Palouse River
As dawn turned the dark sky to a flush rose, the National Geographic Sea Bird slid into the mouth of the Palouse River, originally called “Drewyer’s River”( after their most important member, George Drouillard, for his abilities with international sign language and as a hunter).
Zodiacs set off first, shuttling guests ashore to our luxury school bus. A twenty-minute ride had everyone on top of the smooth-rolling Palouse hills, the first time we had really been this high above water since our arrival on board a few days ago! The falls were created by the floods of water released from Glacial Lake Missoula of the last ice age some 13,000-15,000 years ago. Many, many times over thousands of years, the ice dams broke and released inconceivable amounts of water in one go. The fast-flowing water, hundreds of feet high, roared down the valleys, gullies and coulees, scouring the fine Palouse sediments off the ridges and plucking basalt columns out of their places, undercutting whatever remained above.
Meanwhile, others boarded the Zodiacs back at the ship for a ride up the Palouse River, something made only possible by the construction of Lower Monumental Dam in 1970. The impounded waters behind the dam have made a lake of the Snake River for twenty miles upriver. Some of that lake water has flooded the mouth of the Palouse, making it just deep enough for the ship and Zodiacs to have a morning of fun.
The kayaks can get into even shallower water, and did – paddling far up the Palouse and around an island of willows, reeds and cattails. Evidence of beaver was all around, and a golden eagle was sighted soaring above the layers of basalt. Two coyotes showed in silhouette just as the last of the Zodiacs started their return.
In celebration of the weather – chilly in the early hours turned pleasant as could be desired – the hotel staff had lunch served on deck, so we wouldn’t miss a moment of our exit and turn into the Snake.
The afternoon brought a couple more locks and dams plus presentations from Dr. Fred Frey from M.I.T. and staff member Vern Huser – so much to learn! Not enough hours in the day!
