Hell's Canyon, Idaho

Tuesday morning we awoke to overcast skies and threats of rain, but walked about 100 feet to the dock to catch our Snake Charmer jet-boat tour for the day.  After an engine problem and a quick change of boats we were off traveling 60 miles up the river.  We stopped for a catered lunch at the National Park Service site at Cache Creek staffed in 30-day increments by volunteers.  All travel past this location must be logged and approved for safety reasons, I guess.

The sun came out around noon offering an unparalleled view of the rocky slopes surrounding the river on both sides.  At a historical site where Nez Perce Indians crossed the river to evade Union cavalry troops we turned around and headed back to Clarkson.  This site on the Snake River at Clarkston is where the Lewis & Clark Expedition of 1805-1806 camped for some time with the help of the Nez Perce.

We get an early start

Joy looking forward to the day's outing

We spot a Coyote

Basalt rock formation thrust up during volcanic activity

We see many Osprey today

Don chillin'out

Snake River Canyon is wilderness beauty all around

We take a break at NPS site

Quiet pools amidst rapids

Whitewater ahead!

Lone Mountain Goat appears

Ready now to run the rapids ahead

Another coyote appears to be part mountain goat climbing away

Indescribable beauty

Headed for more white water

A few hard turns in the jet-boat

Joy finishes the day happy

Spokane, WA to Lewiston, ID

09/01/13

Up bright and early on Monday morning we headed east along I-90 through Spokane into Idaho.  A quick look at Coeur d’Alene Lake was all we got as rain moved in on us.  After wandering the back roads (to find a campground that didn’t exist) we drove on to Lewiston, Idaho for the night.  We checked in at the Hells Canyon RV Resort in Clarkston, WA on the Snake River in site 2.

Couldn’t believe our good fortune to happen on this wonderful RV park, we ate leftovers and enjoyed one of the few sunsets since our trip began back in May.  Joy made reservations for Tuesday to take a river jet-boat excursion into Hell’s Canyon.

I-90 eastbound

Passing through downtown Spokane

Idaho wheat fields already harvested

We wondered why 4 of these ramps was needed over a four-mile stretch on Highway 95 until we saw.....

This sign at the top of the mountain

The Snake River heading south through Lewiston, ID

We see a beautiful sunset (one of the view we saw on the Alaska trip)

Hell's Canyon RV Resort offices

Joy contemplates our next day's activity