Snake River & Palouse Falls

All week long we have been imagining this place through the eyes of Lewis and Clark. This afternoon, in a new challenge, we used our imaginations to look back into time even further - 15,000 years. If we could reverse time, we would be able to see the Palouse River landscape as it would have looked before the great Bretz Floods. What was left in its wake is landscape caused by floods that are nearly too large to imagine. The bluffs, basalt cliffs, and dry falls show us the outlines of where the waters of Glacial Lake Missoula ran in a fury at a former time.

Earlier in the day Verne Huser shared with us many of the plants and animals named by Lewis and Clark. This afternoon, by foot, Zodiac and kayak we discovered plants and animals on our own. Bald eagles, golden eagles and a red-tailed hawk soared above the river, western grebes dove around us, and coots ran across the surface of the water in prelude to take-off. The scenery and short hike at the top of the Palouse Falls was complemented by the creativity of the hotel staff. Judie, our hotel manager once again put on a small party. This time there were cookies and chai tea (with rum!) waiting for us upon arrival. We hated to leave the splendor, but once again, the sun was setting and the Sea Lion was waiting to welcome us back.