Today we navigated south into Hell’s Canyon on the Snake River and traveled 50 miles to the confluence of the Snake and Salmon Rivers before retracing our wake. We experienced not only incredible scenery, but traveled through multiple stories as well. The wedding-cake tiers of basaltic lava and orderly columns of basalt told a geologic story of millions of years ago. The sporadic deposits we found of Mount Mazama ash along the river banks told the tale of explosive events thousands of years ago. The quirky deposit of limestone deeper into the canyon told a tale of epic proportions when plate tectonics accreted marine seafloor to what then was the west coast of the North American continent. So recent as to be considered a side note was the tale of the Lewis & Clark expedition coming near the area, and sending three members of their party into the canyon to search for food. The salmon they obtained from the Nez Perce people were quite likely considered less than edible after the several days on the trail the men traveled to rejoin the main expedition party.

Our jaunt into the canyon on this fine autumn day also brought wildlife sightings of mule deer, rocky mountain bighorn sheep, and numerous turkeys. The sheep are not yet into their fall rut, so the groups we found were still segregated between ewes and mature breeding male rams. We had a great opportunity for viewing mule deer and turkeys at our lunch stop, the Garden Creek Ranch. The apple orchard and watered grounds create a habitat feast for these canyon dwellers.  

Upon return to the mothership National Geographic Sea Bird, another chapter to the story of this area was offered in a visit to the Nez Perce Historical Site. This small National Park Service site tells the story of the Nez Perce or Nimíipuu as they called themselves. These are a people that have inhabited this region and a significantly larger area than the remnants they hold today, for thousands of years. The collection at the site known as the “Spalding Collection” is a fine exhibit of regalia that showcases the artistry, skill, and accomplishments of a culture that continues to tell its story.

With the setting of the sun and our gathering together to share our experiences of the day our narrative will end for the day. However, we have just opened the book as we now travel westward, exploring the rivers and canyons, wildlife, people, and history of the Pacific Northwest.