Day 14

Tuesday, September 23

Left Missoula and headed for the Lolo Pass.   Lewis and Clark went up and over this pass with their Shoshoni guide after some previous attempts on other routes.

US Highway 12 now goes through the pass, although not exactly following the same route as the Corps of Discover.    Much of the road was built during WWII by Japanese internees.

Toward the Lolo Pass.

We'd heard rumors that the road was very difficult, but did not find it so.   The Winding Staircase on US 64 in NC is more extreme.   We did have to drop to a lower gear and go up slowly.

Idaho begins at the ridgeline.   Nice to be in a new state.   Idaho is fairly narrow this far north.   We found we really liked what we saw.    But, you have to be willing to have a long winter!

Not far from the summit we started driving beside the beautiful Clearwater River.    Lewis and Clark did not try to navigate this river for some distance...too much speed and too many rapids.

The river is larger than it appears.  The rocks are huge.

There were forest fires in the Clearwater region and the area was filled with smoke as can be seen in the photo below.   At one point, the hillsides a few hundred yards away were burning.

The drive through the National Forest is a long one...over 80 miles with no houses, no services, nothing but a few signs.   We met a vehicle about every 10 miles.   We finally left the National Forest area, entered the Nez Perce Reservation,  and went to see a large dam.  The terrain changed greatly.  Less rainfall means the hillsides have far fewer trees and are often bare.

Lewis and Clark were well-received by the Nez Perce, were fed, and guided down the river on land.   We followed the Clearwater through Orofino, where the Expedition felled trees and built 5 dugout canoes using fire, axes, and adzes.    They than took to the river.   This place is called Canoe Camp.   The Corps must have been greatly relieved to get back on a large river and paddle toward the Pacific Ocean.   We feel somewhat excited ourselves!

At Lewiston, Idaho, the Clearwater flows into the Snake River.  We crossed the river and are staying in Clarkston, Washington.   We visited a well done local museum.   There, we learned that Chief Joseph had used the Lolo Pass to try to escape from the US Army.   The telegraph, however, enabled other Army units to meet him in Montana with the end result being his surrender.

At our campsite, the sidewalk has been imprinted by local kids with the history of the Corps of Discovery.

There are also Expedition figures along the water's edge.

Linda and Stella join the shadows from the past!   Note the large barren hills.

We have now been on the road for two weeks.   On to Oregon and chance to see brother Joe!

Linda adds:

This portion of Idaho is beautiful!  Didn't see one potato....though read that the Nez Perce were very proficient at harvesting something called a root bulb which tasted similar to a potato.  With the presence of forest fires and burn evidence, we couldn't help but wonder if residents here have a bug out plan.  Saw many black-tailed squirrels - very different from our white squirrels - and were warned to watch for moose crossing the road.  No luck there.  It was very pleasant at 70 degrees or so.  Lewis and Clark and company did not have it so fortunate....at the same general time of year, they were on foot with pack horses in several feet of snow.  Global warming?

Enjoyed the small museum in Lewiston very much...many indian artifacts as well as a good history of the area up to World War II.  Small but very child friendly with hands-on items for the smaller visitor.  Even this not so small visitor couldn't resist the scavenger hunt!

Staying at a camp ground on the Snake River...got the last spot (it always pays to call ahead!) as we were told the Steelhead Salmon are running and this campground is also a marina.