Stars were dimming in a clear sky as we sailed upstream on the Snake River on this chilly autumn morning. Dark cliffs of basalt loomed on either side of the river as the sky began to glow orange on the horizon. In full daylight, we could see the details in the layers of beautiful basaltic lava that formed the cliffs. Many of us stayed out on the bow to watch the gorgeous landscape sail by. Our historian, Harry Fritz, finished his series of presentations on the Lewis & Clark expedition. In late morning we transited the lock at Lower Monumental Dam and sailed out onto Herbert G. West Lake until we came to the confluence of the Palouse River. Here we dropped anchor and launched our afternoon expeditions directly following lunch.