Hell’s Canyon and Clearwater River
Autumn in Clarkston! Bright yellow mulberry and maple leaves waving in a gentle east wind. Just enough wind for a wrinkle on the surface of the river. Or both rivers, for today part of our group is traveling by jetboat up the Snake River into Hell’s Canyon, and the other is going by motor coach up the Clearwater River into Idaho.
Those going up the Clearwater are retracing the campsites and spots of adventure for the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery in 1805-06. We travel with historian Lin Laughy as he tells many stories from the chronicles of those adventurers. It helps us place in perspective the effect that this hardy band, sent out by President Jefferson, has had on the expansion of this nation from sea to shining sea.
And for those who went by jetboat, it opened up this vast canyon in a single day to what people in a previous period had taken weeks to see. There are volcanic basalt columns to the left of us, and shelter rock caves to the right. The Bighorn Sheep appear in a small band. Great Blue Herons watch patiently for fish, while standing motionless on rocks at the edge of the river. Steelhead fishermen try, not so patiently, to catch fish at other sites at the river’s edge.
Evidence of long time habitation along the river show themselves as petroglyph carvings, especially at Buffalo Eddy. And for those of us on the jetboat, a comfortable ride through a wild canyon, and a pleasant lunch along the way.
This has been a memorable autumn day for all of us.
Autumn in Clarkston! Bright yellow mulberry and maple leaves waving in a gentle east wind. Just enough wind for a wrinkle on the surface of the river. Or both rivers, for today part of our group is traveling by jetboat up the Snake River into Hell’s Canyon, and the other is going by motor coach up the Clearwater River into Idaho.
Those going up the Clearwater are retracing the campsites and spots of adventure for the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery in 1805-06. We travel with historian Lin Laughy as he tells many stories from the chronicles of those adventurers. It helps us place in perspective the effect that this hardy band, sent out by President Jefferson, has had on the expansion of this nation from sea to shining sea.
And for those who went by jetboat, it opened up this vast canyon in a single day to what people in a previous period had taken weeks to see. There are volcanic basalt columns to the left of us, and shelter rock caves to the right. The Bighorn Sheep appear in a small band. Great Blue Herons watch patiently for fish, while standing motionless on rocks at the edge of the river. Steelhead fishermen try, not so patiently, to catch fish at other sites at the river’s edge.
Evidence of long time habitation along the river show themselves as petroglyph carvings, especially at Buffalo Eddy. And for those of us on the jetboat, a comfortable ride through a wild canyon, and a pleasant lunch along the way.
This has been a memorable autumn day for all of us.
