Palouse River and Palouse Falls, Washington State
Washington State's Palouse River drains a mysterious area known as "the Scablands." That startling name derives from the scarred, desolate, high desert appearance of a remnant of the Missoula or Bretz floods. Between 15,000 and 12,000 years ago great sheets of water, released by melting ice dams, raced toward the Pacific Ocean, shaping and smoothing what is today the Columbia Plain and the Columbia and Snake River valleys. In the 1950s, a relatively unknown geologist named J Harlan Bretz first identified this phenomenon, which led to hoots of derision from fellow geologists. Eventually Bretz's theory was accepted by virtually the entire academic community.
Today guests rattled across the Scablands in a motor coach en route to 185-foot high Palouse Falls, a spectacular reminder of the Great Floods. Palouse Falls State Park (in part pictured above) soars above basaltic canyons, wild rapids of the Palouse River, and sweeping views of SE Washington and NE Oregon.
During the motor coach ride the historian described the Scablands, the Palus Indians (sometimes spelled "Palouse" and historically related to the upriver Nez Perce nation), the confluence of the Palouse and Snake Rivers, and the old ferry that once served this junction, since replaced by an erector-set-shaped bridge.
Sea Lion guests took advantage of their second transit (maiden voyage last week) aboard Zodiacs through the lock at Monumental Dam on the Snake River. Despite an overcast sky, the thrill of sinking 100 feet within the great walls of the dam brought sunny expressions to everyone's face.
Guests watched the dramatic basalt cliffs on both sides of the Sea Lion while listening to a detailed and interesting description of the salmon cycle by the ship's Naturalist. Immediately after that presentation, the galley team laid out a wine and beer tasting, with tantalizing smoked sea foods, cheeses and fruits.
Recap ranged from the Chief Joseph story (Nez Perce) to Lewis & Clark anecdotes.
Washington State's Palouse River drains a mysterious area known as "the Scablands." That startling name derives from the scarred, desolate, high desert appearance of a remnant of the Missoula or Bretz floods. Between 15,000 and 12,000 years ago great sheets of water, released by melting ice dams, raced toward the Pacific Ocean, shaping and smoothing what is today the Columbia Plain and the Columbia and Snake River valleys. In the 1950s, a relatively unknown geologist named J Harlan Bretz first identified this phenomenon, which led to hoots of derision from fellow geologists. Eventually Bretz's theory was accepted by virtually the entire academic community.
Today guests rattled across the Scablands in a motor coach en route to 185-foot high Palouse Falls, a spectacular reminder of the Great Floods. Palouse Falls State Park (in part pictured above) soars above basaltic canyons, wild rapids of the Palouse River, and sweeping views of SE Washington and NE Oregon.
During the motor coach ride the historian described the Scablands, the Palus Indians (sometimes spelled "Palouse" and historically related to the upriver Nez Perce nation), the confluence of the Palouse and Snake Rivers, and the old ferry that once served this junction, since replaced by an erector-set-shaped bridge.
Sea Lion guests took advantage of their second transit (maiden voyage last week) aboard Zodiacs through the lock at Monumental Dam on the Snake River. Despite an overcast sky, the thrill of sinking 100 feet within the great walls of the dam brought sunny expressions to everyone's face.
Guests watched the dramatic basalt cliffs on both sides of the Sea Lion while listening to a detailed and interesting description of the salmon cycle by the ship's Naturalist. Immediately after that presentation, the galley team laid out a wine and beer tasting, with tantalizing smoked sea foods, cheeses and fruits.
Recap ranged from the Chief Joseph story (Nez Perce) to Lewis & Clark anecdotes.
