July 24 Palouse, Hell's Canyon,

Wednesday, July 24

Drove some back roads to Palouse which were suggested by a local photographer.  More wheat fields and neat contours.  Some hay as well.  Heard later that they can get three cuttings of hay in one season, which is why some is long, some short, some green. Scenic highway back and forth from Idaho to Washington.

Decided to visit Hell’s Gate State Park and their Lewis and Clark Discovery Center.  Lots of information about Lewis and Clark’s expedition, particularly in this area.

Nice park.  We decided to book a jet boat tour tomorrow that leaves from the marina here, so will stay in the park.   In the meantime we went into Lewiston and used their wi-fi at the library.  Fabulously fast!  From there we visited the Nez Perce National Historic Park, which the librarians recommended.  Good displays, a film and other information about the Nez Perce.

Back to Hell’s Gate and we watched a film at the Lewis and Clark center.  Very hot day – 100 plus – so an inside movie was good!   Showered and ate and visited with two school teachers from Maryland who were tenting across the way.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Rose early and took care of housekeeping, then went to the Marina for our boat trip.  There were 12 of us on a boat that will hold 22, so very comfortable.  Two 375HP motors and shallow – like an air boat on steroids.  The morning is cool, but it will no doubt be over 100 again later, so this is a good place to be.  (There is a cover!)

All of the trip will be on the Snake river, which varies from 2 to 120 feet in depth and has some class IV and V rapids (the wildest). We will travel 96 miles each way.

Mountains to either side of us, very rocky and dry.  There are some trees and grasses right along the river and we spot a coyote and then several groups of mule deer.  Occasional rapids, but nothing too wild.

We stop an hour and a half in for “breakfast” of coffee, juice and muffins at a house used by Fish and Game for issuing permits.  Only 29 boats are allowed per day.

There are some mule deer here and a group of wild turkeys near by.

We begin to see people in rafts, kayaks and other boats.  Some are on multi-day trips and have separate rafts carrying supplies.  The first time we get wet is when we meet a raft full of guys with water guns!  The next time is as we are bouncing through some rapids. 

Nate, our pilot, has been doing this for years and obviously knows the river well as he avoids rocks, sand bars and shallows with ease.

There are neat geological features along the way including basalt columns, shiny rocks with manganese oxide,  white layers from ash from the volcano that formed Crater Lake, and more.  Some sandy beaches.  There are occasional cabins and Nate explains who built them and how they got the supplies there, etc.

At lunchtime we stop at an old Lodge, run by Nate’s Dad.  Nice box lunches and we are entertained by hummingbirds.  We see a mail boat which delivers mail ton Wednesdays to boxes that folks put along the river.

The rapids are getting more frequent and bigger and before long we are entering Hells Canyon.  Some very large mountains and narrow river – at one point deeper than the grand canyon!  We see big horn sheep at several spots.  We go through two class IV rapids with 6-8 foot waves!  Everyone gets wet.  After the last one, we come to our turnaround spot and are warned that going back is bumpier and wetter and we should protect cameras, etc.  (I brought a plastic bag).  They were right!  Totally drenched.

Made a few stops on the return trip, at an old farm, some petroglyphs, and a spot where 16 Chinese were massacred by cattle thiefs.  Nate and Ty, his assistant, show off their jumping skills here.

  Now Nate is controlling the boat to target drenching certain people, and he’s pretty good at it – all in fun.

We reach the marina about 5:00,  decide to stay at this campsite again, shower, eat a sandwich, talk with neighbors again and crash.