In the Steps of Lewis and Clark

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Monday, 19 June 2017 - Traveled from Clarkston into Hells Canyon aboard jet boats, explored the deep Snake River gorge carved by dramatic basalt cliffs and wildflower-dotted hillsides, spotted mountain sheep high on canyon walls and bald eagles in flight, visited Garden Creek Ranch at the Oregon-Washington-Idaho confluence for lunch and exploration, and then headed back downriver following the route of Lewis and Clark's historic journey.

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Today we are at the furthest point east we will travel - Clarkston. Lewiston is on the other side of the Snake River and is in Idaho. Today we will be in all three states - Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. We loaded up into jet boats of 30 or so people and spent the day in Hells Canyon carved by the Snake River.

The S.S. Legacy as we are leaving for Hells Canyon on our jet boat.
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Another view of the fracture pattern that forms as the surface cools and then is propagated down as it cools into basalt forming long geometric columns.
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We were hoping to see mountain sheep in Hells Canyon and not 15 minutes into the ride we saw a group way up on the canyon walls. By the end of the trip we saw several groups and the jet boat tour operator said we were very fortunate to see as many as we did.
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A small mountain sheep calf
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The landscape was very barren but in the valleys where there were streams trees were established.
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Hells Canyon with the Snake River
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While few trees, the wild flowers were beautiful growing on the hills.
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A little cabin on the very rocky shore at Buffalo Eddy which was a crossing point for the Nez Perce Indians.
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Hills along the Snake River with purple wild flowers
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A very beautiful landscape with green hills and wildflowers.
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An egret at Rogersburg, Washington which is the furthest you can drive into Hells Canyon from the north.

There is a small river emptying into the Snake River (Grande Ronde River) creating an eddy.
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Trees!!! Way up on a hill were a few trees on the otherwise barren hillside.
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The jet boat docked for lunch at Garden Creek Ranch. The ranch was right at the confluence of the three states - Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. It was located in Idaho. Great lunch and some time to explore the area.
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An owl at the ranch high up in a bird house on the side of a barn.
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Turkeys roaming the ranch
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A deer caught eating an apple from a small orchard.
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The view of the Snake River north from Garden Creek Ranch
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The welcome sign for Oregon on the far bank of the Snake River - there was no trail or any type of access except driving by on the river.
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A group of mountain sheep at the Snake River's banks.
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The smaller sheep were cute
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On the Snake River looking up the Salmon River.
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Hells Canyon along the Snake River
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We saw several Bald Eagles on the trip - most in flight. This one was nice enough to pause for a picture on a nearby tree.
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On the Washington side of the Snake River we stopped at Buffalo Eddy to view the petroglyph left by the Nez Perce dating from 4,000+ years ago.
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We left Clarkston in the evening heading downriver like Lewis and Clark

Lewis and Clark camped overnight on an island near the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers located near what is now the sister cities of Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington.
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