The Snake River & Hell's Canyon - Lewiston, Idaho

On Monday, August 2nd , we left Walla Walla, Washington and drove Hwy 12 to Lewiston, Idaho -- 105 miles. The drive was through lots and lots of dry-land wheat farming country. The terrain is very hilly, but even though the hills are fairly high, they are more of the rolling variety and the farmers plant the wheat right up and down and all around them.



Yesterday, Wednesday we took an all-day tour boat ride up the Snake River through Hell’s Canyon. The boat is a 32 foot aluminum-weld flat-bottom jet boat - powered by 3 Chevy 350 engines. The captain, Butch, was a very experienced river pilot and Shaun was the 1st mate.



We left the marina a little before 8:00 AM and went a total of 92 miles (one way) up the river through the canyon with mountains towering high on both sides. The scenery of all the rugged mountains and wilderness landscape on either side of the river was absolutely awesome.









Over a distance of 92 miles there was, obviously, stretches of smooth water, but there was also lots of white water - most of the rapids were Class 1, 2, or 3. Rafting is a big business through Hell’s Canyon and we met lots of rafters and kayakers. Just before our turnaround point we ran a set of Class 4 rapids - wow, what an experience in a jet boat!









It was really amazing how Butch maneuvered the boat through the white water - he knew just how to turn into the rough water and feather the engines to get through. Even so, it got pretty rough a few times and the folks in the back of the boat got pretty wet (they weren’t complaining).






We also saw wildlife - at several different places we saw Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep and Mule Deer.

BIG HORN SHEEP PICTURES







We also got a new bird to add to our life list - a Chukar (rhymes with tucker). There was a whole flock of them at one spot with lots of young ones.



Butch made an effort to tell some of the history of the area and also some geology lessons. At one place he pulled into shore to show us petroglyphs on a rock carved there by some ancient natives.




It was a long, tiring day, but truly an amazing experience. It was advertised as an all day trip - and it was. As mentioned, we left a little before 8:00 and didn’t get back to the marina until about 5:15 PM. Even though we took time out for breakfast, lunch, and a swim (plus slow downs for the captain to talk history and geology), most of the day was riding the river - and LaVerne is still wondering if Butch had a speed other than “wide open”. Actually I asked him, and the normal cruising speed (rapids and all) was about 35-37 MPH - those 3 Chevy engines were on 3000 RPM a lot of the day.

WHAT A GREAT BOAT TRIP!!