Hells Canyon and Clearwater River
During the night we had sailed all the way up the Snake River as far as Clarkston, Washington State. Clarkston is located directly across the Snake River from Lewiston, Idaho, which is also at the confluence of the Clearwater River, so these two towns have been located at a “river crossroads” for many generations, and were important to the Nez Perce peoples when Lewis and Clark first traveled through this area. After breakfast we split into two groups, one contingent heading up the Clearwater River with local Historian and storyteller Lin Laughy, and the other group heading further upstream on the Snake River using jetboats.
The jetboat trip went almost seventy miles further upstream, past the mouth of the free-flowing Salmon River, and into old mining camp territory long since abandoned. The walls of the canyon can doubtless tell many a tale of heartbreak. But for us, today it could not have been better, as we had wonderful scenery, some fantastic views of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep and Mule Deer, plus beautiful sunny skies. It was a little brisk, but the peaks of all the mountains were lightly dusted with snow, and the views up and down river from Cache Creek were awesome (see photo).
The Clearwater River trip group also had a splendid time visiting old campsites of Lewis and Clark as they made their way first westwards in 1805 and then during the next Spring of 1806 eastwards, headed home. We were all home aboard the Sea Lion for cocktails, recap and dinner after a terrific day in Nez Perce country.
During the night we had sailed all the way up the Snake River as far as Clarkston, Washington State. Clarkston is located directly across the Snake River from Lewiston, Idaho, which is also at the confluence of the Clearwater River, so these two towns have been located at a “river crossroads” for many generations, and were important to the Nez Perce peoples when Lewis and Clark first traveled through this area. After breakfast we split into two groups, one contingent heading up the Clearwater River with local Historian and storyteller Lin Laughy, and the other group heading further upstream on the Snake River using jetboats.
The jetboat trip went almost seventy miles further upstream, past the mouth of the free-flowing Salmon River, and into old mining camp territory long since abandoned. The walls of the canyon can doubtless tell many a tale of heartbreak. But for us, today it could not have been better, as we had wonderful scenery, some fantastic views of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep and Mule Deer, plus beautiful sunny skies. It was a little brisk, but the peaks of all the mountains were lightly dusted with snow, and the views up and down river from Cache Creek were awesome (see photo).
The Clearwater River trip group also had a splendid time visiting old campsites of Lewis and Clark as they made their way first westwards in 1805 and then during the next Spring of 1806 eastwards, headed home. We were all home aboard the Sea Lion for cocktails, recap and dinner after a terrific day in Nez Perce country.
