After leaving Portland, the ship spent the night and most of the next day making its way east up the Columbia River and heading eventually towards the Snake River. In the afternoon our guests left the Sea Lion and took a hike in the Channeled Scablands, for a closer look at this ecosystem.
The McNary Wildlife Reserve was created just below the west side of the McNary Dam and this is where we entered the Channeled Scablands for our first hike of the voyage. Because of the many lakes and ponds created by the damming of the Columbia River, birds have recently begun to use these areas on their southerly migration. We had great views of wood ducks during our hike, along with much conversation about the native and non-native plants that inhabit the Columbia River area around the McNary Dam.
