Snake and Columbia Rivers to the Sea November 2025
I have always been "fascinated" by the Lewis and Clark expedition. American Cruise Line offers a trip from Clarkston Washington somewhat following the route that marks the last part of this historic journey down the Snake River, into the Columbia River and on to the Pacific.
Thursday, November 6th
Friday, November 7th
A pre-cruise Jet boat excursion in the Snake River
This was very interesting and fun plowing through the rapids and pleasant where it was more still. We went up the Snake 50 miles where we intersected the Salmon entering the Snake.
Jet Boat cruised about 50 miles upstream on the Snake River. We turned around at the confluence of the Salmon and Snake Rivers. The pictures don't capture the awesomeness of what is called Hell's Canyon. It was a 4 hour ride
Saw a Ram along the edge of the water. The Captain pulled in close and the Ram seemed to not be bothered.
Petroglyph site along the canyon - Old art work not intended to tell a story
Some homes along the route but more sparse as we proceeded north on the Snake River.
Saturday, November 8th
Because this was a pre-cruise excursion my luggage was picked up at the hotel and transferred to the ship. It was waiting for me in my stateroom.
Before we left the hotel we were treated by a family of the Nez Perce Native Americans with singing, dancing and some history of the tribe who were here prior to the settlement by White Americans. Same story as many tribes - Treaties made and broken repeatedly by the US government. Where they once occupied large portions of several states reduced twice from 7.5 million to 750000 acres. A 90% reduction.
Sunday November 9th
An excursion to Richland, Washington was offered. This village was chosen to participate in the Atomic Bomb development during WW2, isolating Plutonium. It was chosen because of its relatively isolated location, electrical supply from the Grand Cooley dam, good rail connections and Columbia River for water supply. The village of 244 people swelled to 10's of thousands in 2 years. It was a key part of what was called the Manhattan Project.
It was later involved in the Development of the nuclear submarine US Triton.
The "Sail" or conning tower from the US Triton which circumnavigated the globe entirely underwater in 1960. The "sail" is 75 feet long and the sub is 447 feet long.
(How about my great selfies?
Monday, November 10th
No excursions today. We went through a few locks but the locks adjacent Dalles Dam is a 200 feet level change, the highest of any lock in the US
This is the Fish ladder to allow the spawning Salmon to get upriver passing the dams
The next few pictures show how the plants, trees and ground cover gets greener as we proceed west, These are taken at over about 10 miles of the river
Tuesday, November 11th
This is Multnomah Falls -620 feet tall
Beacon Rock (so named by the Lewis and Clark expedition) - the core of a volcano, called a basalt volcanic plug - 825 feet tall. This is the point where the ocean salt water and fresh meet and form brackish water
There were daily lectures by a professor of history about the Lewis and Clark expedition, Presidents who had a connection to the area, and the Oregon Trail connection. Very interesting and well attended.
He had a great sense of humor. One slide showed a bar in the area called "Clark and Lewies"
We also had musical entertainment each night that was very good. A pianist/comedian, a female singer and a 4 piece Saxophone band, drummer and guitarist.
There were 2 other performances that I failed to record. All were very entertaining
Wednesday, November 12
Mt. St. Helen
We had a guide who works with the US Forest service in the area so she was very well versed in the history of the affects of the blowout of the mountain and the area that was decimated by that volcanic explosion. The recovery of the area and the wild life was not expected to be as complete and as quick as it was.
Every thing you can see in the previous pictures and behind the busses is "new" growth since May, 1980. (ignore the geezer as he goes back to 1937)
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Thursday, November 13th
The beautiful Oregon Coastline
We reached the Pacific Ocean. Fort Clatsop where the Discovery team stayed in the winter of 1805 was closed due to a Government shut down.
Friday, November 14th
We made our way back from the Ocean coast and saw stacks and stacks of tree logs waiting for conversion into various size 2x4's and other structural sizes.
The major wood supply company is Weyhauser
Saturday, November 15th
It was a very nice trip. American Cruise lines is very well organized. They are expanding their fleet 3 new ships a year. They promote from within the staff and seem to have chosen very well.
The staff was very pleasant, the food was plentiful and the entertainment was good. I recommend them.
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