Clarkston, Washington and Lewiston, Idaho
At sunrise, the Sea Lion was making her way east up the Snake River heading for her morning destination of Clarkston, Washington, a small town named for Captain William Clark. The town of Clarkston lies directly west of the town of Lewiston, Idaho, and on the opposite bank of the Snake River, creating the border between the states of Washington and Idaho. Lewiston, Idaho was named for Captain Meriwether Lewis, and on this auspicious morning, we continued our voyage following in the path of the Corp of Discovery, traveling east and upriver heading for the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers.
Two options were available for today's activities. Part of our group would be traveling by van along a road that runs alongside the Clearwater River, and the route used by Lewis and Clark. There would be an opportunity to visit various regional historic sights associated with this famous group of early explorers, combined with visits within the territory of the Nez Perce Indians, also known as the Ni-Mee-Poo people.
The rest of our group boarded a large jet boat and began a sixty-mile journey up the Snake River, exploring what is often called the Grand Canyon of the Snake River and the Pacific Northwest. Hell's Canyon is the deepest canyon in North America, averaging a depth of 5,500 feet in depth (above the water line) and extending about forty miles in length. The deepest spot is 7,900 feet section called Seven Devils Canyon or Box Canyon and is located at the southern end of Hell's Canyon.
By late morning the temperatures were warming up, and our ride was a swift river journey through enormous and steeply sloped mountains. We passed the end of the road fairly quickly and entered the official entrance to the Hell's Canyon Recreation Area, where before us unfolded a wonderfully sculpted path of one of the mighty rivers of the Northwest.
For thousands of years, the relatives of the Nez Perce have occupied this canyon. As our craft sped upriver, we heard the geologic history as well as the human history, presented in stories both visual and auditory. Around each corner a new surprise waited, and one particular corner held a delightful group of river otters reaching up out of the water in righteous indignation as they watched us watch them. We could see them under water, rising to the surface to breathe, diving and continuing along the shore, stopping only to venture onto a rock for a closer look at this strange mechanical vessel holding many smiling faces!
Throughout the morning, we continued south, up the Snake River. We passed the confluences of both the Salmon and Imnaha Rivers. Many sport fishermen were out plying the waters for the returning Steelhead run. We stopped and applauded the raising of a large ten to twenty pound fish and continued on keeping a close eye out for more wildlife. We were rewarded with the sightings of a Golden Eagle, many Great blue herons, Magpies, a small group of Rocky mountain big horn sheep, a very friendly Mule deer, and a group of California quail, ever so spooked by a human presence. Also were a well-hidden group of wild turkeys, matching their soft brown feathers with the light brown of the grasses at this time of year.
Returning down river, we made a lunch stop and continued north making our return towards Clarkston and Lewiston. A last stop was made at Buffalo Eddy, to view several petroglyphs and pictographs. This winter campsite is well known amongst the Nez Perce people as a place where still today, elders return to view the rock art, a reminder of stories of the past. Hundreds of petroglyphs and pictographs were etched and painted onto the rocks of Buffalo Eddy from 300 to 4,500 years ago, all telling a story about life along the Snake River.
As a compliment to this afternoon visit, our two groups met at the Nez Perce National Historic Park and museum located in Spalding, Idaho. Here we were guided through one of the finest collections of Plateau regalia in existence today. Henry Spalding, a missionary who lived briefly amongst the Nez Perce in the Spalding area in the late 1800’s, collected these items. For many years, these pieces were the property of the Ohio Historical Society, until through the efforts of the Nez Perce tribe and local communities, including Lindblad Expeditions, enough money was raised to return these extraordinary pieces of the past to their home in Idaho. We walked through the display cases following in the footsteps and moccasins of a small Nez Perce child making his or her way towards adulthood, understanding that this knowledge had been passed down from generation to generation, and today's Nez Perce carried their old traditions, mixed with new, into the future.
At sunrise, the Sea Lion was making her way east up the Snake River heading for her morning destination of Clarkston, Washington, a small town named for Captain William Clark. The town of Clarkston lies directly west of the town of Lewiston, Idaho, and on the opposite bank of the Snake River, creating the border between the states of Washington and Idaho. Lewiston, Idaho was named for Captain Meriwether Lewis, and on this auspicious morning, we continued our voyage following in the path of the Corp of Discovery, traveling east and upriver heading for the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers.
Two options were available for today's activities. Part of our group would be traveling by van along a road that runs alongside the Clearwater River, and the route used by Lewis and Clark. There would be an opportunity to visit various regional historic sights associated with this famous group of early explorers, combined with visits within the territory of the Nez Perce Indians, also known as the Ni-Mee-Poo people.
The rest of our group boarded a large jet boat and began a sixty-mile journey up the Snake River, exploring what is often called the Grand Canyon of the Snake River and the Pacific Northwest. Hell's Canyon is the deepest canyon in North America, averaging a depth of 5,500 feet in depth (above the water line) and extending about forty miles in length. The deepest spot is 7,900 feet section called Seven Devils Canyon or Box Canyon and is located at the southern end of Hell's Canyon.
By late morning the temperatures were warming up, and our ride was a swift river journey through enormous and steeply sloped mountains. We passed the end of the road fairly quickly and entered the official entrance to the Hell's Canyon Recreation Area, where before us unfolded a wonderfully sculpted path of one of the mighty rivers of the Northwest.
For thousands of years, the relatives of the Nez Perce have occupied this canyon. As our craft sped upriver, we heard the geologic history as well as the human history, presented in stories both visual and auditory. Around each corner a new surprise waited, and one particular corner held a delightful group of river otters reaching up out of the water in righteous indignation as they watched us watch them. We could see them under water, rising to the surface to breathe, diving and continuing along the shore, stopping only to venture onto a rock for a closer look at this strange mechanical vessel holding many smiling faces!
Throughout the morning, we continued south, up the Snake River. We passed the confluences of both the Salmon and Imnaha Rivers. Many sport fishermen were out plying the waters for the returning Steelhead run. We stopped and applauded the raising of a large ten to twenty pound fish and continued on keeping a close eye out for more wildlife. We were rewarded with the sightings of a Golden Eagle, many Great blue herons, Magpies, a small group of Rocky mountain big horn sheep, a very friendly Mule deer, and a group of California quail, ever so spooked by a human presence. Also were a well-hidden group of wild turkeys, matching their soft brown feathers with the light brown of the grasses at this time of year.
Returning down river, we made a lunch stop and continued north making our return towards Clarkston and Lewiston. A last stop was made at Buffalo Eddy, to view several petroglyphs and pictographs. This winter campsite is well known amongst the Nez Perce people as a place where still today, elders return to view the rock art, a reminder of stories of the past. Hundreds of petroglyphs and pictographs were etched and painted onto the rocks of Buffalo Eddy from 300 to 4,500 years ago, all telling a story about life along the Snake River.
As a compliment to this afternoon visit, our two groups met at the Nez Perce National Historic Park and museum located in Spalding, Idaho. Here we were guided through one of the finest collections of Plateau regalia in existence today. Henry Spalding, a missionary who lived briefly amongst the Nez Perce in the Spalding area in the late 1800’s, collected these items. For many years, these pieces were the property of the Ohio Historical Society, until through the efforts of the Nez Perce tribe and local communities, including Lindblad Expeditions, enough money was raised to return these extraordinary pieces of the past to their home in Idaho. We walked through the display cases following in the footsteps and moccasins of a small Nez Perce child making his or her way towards adulthood, understanding that this knowledge had been passed down from generation to generation, and today's Nez Perce carried their old traditions, mixed with new, into the future.
