Clarkston, WA – The Snake & Clearwater Rivers
As the day began onboard the National Geographic Sea Lion, the vessel entered the ship lock at Lower Granite Dam, the western-most lock we would encounter on our journey “In the Wake of Lewis & Clark.” Our destination today, Clarkston, Washington, was still thirty miles upstream, and the odds were that the vessel wouldn’t make it to the dock in time for today’s activities to start as scheduled. Fortunately, there has yet to be a challenge to which the intrepid staff of Lindblad Expeditions cannot rise, and today was no exception. As our guests watched the ship be raise 1,000 feet in the lock, we contacted our friends at Beamer’s Jet Boats, located in Clarkston. Later today they were due to take half of us into Hell’s Canyon Recreation Area, and now we asked them the favor of dispatching a jet boat to meet us downriver and take us all to Clarkston. A jet boat could get from Lower Granite Dam to Clarkston in less than half the time the Sea Lion could. Soon enough, a Beamer’s jet boat roared around the corner to be our shuttle! Everyone experienced a quick transit to the dock at Clarkston.
Once there, we split up, half of us heading out on a historical journey in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, led by the magnificent historian Lin Laughy. I joined the other half for a jet boat ride up the Snake River and into Hell’s Canyon (and back!). Beamer’s jet boats, while comfortable and enclosed, also allowed us to feel the rush of the wind and water as we sped up the Snake. Along the way, our Captain, Gary, explained some of the geological formations we were seeing, and we admired the fishing and vacation cabins perched on the step riverbanks. Before long, we were stopping at the northern check-in of Hell’s Canyon, an isolated visitor’s center staffed by volunteers. We stretched our legs and took in the displays that illustrated the history of the area. Attempts were made at mining here, but the area’s isolation made that cost-prohibitive. This beautiful area is now protected as a destination for hikers, kayakers, boaters, and fishers. We were lucky with our wildlife viewings: a golden eagle, two Bighorn sheep, mule deer, herons, gulls, and a huge steelhead netted by a fisherman as we passed by.
After pushing further into the park a few more miles, we turned back…in search of lunch! Beamer’s operates a riverside restaurant just outside of Hell’s Canyon, and we ate a quick bite there before heading back to the National Geographic Sea Lion. It was a lengthy journey but well worth it to see the splendor of Hell’s Canyon!
As the day began onboard the National Geographic Sea Lion, the vessel entered the ship lock at Lower Granite Dam, the western-most lock we would encounter on our journey “In the Wake of Lewis & Clark.” Our destination today, Clarkston, Washington, was still thirty miles upstream, and the odds were that the vessel wouldn’t make it to the dock in time for today’s activities to start as scheduled. Fortunately, there has yet to be a challenge to which the intrepid staff of Lindblad Expeditions cannot rise, and today was no exception. As our guests watched the ship be raise 1,000 feet in the lock, we contacted our friends at Beamer’s Jet Boats, located in Clarkston. Later today they were due to take half of us into Hell’s Canyon Recreation Area, and now we asked them the favor of dispatching a jet boat to meet us downriver and take us all to Clarkston. A jet boat could get from Lower Granite Dam to Clarkston in less than half the time the Sea Lion could. Soon enough, a Beamer’s jet boat roared around the corner to be our shuttle! Everyone experienced a quick transit to the dock at Clarkston.
Once there, we split up, half of us heading out on a historical journey in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, led by the magnificent historian Lin Laughy. I joined the other half for a jet boat ride up the Snake River and into Hell’s Canyon (and back!). Beamer’s jet boats, while comfortable and enclosed, also allowed us to feel the rush of the wind and water as we sped up the Snake. Along the way, our Captain, Gary, explained some of the geological formations we were seeing, and we admired the fishing and vacation cabins perched on the step riverbanks. Before long, we were stopping at the northern check-in of Hell’s Canyon, an isolated visitor’s center staffed by volunteers. We stretched our legs and took in the displays that illustrated the history of the area. Attempts were made at mining here, but the area’s isolation made that cost-prohibitive. This beautiful area is now protected as a destination for hikers, kayakers, boaters, and fishers. We were lucky with our wildlife viewings: a golden eagle, two Bighorn sheep, mule deer, herons, gulls, and a huge steelhead netted by a fisherman as we passed by.
After pushing further into the park a few more miles, we turned back…in search of lunch! Beamer’s operates a riverside restaurant just outside of Hell’s Canyon, and we ate a quick bite there before heading back to the National Geographic Sea Lion. It was a lengthy journey but well worth it to see the splendor of Hell’s Canyon!
