Hell’s Canyon and Clearwater River
After creaking and sneaking our way up the river through the last three locks on the Snake River, we awoke under on the calm waters behind Lower Granite Dam. After breakfast, we docked in Clarkston, Washington -- 465 river miles from the mouth of the Columbia. Although this is as far as the M/V Sea Lion could take us, we spent the day exploring upriver by other means. Those of us up for the excitement of navigating rapids on a jet boat continued up the Snake River to Hell’s Canyon, while those of us who wanted to stand on the sites where Lewis and Clark camped chose the Clearwater Connections trip.
It seemed the perfect time of year to head into Hells Canyon. The blistering 100 degrees days of summer were long gone, and the basalt cliffs were highlighted by the patches of yellow willows, cottonwoods, and the red sumac. A stop at the US Forest Service Cache Creek Ranch told of life in an earlier time, while the many boats on the water showed one of the livelihoods of the region today, steelhead fishing. Wildlife highlights included a golden eagle, great blue herons, mule deer, and many big horn sheep. One group of the sheep was high above the river, nimbly navigating their cliffy home, and later, there were others right on the edge of the river browsing on willows.
The Clearwater Connections trip gave the Lewis and Clark buffs an opportunity to have the stories come alive by exploring Treaty Council Camp and Long Camp. A few of the group got to try their hand at starting a fire from a flint and steel, leaving us with even more admiration for the challenges that the explorers faced.
Our final at the Nez Perce National Historic Park in Lapwai was a fine way to learn a bit about the tribe who was so important to the Corps of Discovery.
After creaking and sneaking our way up the river through the last three locks on the Snake River, we awoke under on the calm waters behind Lower Granite Dam. After breakfast, we docked in Clarkston, Washington -- 465 river miles from the mouth of the Columbia. Although this is as far as the M/V Sea Lion could take us, we spent the day exploring upriver by other means. Those of us up for the excitement of navigating rapids on a jet boat continued up the Snake River to Hell’s Canyon, while those of us who wanted to stand on the sites where Lewis and Clark camped chose the Clearwater Connections trip.
It seemed the perfect time of year to head into Hells Canyon. The blistering 100 degrees days of summer were long gone, and the basalt cliffs were highlighted by the patches of yellow willows, cottonwoods, and the red sumac. A stop at the US Forest Service Cache Creek Ranch told of life in an earlier time, while the many boats on the water showed one of the livelihoods of the region today, steelhead fishing. Wildlife highlights included a golden eagle, great blue herons, mule deer, and many big horn sheep. One group of the sheep was high above the river, nimbly navigating their cliffy home, and later, there were others right on the edge of the river browsing on willows.
The Clearwater Connections trip gave the Lewis and Clark buffs an opportunity to have the stories come alive by exploring Treaty Council Camp and Long Camp. A few of the group got to try their hand at starting a fire from a flint and steel, leaving us with even more admiration for the challenges that the explorers faced.
Our final at the Nez Perce National Historic Park in Lapwai was a fine way to learn a bit about the tribe who was so important to the Corps of Discovery.
