Clarkston, Washington
This morning the Sea Bird docked at Clarkston, Washington at the head of navigation for ocean-going vessels on the Snake River, where the Clearwater River joins the Snake. We had the choice of two very different and interesting voyages: following the path of Lewis and Clark through the land of the Nez Perce with local historian Lin Laughy or traveling on the Snake River through Hell’s Canyon by jet boat.
Those of us who chose the bus trip along the Clearwater River enjoyed learning about the rich history and culture of the Nez Perce and how they made enormous contributions to the success of the Corps of Discovery. In the morning we retraced the route of Lewis and Clark on their return voyage by horse eastward in the spring of 1806, while in the afternoon we noted sites associated with their westbound trip by canoe in the fall of 1805. We saw several of their camp sites and the locations of important encounters with the Nez Perce, while Lin read aloud from their journals. Lin’s readings and retelling of the story let us visualize and experience the life of the Corps of Discovery and their Nez Perce friends. The fall colors brightened our day and our visits to Canoe Camp, where the Expedition made dug-out canoes from Ponderosa pines, and the site of Broken Arm’s lodge where Lewis and Clark and the Nez Perce completed a Treaty Council. After lunch in a café in Kamiah, Idaho, Lee Hamilton taught us survival skills such as making fire with a metal striking tool and a stone, and braiding cottontail rushes to make cordage.
Those of us who speeded up the Snake River by jet boat were excited to see Rocky Mountain big horn sheep along the river. We also saw and photographed wild turkeys and recently caught steelhead. We enjoyed a morning stop at Cache Creek and a tasty lunch at Heller’s Bar before our down-river return.
We ended our day at the Nez Perce National Park in Lapwai, Idaho, and gained more insight into their history and culture from a talk by a National Park Ranger and viewing the fine exhibits. We returned to the ship with a deeper understanding of the passage of the Corps of Discovery through the area and of the region and its native people.
This morning the Sea Bird docked at Clarkston, Washington at the head of navigation for ocean-going vessels on the Snake River, where the Clearwater River joins the Snake. We had the choice of two very different and interesting voyages: following the path of Lewis and Clark through the land of the Nez Perce with local historian Lin Laughy or traveling on the Snake River through Hell’s Canyon by jet boat.
Those of us who chose the bus trip along the Clearwater River enjoyed learning about the rich history and culture of the Nez Perce and how they made enormous contributions to the success of the Corps of Discovery. In the morning we retraced the route of Lewis and Clark on their return voyage by horse eastward in the spring of 1806, while in the afternoon we noted sites associated with their westbound trip by canoe in the fall of 1805. We saw several of their camp sites and the locations of important encounters with the Nez Perce, while Lin read aloud from their journals. Lin’s readings and retelling of the story let us visualize and experience the life of the Corps of Discovery and their Nez Perce friends. The fall colors brightened our day and our visits to Canoe Camp, where the Expedition made dug-out canoes from Ponderosa pines, and the site of Broken Arm’s lodge where Lewis and Clark and the Nez Perce completed a Treaty Council. After lunch in a café in Kamiah, Idaho, Lee Hamilton taught us survival skills such as making fire with a metal striking tool and a stone, and braiding cottontail rushes to make cordage.
Those of us who speeded up the Snake River by jet boat were excited to see Rocky Mountain big horn sheep along the river. We also saw and photographed wild turkeys and recently caught steelhead. We enjoyed a morning stop at Cache Creek and a tasty lunch at Heller’s Bar before our down-river return.
We ended our day at the Nez Perce National Park in Lapwai, Idaho, and gained more insight into their history and culture from a talk by a National Park Ranger and viewing the fine exhibits. We returned to the ship with a deeper understanding of the passage of the Corps of Discovery through the area and of the region and its native people.
