Clarkston, Washington
After making our way up the Snake River via Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite locks and dams, we arrived this morning in Clarkston, Washington. Just across the way we could see the sister town of Lewiston, Idaho. Today we had a choice of activities available to us: explore Hells Canyon on jet boats, or follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark even more closely by visiting campsites along the Clearwater Canyon with our local guide Linwood Laughy. Before we set off on the day’s adventures, though, we viewed a video on the history of the Nez Perce, people who not only hold a proud and rich culture, but who proved invaluable to the success of the Corps of Discovery. Our historian Junius Rochester supplemented the video with an overview of the area’s history which awaited us.
Those of us who opted for the jet boat excursion were greeted by Captain Eric and Chief Mate Tom who would skillfully maneuver us further and further along the rapids of the Snake River into Hells Canyon. Before cruising past the “official” entrance of Hells Canyon we had time to view excellent columnar basalt formations along the water’s edge. The jetboats zipped along while all around us, the canyon walls grew steeper and steeper. Hells Canyon is actually one-half mile deeper than the Grand Canyon, giving it claim to the title of deepest gorge in North America. Thanks to the mighty engines powering the jetboats, we were able to roar through the rapids; over the course of the day, we “climbed” an average of eight feet per mile along the river!
While traveling we passed the Clearwater and Salmon Rivers, watching the water swirl and spin into the Snake River. We had occasion to view mule deer, quail, great blue herons, and with Expedition Leader Ged on the lookout, we even spotted a golden eagle perched on shore. The jetboats were guided right up along a section of the rocky wall, providing us with a close up look of ancient petroglyphs. Not once but twice we were afforded looks at the rocky mountain big horn sheep. The second and best looks came while we were stopped on the riverbank at the Beamer’s Heller Bar Lodge for lunch. Several sheep were spotted on the beach below us, grazing and drinking at the water’s edge (see photo). The group of males, females, and young made their way up the hillside, passing directly behind the lodge. It was debatable who was more curious: the two legged creatures with cameras, or the four-legged creatures with wide eyes and horns! The sheep kept moving along, letting us watch their fancy footwork as they climbed further up the hillside.
Meanwhile, those folks who opted for the Clearwater Connection excursion stepped back in time following Lewis and Clark’s journey along the Clearwater—a major river that they followed in part, to and from the Pacific. We stopped at many of the actual campsites where the explorers rested, camped, built their canoes, and waited patiently for locals to safely guide them over the Bitterroot Mountains. With commentary by our well-versed guide, we felt as if we were traveling along with the men themselves!
Today, as with many of our experiences along the way, all around us we not only witnessed, but experienced first hand the same sites, sounds and scenery that the Corps of Discovery would have encountered nearly 200 years ago.
After making our way up the Snake River via Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite locks and dams, we arrived this morning in Clarkston, Washington. Just across the way we could see the sister town of Lewiston, Idaho. Today we had a choice of activities available to us: explore Hells Canyon on jet boats, or follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark even more closely by visiting campsites along the Clearwater Canyon with our local guide Linwood Laughy. Before we set off on the day’s adventures, though, we viewed a video on the history of the Nez Perce, people who not only hold a proud and rich culture, but who proved invaluable to the success of the Corps of Discovery. Our historian Junius Rochester supplemented the video with an overview of the area’s history which awaited us.
Those of us who opted for the jet boat excursion were greeted by Captain Eric and Chief Mate Tom who would skillfully maneuver us further and further along the rapids of the Snake River into Hells Canyon. Before cruising past the “official” entrance of Hells Canyon we had time to view excellent columnar basalt formations along the water’s edge. The jetboats zipped along while all around us, the canyon walls grew steeper and steeper. Hells Canyon is actually one-half mile deeper than the Grand Canyon, giving it claim to the title of deepest gorge in North America. Thanks to the mighty engines powering the jetboats, we were able to roar through the rapids; over the course of the day, we “climbed” an average of eight feet per mile along the river!
While traveling we passed the Clearwater and Salmon Rivers, watching the water swirl and spin into the Snake River. We had occasion to view mule deer, quail, great blue herons, and with Expedition Leader Ged on the lookout, we even spotted a golden eagle perched on shore. The jetboats were guided right up along a section of the rocky wall, providing us with a close up look of ancient petroglyphs. Not once but twice we were afforded looks at the rocky mountain big horn sheep. The second and best looks came while we were stopped on the riverbank at the Beamer’s Heller Bar Lodge for lunch. Several sheep were spotted on the beach below us, grazing and drinking at the water’s edge (see photo). The group of males, females, and young made their way up the hillside, passing directly behind the lodge. It was debatable who was more curious: the two legged creatures with cameras, or the four-legged creatures with wide eyes and horns! The sheep kept moving along, letting us watch their fancy footwork as they climbed further up the hillside.
Meanwhile, those folks who opted for the Clearwater Connection excursion stepped back in time following Lewis and Clark’s journey along the Clearwater—a major river that they followed in part, to and from the Pacific. We stopped at many of the actual campsites where the explorers rested, camped, built their canoes, and waited patiently for locals to safely guide them over the Bitterroot Mountains. With commentary by our well-versed guide, we felt as if we were traveling along with the men themselves!
Today, as with many of our experiences along the way, all around us we not only witnessed, but experienced first hand the same sites, sounds and scenery that the Corps of Discovery would have encountered nearly 200 years ago.
