Today we explored the homeland of the Nez Perce. We began by boarding jet boats and heading up the Snake River into Hells Canyon. As we skimmed over the rapids, we looked up at the towering cliffs of layer upon layer of basalt in a canyon that is, in places, deeper than the Grand Canyon. Along the way, our boat’s captain explained the geologic and cultural history of the area. We observed ancient petroglyphs, their meaning still obscure after much study. High on the cliffs we saw Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, while lower down we spotted mule deer.
We stopped for a break at Cache Creek, one of many areas that had been used for sheep ranching decades ago. From the boat we got a glimpse of the only campsite occupied by members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, when Sgt. John Ordway and two privates traveled with Nez Perce guides from the Expedition’s main campsite to a Nez Perce fishing site in the canyon. Continuing upstream, we passed the confluence of the Salmon and Snake Rivers, and went further up the Snake before we turned around after traveling over fifty miles.
A barbecue lunch awaited at the Nature Conservancy’s Garden Creek Ranch, were mule deer and turkeys abounded in the orchards and surrounding hills. After lunch, we headed back downriver to the National Geographic Sea Lion.
Later in the afternoon, some of us boarded a coach for a short ride up the Clearwater Valley for a visit to the Nez Perce National Historical Park Visitor Center where we learned about the Nez Perce. A Park Ranger told us about the history of the tribe, its culture, and its efforts to maintain the Nez Perce language and their traditions for generations to come. The museum contains many exhibits that demonstrate how the Nez Perce lived in the past and are adapting to modern times.
The day ended with a final recap and the Captain’s Farewell Dinner, where we enthusiastically thanked the staff and crew for a wonderful week of exploration and discovery.
