Palouse River
Our full moon day began on approach towards the confluence of the Snake and Palouse Rivers. The Sea Lion turned a short and very sharp right turn into the mouth of the Palouse River and dropped her hook. This river, which is about 220 miles long, has its headwaters in Idaho and flows westward into Washington where it enters the Snake River from the north, about 60 miles upstream from the Snake River’s confluence with the Columbia River. The mouth of the Palouse River is located approximately four hours east of Lower Monumental dam. The lake created by the impounded waters of that dam spill into the small valley that holds the Palouse River. This picturesque river valley of carved geologic features was shaped by a series of huge floods that occurred between twelve and fifteen thousand years ago. Part of our morning would be spent cruising by Zodiac, heading for the free flowing Palouse River nearly nine miles northeast of its mouth, and confluence with the Snake River.
In warm temperatures and nearly clear skies, our Zodiacs set out in search of adventure. Gifted along our cruise with wonderful views of eroded basaltic terraces, and a myriad of bird sounds and sights, we watched, witness to this early spring day, bursting with renewed seasonal life. Along the steep basalt cliffs that dropped straight into the water open pockets had eroded in the walls of stone. In one of those small openings a quiet pair of protective eyes looked out onto the world. Many Zodiacs and small fishing craft passed by…each missing this quiet occupant, sitting snuggly over her clutch of unhatched young. Just above eye level of a Zodiac driver, this mother Canada goose watched out over her world. Canada geese are famous as protective parents, and this watchful mother was no exception! In an isolated, protected nook she had created a nest with the help of her life long partner…some foliage, feathers, and twigs all woven together to form a comfortable seat where eggs could be kept warm until it was time to hatch. From our observation platform in a Zodiac we marveled at the suberbly safe, though tiny, cave she had chosen to hatch her young, wondering what would happen in the days that followed, when those young would face their first plunge, nearly 15 feet into the Palouse River.
While half of our group was exploring the upper reaches of the Palouse River, the remainder made a short journey by luxury motor coach, strongly resembling a local school bus, to Palouse Falls state park. Here we would have a chance to see what is considered one of the most remarkable waterfalls in Washington State. The water drops approximately 200 feet over a wide semicircle of eroded basaltic rock into an enormous plunge pool. Due to the spring runoff during the season of our visit, clouds of mist decorated with rainbows greeted us as we approached the overlook opposite Palouse falls!
After both groups had enjoyed the switch out of activities, Zodiacs ferried us back to the Sea Lion, where a lovely deck barbecue was being prepared. During lunch and warm afternoon fair weather, we continued our cruise down river. The topography of the channeled scablands decorated in a carpet of spring colors could be found on both shores. The afternoon was given over to a relaxed cruise; reflection, reading, and time to gaze out on a westerly route that so many Native peoples, explorers, voyagers and settlers had traveled before us.
Our full moon day began on approach towards the confluence of the Snake and Palouse Rivers. The Sea Lion turned a short and very sharp right turn into the mouth of the Palouse River and dropped her hook. This river, which is about 220 miles long, has its headwaters in Idaho and flows westward into Washington where it enters the Snake River from the north, about 60 miles upstream from the Snake River’s confluence with the Columbia River. The mouth of the Palouse River is located approximately four hours east of Lower Monumental dam. The lake created by the impounded waters of that dam spill into the small valley that holds the Palouse River. This picturesque river valley of carved geologic features was shaped by a series of huge floods that occurred between twelve and fifteen thousand years ago. Part of our morning would be spent cruising by Zodiac, heading for the free flowing Palouse River nearly nine miles northeast of its mouth, and confluence with the Snake River.
In warm temperatures and nearly clear skies, our Zodiacs set out in search of adventure. Gifted along our cruise with wonderful views of eroded basaltic terraces, and a myriad of bird sounds and sights, we watched, witness to this early spring day, bursting with renewed seasonal life. Along the steep basalt cliffs that dropped straight into the water open pockets had eroded in the walls of stone. In one of those small openings a quiet pair of protective eyes looked out onto the world. Many Zodiacs and small fishing craft passed by…each missing this quiet occupant, sitting snuggly over her clutch of unhatched young. Just above eye level of a Zodiac driver, this mother Canada goose watched out over her world. Canada geese are famous as protective parents, and this watchful mother was no exception! In an isolated, protected nook she had created a nest with the help of her life long partner…some foliage, feathers, and twigs all woven together to form a comfortable seat where eggs could be kept warm until it was time to hatch. From our observation platform in a Zodiac we marveled at the suberbly safe, though tiny, cave she had chosen to hatch her young, wondering what would happen in the days that followed, when those young would face their first plunge, nearly 15 feet into the Palouse River.
While half of our group was exploring the upper reaches of the Palouse River, the remainder made a short journey by luxury motor coach, strongly resembling a local school bus, to Palouse Falls state park. Here we would have a chance to see what is considered one of the most remarkable waterfalls in Washington State. The water drops approximately 200 feet over a wide semicircle of eroded basaltic rock into an enormous plunge pool. Due to the spring runoff during the season of our visit, clouds of mist decorated with rainbows greeted us as we approached the overlook opposite Palouse falls!
After both groups had enjoyed the switch out of activities, Zodiacs ferried us back to the Sea Lion, where a lovely deck barbecue was being prepared. During lunch and warm afternoon fair weather, we continued our cruise down river. The topography of the channeled scablands decorated in a carpet of spring colors could be found on both shores. The afternoon was given over to a relaxed cruise; reflection, reading, and time to gaze out on a westerly route that so many Native peoples, explorers, voyagers and settlers had traveled before us.
