The Snake River & the Columbia River
A sunny fall day of perfect cruising weather brought us down from the twisting canyons of the Snake River into the mighty Columbia about midday. Calm water painted with autumn reflections allowed us some time to reflect on this interesting journey from the Pacific Ocean through the Cascade Range to the sagebrush steppe of the east side.
Together we’ve explored the Willamette, Columbia, Snake, Clearwater and Palouse Rivers on two ships, three Zodiacs, five kayaks, a jet boat, a few busses and our own footsteps. Aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird we experienced the temperate rain forest of the Pacific Northwest coast, passed through the climatic transition zone to the dry side of the Cascade Mountains, magically boarded the Spirit of Columbia and continued our journey to the easternmost navigable waters of this river system.
We’ve been following the pathways of the Lewis and Clark expedition after their arduous winter struggle through the deep snows of the Bitterroot Mountains. Today Bob Gatten, our wonderful expedition historian, shared a program of art that was inspired by Lewis and Clark. The images that others drew from the journals and the stories were evocative and powerful and convey the greatness and innovation of that extraordinary American undertaking.
We are left with the beauty of the American west and some intriguing questions. Why would a hero like Meriwether Lewis take his own life? How can we balance the great runs of salmon with the needs for clean hydropower and river transportation? Some food for thought as you take up the threads of your own journey back to home and add this one to your memories of special places.
