Our final day on this remarkable river trip is based in Clarkston, at the confluence of the Snake and the Clearwater Rivers, near the heart of Nez Perce country. First thing in the morning, we boarded locally operated jetboats for a tour deep into Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. The tour went south into the narrowest and deepest part of the canyon, beyond the junction with the Salmon River, the “River of No Return,” which flows freely throughout its entire length, crossing the mountains of Idaho. Lunch was catered at Garden Creek Ranch, a remote oasis of orchards and greenery, right where Idaho, Oregon, and Washington meet. Upon return to National Geographic Quest, we were treated to two aspects of local history and culture: stories and music of the Nimiipuu, or the Nez Perce people, and insights into winemaking and wine tasting from Coco Umiker, owner and winemaker at the local estate vineyard, Clearwater Canyon.
4/25/2024
Read
National Geographic Sea Bird
Crow Butte
After transiting McNary Lock and Dam, National Geographic Sea Bird dropped anchor at Crow Butte in the early morning of Thursday, April 25th. After a hearty breakfast, we were delivered by Zodiac to the south side locations for an aerobic walk to the top of Crow Butte, supplemented with a medium elevation nature hike. A more casual history-oriented walk began on the west side of the Island and ended where we were able to get some great photos of National Geographic Sea Bird at anchor. The aroma of the sagebrush in the shrub-steppe environment filled the air, and the gentle but steady winds preceded a light rain in the otherwise arid environment. Returning hikers were greeted by the hotel staff and hot chocolate at the landing site and also enjoyed the playground equipment. Crow Butte is a tear drop shaped island surrounding a core of basalt, and the sandy terrain is composed of debris deposited during the Ice Age Flood events of 12,000-18,000 years ago. The afternoon was spent cruising the Columbia River on our way to dock at Hood River, Oregon.