Hells Canyon & Lewis and Clark in the Clearwater Country
Lewis and Clark divided the Corps of Discovery on several occasions. So, too, did our hearty group from the Sea Lion go in different directions today. We docked before dawn at Clarkston, Washington, near the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers and after breakfast we chose one of our two options.
One group boarded a jet boat for a journey up the Snake River into the beautiful Hell’s Canyon to the point where the Salmon River flows into the Snake. Deer, ancient petroglyphs, watching steelhead fishermen reel in their catch, a great lunch at a river side resort, and the marvel of jet boat transit through rapids made for an exciting day.
Our other group headed out after breakfast via bus into the heart of Clearwater country, where Lewis and Clark spent many days in the fall of 1805 and late spring of 1806. We were accompanied by gifted historian/naturalist Lin Laughy, the leading authority of expedition travels on the Clearwater, and across the nearby Bitterroot Mountains. Thanks to Lin’s expertise we were able to visit Lewis and Clark sites he has documented over the years, taking us to historic places few even know about, much less get to see.
Our two mini-expeditions rendezvoused in late afternoon at a National Park Service museum located near Lewiston, Idaho. This site focused on the history of the Nez Perce, the Native American people who were so hospitable to Lewis and Clark in 1805 and 1806, and such a key factor in the success of the expedition.
We returned to the Sea Lion at 5:30 p.m. for cocktails, snacks, and another delicious meal as our fine ship turned downstream, headed on a straight run for Portland.
Lewis and Clark divided the Corps of Discovery on several occasions. So, too, did our hearty group from the Sea Lion go in different directions today. We docked before dawn at Clarkston, Washington, near the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers and after breakfast we chose one of our two options.
One group boarded a jet boat for a journey up the Snake River into the beautiful Hell’s Canyon to the point where the Salmon River flows into the Snake. Deer, ancient petroglyphs, watching steelhead fishermen reel in their catch, a great lunch at a river side resort, and the marvel of jet boat transit through rapids made for an exciting day.
Our other group headed out after breakfast via bus into the heart of Clearwater country, where Lewis and Clark spent many days in the fall of 1805 and late spring of 1806. We were accompanied by gifted historian/naturalist Lin Laughy, the leading authority of expedition travels on the Clearwater, and across the nearby Bitterroot Mountains. Thanks to Lin’s expertise we were able to visit Lewis and Clark sites he has documented over the years, taking us to historic places few even know about, much less get to see.
Our two mini-expeditions rendezvoused in late afternoon at a National Park Service museum located near Lewiston, Idaho. This site focused on the history of the Nez Perce, the Native American people who were so hospitable to Lewis and Clark in 1805 and 1806, and such a key factor in the success of the expedition.
We returned to the Sea Lion at 5:30 p.m. for cocktails, snacks, and another delicious meal as our fine ship turned downstream, headed on a straight run for Portland.
