McNary Lock on the Columbia River
Two centuries ago on October 12, 1805, Lewis and Clark descended the Snake River. It was their third day on the Snake. Unlike today, the river was very shallow in places, swift-moving and had many dangerous rapids. On the 11th Clark writes that they had gone over fourteen rapids that day. He didn’t count them on the 12th, only saying there were “several of them and some verry bad.” One rapid was “long and dangerous, about two miles in length and many turns necessary to Steer Clear of the rocks.” They decided to wait until morning to take their big canoes through. We, on the other hand, took our “big canoe” and our Zodiacs through the lock at McNary Dam easily and with pleasure.
While there are similarities between our expedition and that of the Corps of Discovery—much of the landscape we’ve traveled through today would still be recognizable even these 200 years later—there are also many marked differences. Grain elevators, large towns, and docks now appear along the river. Fields of grain, legumes, and potatoes, endless miles of apple orchards and world-class vineyards stretch to the distant mountains, supplanting the wide expanses of grasses naturally found here. Highways and rail lines are visible to today’s traveler, whereas Lewis and Clark would have seen the trails and lodges of local Native people.
Aboard the Seabird, we didn’t have to worry about rapids. We “proceeded on” swiftly and smoothly as we followed the now tamed Columbia River eastward. To survive, the Corps bought dried salmon and dogs to eat from the Indians. On board the Seabird, we dine on gourmet food in a comfortable dining room. In fact, this evening we sampled fine wines and regional delicacies from the Pacific Northwest. While we marvel at how Lewis and Clark survived their expedition, we live in comfort aboard the Seabird and enjoy it!
Two centuries ago on October 12, 1805, Lewis and Clark descended the Snake River. It was their third day on the Snake. Unlike today, the river was very shallow in places, swift-moving and had many dangerous rapids. On the 11th Clark writes that they had gone over fourteen rapids that day. He didn’t count them on the 12th, only saying there were “several of them and some verry bad.” One rapid was “long and dangerous, about two miles in length and many turns necessary to Steer Clear of the rocks.” They decided to wait until morning to take their big canoes through. We, on the other hand, took our “big canoe” and our Zodiacs through the lock at McNary Dam easily and with pleasure.
While there are similarities between our expedition and that of the Corps of Discovery—much of the landscape we’ve traveled through today would still be recognizable even these 200 years later—there are also many marked differences. Grain elevators, large towns, and docks now appear along the river. Fields of grain, legumes, and potatoes, endless miles of apple orchards and world-class vineyards stretch to the distant mountains, supplanting the wide expanses of grasses naturally found here. Highways and rail lines are visible to today’s traveler, whereas Lewis and Clark would have seen the trails and lodges of local Native people.
Aboard the Seabird, we didn’t have to worry about rapids. We “proceeded on” swiftly and smoothly as we followed the now tamed Columbia River eastward. To survive, the Corps bought dried salmon and dogs to eat from the Indians. On board the Seabird, we dine on gourmet food in a comfortable dining room. In fact, this evening we sampled fine wines and regional delicacies from the Pacific Northwest. While we marvel at how Lewis and Clark survived their expedition, we live in comfort aboard the Seabird and enjoy it!
