Hells Canyon, 10/19/2024, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Pacific Northwest
Today our guests were treated to a jet boat tour up the deepest river gorge in North America. We cruised about 110 miles, stopping to photograph Rocky Mountain big horn sheep and bald eagles before stopping for a delicious lunch of salmon risotto paired with some beautiful wines.
To end the night, we had presentations by Coco Umiker, pioneer of Idaho wines, and JR, our indigenous Nez Perce storyteller.
Kylee Walterman grew up in central California where she was in close proximity to the ocean, mountains, deserts, valleys, and national forests; this is where she found a passion for the natural world. She attained a Marine Science degree with a biolo...
We spent our last day on the warm rain-shadow side of the Cascade Mountains as we continued west. Spring is in full force, or as full as it can get with nine inches of rain a year. The green grass-covered hills are already turning pink and soon to yellow as temperatures climb and the spring flora succumbs to drought. We admired the tenacity of these plants as they bravely flowered with minimal resources. From the brilliant canary-yellow of the arrowleaf balsamroot flowers to the azure blue of the native larkspur, the colors of the rainbow were represented in the delicate structures of flower petals. Spring is in the air and on the hillsides as well.
We awoke today with National Geographic Sea Bird anchored at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers near Sacajawea State Park. A few intrepid explorers set out for a daily survey of birds by way of Zodiac, and we were able to identify 15 different species of birds. Highlights for some guests were seeing a pair of wood ducks and a few big male turkeys, or toms, strutting around the park like they owned the place. After breakfast, all 58 guests disembarked, boarded our trusty motor coaches, and headed into the Walla Walla Valley where we learned about some of the human history and regional wine production. A wildlife highlight of the day was getting an up close and personal view of a Northern harrier, a small slender raptor, near Mill Creek. We’re looking forward to our journey over the next few days, continuing west and down river towards the Pacific Ocean.
It was a windy but lovely day on the Palouse River. This morning, we got a chance to take Zodiac tours up the Palouse River, through the reeds, and past the stunning columnar basalt of this incredible ecosystem. Guests saw a porcupine relaxing in a tree, heard the hypnotic singing of red-winged blackbirds, and some even saw a muskrat! How cool! Then folks transferred for a bus ride overlooking the 200-foot-tall Palouse Falls Waterfall upriver. After some afternoon kayaking and a history presentation from our Historian Doug Kenck-Crispin, we pulled anchor and made way along the Snake River to tomorrow’s destination, Walla Walla, Washington!
