Palouse River
The Sea Lion sailed up the Snake River most of the night to find anchorage at the mouth of the Palouse River. The brisk (28 degrees) but clear dawn revealed the sheer basalt cliffs bordering this historic river. When Lewis and Clark passed here on October 13, 1805, it was an important salmon stream, and a busy scene of fishing and drying fish. The Corps traded for some salmon and named the stream after George Drouillard, their principal hunter and interpreter.
This is a prime location to observe the unique geology of the Columbia basin. The present physiognomy was produced by successive horizontal lava flows over millions of years, building the “layer cake” aspect of the region, especially as viewed from the edge, along rivers. Subsequently, this land was washed and scoured by enormous floods of water when a series of glacial lakes broke through their ice dams and swept from Montana to the ocean, forming the deeply dissected landscape seen today.
Now, the lower Palouse is flooded by backwater from Lower Monumental Dam, which allows access by our zodiac boats and kayaks. Our modern explorers traveled by water and land to get a feel for the process and results of all that geological activity. The canyon and 185 foot falls of the Palouse are some of the most compelling evidence for the geological interpretation.
After a barbecue lunch, we cruised back down the Snake River through its dramatic canyon. John Meffert presented a lecture about the settlement of Lewis and Clark country in the age of Manifest Destiny. Using historic quotes and illustrations, John made this great American story very real and personal.
The day’s collective experience thus examined the stories of the region at several time scales, reinforcing and expanding our individual perspectives In the Wake of Lewis and Clark.
The Sea Lion sailed up the Snake River most of the night to find anchorage at the mouth of the Palouse River. The brisk (28 degrees) but clear dawn revealed the sheer basalt cliffs bordering this historic river. When Lewis and Clark passed here on October 13, 1805, it was an important salmon stream, and a busy scene of fishing and drying fish. The Corps traded for some salmon and named the stream after George Drouillard, their principal hunter and interpreter.
This is a prime location to observe the unique geology of the Columbia basin. The present physiognomy was produced by successive horizontal lava flows over millions of years, building the “layer cake” aspect of the region, especially as viewed from the edge, along rivers. Subsequently, this land was washed and scoured by enormous floods of water when a series of glacial lakes broke through their ice dams and swept from Montana to the ocean, forming the deeply dissected landscape seen today.
Now, the lower Palouse is flooded by backwater from Lower Monumental Dam, which allows access by our zodiac boats and kayaks. Our modern explorers traveled by water and land to get a feel for the process and results of all that geological activity. The canyon and 185 foot falls of the Palouse are some of the most compelling evidence for the geological interpretation.
After a barbecue lunch, we cruised back down the Snake River through its dramatic canyon. John Meffert presented a lecture about the settlement of Lewis and Clark country in the age of Manifest Destiny. Using historic quotes and illustrations, John made this great American story very real and personal.
The day’s collective experience thus examined the stories of the region at several time scales, reinforcing and expanding our individual perspectives In the Wake of Lewis and Clark.
