Lower Monumental Dam, Snake River, Washington State
Today bright sunshine turned fall crispiness into virtual summer. Guests aboard the Sea Lion took advantage of those conditions by kayaking the mouth of the Palouse River, taking Zodiac excursions in the same waters, and visiting the dramatic Palouse Falls and nearby Scablands by bus. The surrounding Scablands are named for the Missoula (or Bretz) floods of 15,000 years ago that inundated, washed and shaped the vast Columbia Plain.
Lyons Ferry on the Palouse River was the site of the above adventures. A bridge has replaced the original ferry here but an added attraction is the oasis of trees, lawn, and Lombardi poplars in a year-round public park. Surrounded by basalt cliffs, including the dominating triangular rock known by the Palus Indians (sometimes Palouse) as the heart of an ancient mythical giant Beaver, this area is partly flooded by backup waters from nearby Monumental Dam. Further upstream, where Palouse Falls thunders out of a hidden, curving basalt wall, the old river meanders through deep canyons, back and forth over frothing rapids, downhill to its rendezvous with the Snake River.
A first for Lindblad Expeditions: the Sea Lion entered Lower Monumental Dam and Lock surrounded by Zodiacs filled with guests. By pre-arrangement with the Sea Lion captain and Corps of Engineers Lockmaster, this high-spirited armada followed the ship into the Lock, tied up, and then slowly dropped 100 feet. When the massive downstream guillotine gate opened sunshine reached the boats, followed by a gentle shower on guests in the Zodiacs. It was as close as one can get to the mysterious workings of a great river lock.
This outdoor day ended in the Lounge with the historian outlining "results" of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, including the fate of key members of the Corps of Discovery. Guests had a number of questions, which led into Recap and a lamb chop dinner.
Today bright sunshine turned fall crispiness into virtual summer. Guests aboard the Sea Lion took advantage of those conditions by kayaking the mouth of the Palouse River, taking Zodiac excursions in the same waters, and visiting the dramatic Palouse Falls and nearby Scablands by bus. The surrounding Scablands are named for the Missoula (or Bretz) floods of 15,000 years ago that inundated, washed and shaped the vast Columbia Plain.
Lyons Ferry on the Palouse River was the site of the above adventures. A bridge has replaced the original ferry here but an added attraction is the oasis of trees, lawn, and Lombardi poplars in a year-round public park. Surrounded by basalt cliffs, including the dominating triangular rock known by the Palus Indians (sometimes Palouse) as the heart of an ancient mythical giant Beaver, this area is partly flooded by backup waters from nearby Monumental Dam. Further upstream, where Palouse Falls thunders out of a hidden, curving basalt wall, the old river meanders through deep canyons, back and forth over frothing rapids, downhill to its rendezvous with the Snake River.
A first for Lindblad Expeditions: the Sea Lion entered Lower Monumental Dam and Lock surrounded by Zodiacs filled with guests. By pre-arrangement with the Sea Lion captain and Corps of Engineers Lockmaster, this high-spirited armada followed the ship into the Lock, tied up, and then slowly dropped 100 feet. When the massive downstream guillotine gate opened sunshine reached the boats, followed by a gentle shower on guests in the Zodiacs. It was as close as one can get to the mysterious workings of a great river lock.
This outdoor day ended in the Lounge with the historian outlining "results" of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, including the fate of key members of the Corps of Discovery. Guests had a number of questions, which led into Recap and a lamb chop dinner.
