning. Shortly after breakfast, our guests had to make a choice and were divided for two different excursions.
The first group boarded the motor coach for a historical tour of the Lewis and Clark routes along the Clearwater River. Our local guide, Historian Lin Laughy, entertained and educated us on this journey.
Lin had personally traversed the same water and land routes taken by Lewis and Clark. We were shown a number sites where the Corp of Discovery had camped and learned more about the Nez Perce. We took a lunch break at a bakery/restaurant in the village of Kamiah, Idaho. In the afternoon, we made a stop at the Heart of the Monster, where according to legend, the Nez Perce people had originated. Lee Hamilton, a survivalist, demonstrated and invited our guests to make fire and craft ropes.
The second group embarked on a jet boat to explore the magnificent geological wonders of the basalt walls and valleys of Hell’s Canyon, with Beamers Hell’s Canyon Tours. Hell’s Canyon is the deepest canyon in North America.
The jet boat has an 800-horse power engine, and deftly navigated the rapids. The boat made a stop at Cache Creek, a historical ranch site and then docked for a buffet lunch at a restaurant on the river. The boat turned around at Salmon River, known as the mouth of the legendary “River of No Return.” Wildlife spotted on this trip included bighorn sheep, pelicans, geese, ducks and eagle. The boat slowed for guests to take a closer look at petroglyphs etched into the rocks by Native Americans at Buffalo Eddy.
By late afternoon, both parties were reunited at the Nez Perce National Historic Park Visitor Center where we had a private showing of a collection of Nez Perce artifacts dating from 1844.
At the evening recap, guests shared comments on their different experiences of the day. After dinner, we watched a video about the Bretz Floods that ravaged eastern Washington and Oregon many years ago.
