TravelingHilda: Hells Canyon

Did not get to post last night for two reasons: really bad wifi and total exhaustion after EIGHT hours in Hells Canyon. What a trip! We got the ultimate in Hells Canyon trips - the rivers were perfect for going as far as Cache Creek on the Snake. We had lunch there - it is an outpost of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. There is a tiny museum as well as a house for the woman who maintains the area during the season.

Who knew Idahoans live for beach weather? There are dozens of beautiful white sandy beaches along the rivers and there were all populated by sunlovers who get there on the water - very few roads lead to the rivers since the gorge they are in is deeper than the Grand Canyon. There are even Luxury Tent Camps - you can pay a tidy sum to let others schlep all the stuff for you while you enjoy the sun!

Before we even got into our boat we got a taste of what Hell's Canyon was going to be like. A van took 13 passengers from the office to PittsburghLanding - took 45 minutes to go 17 miles over the mountains. I did not look out the windows very often and a woman in the seat behind me gently asked in a very weak voice if the driver could stop closer to the other side of the road when pointing things out... the driver is a native of the area and talked the whole way while looking at the passenger next to him.

My phone battery died as soon as we got on the boat so some of the photos are out of order. After Chute Creek we went back to the confluence of the Snake and Salmon and took the Salmon. Rapids were everywhere and so were rafters and beaches. We saw smoke in the distance and learned there were some fires ahead. One of the passengers (another native) said we were in for a real treat. ??? Turns out there were scooper helicopters around helping with the fire fighting. We watched two choppers with 800 gallon scoopers return to the river over and over to get water to dump on the fires. They just happened to be using the river right next to where our boat was stopping for a swimming break. Definitely entertaining.

We saw only one bald eagle, a few deer, and two families if Longhorned Sheep. But the boat driver anddeck hand told stories of encounters with elk, bear, and moose. Arrived back at headquarters eight hours later - this was supposed to be a six hour trip! We would definitely want to do it again!