Having passed through the locks of two dams last night we awoke this morning to the ship settling into its final mooring for this expedition, Clarkston, Washington. After a gentle but invigorating stretch class with Susan, and another delicious breakfast prepared by the ship’s chefs, I made my way to the sign-out board and onto the jet boat waiting to take us to Hell’s Canyon National Recreation Area. As we began our more than 50-mile-ride upriver, houses that had dotted the banks on either side began to disappear and were soon replaced with ranchland, mountains, and basaltic rock cliffs with incredible geometric patterns. We took up a swift pace but slowed to inspect a beaver lodge on the banks as well as two coyotes. We then continued on until the water was running fast, unaffected by dams now too far downstream to slow it. After traveling nearly 37 miles on the Snake River we stopped for a morning break and were joined by a mule deer and more than eight wild turkeys! Back on the boats we traveled another 13 miles upriver and turned around after reaching the fork of the Snake and Salmon Rivers. After lunch at the Garden Creek Nature Conservancy land we were back on the jet boats heading downstream but stopped for both a large group of big horn sheep foraging close to the river’s rocky edge, as well as ancient Indian petroglyphs. From then it was a speedy return, descending the more than 315 feet we climbed to get there.
Another group from our ship opted to explore some of the campsites of the Lewis and Clark expedition along the Clearwater River. Late in the afternoon, all of the ships guests were invited to visit the Nez Perce National Historic Park to speak with a Park Service interpreter to learn more about the Nez Perce Indians and view their collection of objects dating back to 1844.
In the evening before we enjoyed another great meal inspired by, and including, fresh local ingredients we settled into the night by watching a slideshow of guest-submitted photographs that included both professional quality nature photography as well as fun, candid portraits.
As an exhibition designer for the Smithsonian Institution it is my charge to connect our many visitors to new information, ideas, and perspectives. With each exhibition I hope to make conditions just right in order to create provocative and memorable experiences. Being on this expedition has been a humbling reminder of how very easily these majestic places, coupled with the highly trained expedition leaders, can do just that: create meaningful memories that will be kept for a lifetime.
As the expedition is drawn to a close bidding farewell to the many great people whose company I have enjoyed so much over the last six days is by far the hardest part of the trip!
I hope to see them again on another expedition soon.
