Palouse River
Today the Sea Lion arrived at the mouth of the Palouse River Canyon just before breakfast. The Ice Floods that swept this area over 12,000 years ago sculpted this major side drainage of the Snake River into high-stepped cliffs of basalt. It was a crisp fall morning with crystal clear blue skies – ideal conditions to explore this remote area of eastern Washington.
By the time we finished our briefing about logistics for the morning activities, the ship’s crew had deployed the Zodiac and kayak fleet and we took to the water. While half of the group made an overland field trip to Palouse Falls, with it’s spectacular 180-foot plunge into the canyon below, the rest of us paddled and cruised beneath the towering walls of the canyon. Red-tailed hawks and ravens soared high overhead and mule deer grazed along the banks. Only the motion of our own boats rippled the mirror-calm waters. We returned to the ship in time to enjoy a lavish barbecue lunch served on the sun deck – a fitting end to a perfect morning.
During the afternoon we continued our cruise down river to the confluence with the mighty Columbia. It was here, just after dinner that we met up with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In our mind’s eye we imagined the Corps of Discovery paddling their dugout canoes to this confluence on October 16, 1804. We wished we could invite them to leave their camp and come on board to tell us about the trials and tribulations of crossing the Rocky Mountains, and also to get their perspective about the changes in the “Great River of the West” during the 200 years since they passed this way.
Today the Sea Lion arrived at the mouth of the Palouse River Canyon just before breakfast. The Ice Floods that swept this area over 12,000 years ago sculpted this major side drainage of the Snake River into high-stepped cliffs of basalt. It was a crisp fall morning with crystal clear blue skies – ideal conditions to explore this remote area of eastern Washington.
By the time we finished our briefing about logistics for the morning activities, the ship’s crew had deployed the Zodiac and kayak fleet and we took to the water. While half of the group made an overland field trip to Palouse Falls, with it’s spectacular 180-foot plunge into the canyon below, the rest of us paddled and cruised beneath the towering walls of the canyon. Red-tailed hawks and ravens soared high overhead and mule deer grazed along the banks. Only the motion of our own boats rippled the mirror-calm waters. We returned to the ship in time to enjoy a lavish barbecue lunch served on the sun deck – a fitting end to a perfect morning.
During the afternoon we continued our cruise down river to the confluence with the mighty Columbia. It was here, just after dinner that we met up with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In our mind’s eye we imagined the Corps of Discovery paddling their dugout canoes to this confluence on October 16, 1804. We wished we could invite them to leave their camp and come on board to tell us about the trials and tribulations of crossing the Rocky Mountains, and also to get their perspective about the changes in the “Great River of the West” during the 200 years since they passed this way.
