For the final full day or our expedition, we are based between Clarkston and Lewiston at the Washington-Idaho junction of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers. Lewis and Clark passed this way on both their westward and return journeys, and in addition to naming and describing many places for the first time in the English language, ultimately lending their names to these twin cities on the Washington-Idaho border. We began early, boarding jet boats for a seven-hour journey deep into Hells Canyon on the Snake River.
4/27/2024
Read
National Geographic Sea Bird
Astoria, Oregon
We reached the penultimate day of our journey in Astoria, Oregon, where the Columbia River collides with the open ocean. We were met with a typical Pacific Northwest day of gentle rains punctuated by moments of sunshine. The guests were divided to conquer this gem of a city, nestled under bridges; half headed across the river to Washington to visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment, while the other half visited the Columbia River Maritime Museum and Astoria Column. The museum and the interpretive center are both excellent examples of what the west coast can offer with regard to history and culture. Each has thoughtful exhibits that cover broad swaths of topics, and are staffed with informative and helpful faculty. After a hearty lunch on board, the groups swapped in order to have the best of both worlds. Finally, all met back aboard for the week’s final recap and guest slideshow.
