The first day of the trip started out with a high-speed trip up Hells Canyon. Everyone hopped on jet boats and the adventure began. Hells Canyon is a narrow section of the Snake river that winds through Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. The jet boat sails over rapids and flies through turns on the river, giving everyone the excitement they are looking for. The shoreline is dotted with mule deer, wild turkeys, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Bald and golden eagles soar overhead at the rim of the canyon. The six-hour expedition ends back in Clarkston, Washington and the day ends with wine tasting and enough food for a week!
4/25/2024
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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.