Following the Lewis & Clark Trail With Friends in Salmon Idaho

Salmon, Idaho (62 degrees, chilly in the morning and late evening, blue skies)

"Of courage undaunted, possessing a firmness and perseverance of purpose"

Stephen Ambrose, Undaunted Courage

Sacajawea Center

In 1805 just about this time of year Lewis & Clark Expedition entered the area where we stayed with our friends Barry and Jann. During our visit we followed some of their trail. It was fascinating. Click here for a great map and detail about this area. 

Barry and Jann at the River of No Retur

At this time the expedition had been traveling for 15 months. As they entered the Lemhi Valley they found the Salmon River to be quite a challenge. It was here a major change was made in their expedition and they abandoned the river route after encountering the turbulent River of No Return. They climbed out of the valley and took a land route instead to the Pacific Ocean.

The turbulent River of No Return caused Lewis and Clark to change their plans

Rafter coming down the river

This was also the area where Sacajawea was reunited with her Shoshone family after being kidnapped by another tribe many years earlier. She was negotiating for horses and suddenly recognized her brother. What an emotional reunion this must have been for them. 

Storm crossing the area where Lewis and Clark traveled

We visited the Sacajawea Center in Cascade and spent a lovely morning hiking some of the trails and visiting the center

Barry and Jann

See below the picture of everyone standing over one of the springs which feeds the might Missouri River. Meriweather Lewis once wrote "McNeal had exultantly stood with a foot on each side of this little rivulet and thanked the god that he lived to bestride the might and heretofore endless Missouri" - August 1895.

We exalted too!

Jann, John, and Barry standing over the spring

Golden Eagle (taken by Barry)

We stayed in two different campgrounds while visiting this area Healds Haven RV Park and Wagonhammer RV Park). Two of the highlights were kayaking trips down the Salmon River. It is so much easier to kayak when you have two vehicles. Each trip was challenging with lots of rapids, rocks to negotiate around, a couple of spills, and one drowned camera. Luckily it was John's inexpensive one.

Our sea kayaks made this a rather chilly trip (we were "christened" with cold water often) but it's probably the best kayaking we have done to date. We saw seven golden Eagles on one trip. What a treat!!

Jann, Barry, and me

John scouting out the next rapid section

Books Cliffs

Lunch stop

Can you see the monkey face?

Left Vicki, Ray and Barry, Right John and Jann

Both campgrounds were very nice and reasonable. Our front window at Wagonhammer looked out onto the river. We sat there in the evening and had some great dinners together. One night we met up with some friends of Barry and Jann. We had a delicious dinner, lots of laughs, and had fun sharing some of our favorite travels. It was a very special night. 

Healds Have RV park down b the river. Can you see our rig?

Williams Lake

Big Horn Sheep playing on the ridge

Once again we had another great time with our friends and are already planning our next rendezvous. Thank you very much Jann amd Barry for all the  many happy memories. And to Vicki and Ray we hope our paths cross again.

So in honor of National  Dog Day here is a funny rock we saw at our campground. 

Fun Time At A Newmar Rally - Cascade Idaho

Cascade, Idaho (76 degrees, clear blue skies, nice breeze)

"IDAHO

more than just potatoes.

well okay, not really

but the potatoes 

sure are real good"

seen on a t-shirt in a gift shop

BIitner Vineyards

This is our first visit to Idaho and there sure is more here than potatoes but we have seen some large fields of them growing. In fact, Idaho farmers grow lots of crops such as wheat, sugar beets, grapes, alfalfa, and even mint. We started off in Caldwell and fell in love with the fields and vineyards and tried a couple of some delicious wines along the Sunnyslope Wine Trail. The soil is very sandy, fertile, and  has to be irrigated.a lot.

These cows found a fun way to cool of

Williamson Orchards and Vineyards

After a couple of days we headed up to Cascade Idaho. On the way we went through some very desolate landscape which was eventually enlivened by the rapids of the Payette River. As the elevation rose we entered cooling pine forests. The temperature dropped 20 degrees from where we started in Caldwell.

Crazy rapids of the Payette River

We came here for the Idaho Newmar Rally. We decided to join Newmar's Kountry Klub after touring the factory in Indiana. Each state usually offers a rally at a reasonable cost and every other month we receive a magazine packed full of some nice options.  This is our first rally and 14 rigs attended. Our campground is called Arrowhead RV Resort and is known for the wood carving classes on the premises. They also offer jewelry and art classes. It's a very scenic campground on the banks of the Payette River made more complete with a nice boat launch.

Our rally hosts are Terry and Linda and on the first night cooked a prime rib dinner for all the attendees in their home located in Cascade. Wow! Now that is a great way to start a rally. They have a beautiful home which accommodated everyone. The dinner was delicious and the pleasant environment helped  everyone got acquainted very quickly.

Top of totem pole

The next day the campground carvers showed us all about the work they do each season. The carvers, who stay here in the summer, will teach you how to make small wooden items or even a totem pole if you are so inclined. It was very interesting. They provide all the supplies and the cost is really reasonable. Many of the campers are here for a month or more working on their projects. There are over 80 totem poles all over the property. I really, really liked the manger creche made by one of the carvers. The detail was amazing.

Small totem poles 

Manger is made from a dried gourd

Alligator Totem pole being installed

One afternoon we took a nice drive up to a very scenic overlook and radar tower. after feasting on huckleberry pancakes for breakfast. Let's just say we ate really well thanks to our great hosts and all their planning.

On our own we drove around the beautiful Cascade Lake and with a few friends even went to a very nice Gold Fork Hot Spring. This is the second time we have tried a hot spring. They are just wonderful. Do you have a favorite one?

Cascade Lake

Gold Fork Hot Spring

There were five pools of varying degrees

Young pizza loving base player 

We enjoyed meeting everyone in the group. Most were from the surrounding western states.

One evening at the campground a fun three piece band entertained us and other campers. They were great!

Great evening by the river

The rally lasted for four days and the time went by quickly. Most everyone is attending the national rally in Pueblo Colorado in September. Over 450 rigs have signed up so far. We will be attending a full time rally prior to the Pueblo rally. Stay tuned.

We decided to stay a little longer and explore more of the area. Our rally leaders joined us on a nice paddle trip down the Payette River. They dropped off their truck at the take out and we put in at the campground. It was about a four hour easy paddle. There was a fairly quick current which made paddling easy. This section does not have any rapids.

Bald Eagle

Linda and Terry our rally leaders

On our own the following day we drove to McCall and spent a nice afternoon exploring the lake, Ponderosa State Park, and McCall RV campground recommended to us by others. It's a picturesque town with lots of shops and restaurants.

Bear Beach

Payette Lake

Ponderosa State Park

The Ponderosa State Park has a beautiful overlook of the lake and a nice campground with full hook ups. We liked it. The McCall Campground and RV Park was also very nice and more satellite friendly with beautiful landscaping.

Our first Newmar rally was a five star event. Terry and Linda really know how to organize a great rally. Thank you so much! We are now on our way back to Boise. Our jeep windshield needs to be replaced due to a long crack. Cummins is also going to probably replace our thermostat. Baloo the Bus has been overheating climbing up the mountains. Afterwards Salmon Idaho will be our next stop for ten days. We are meeting up with our dear friends Jann and Barry. Check back soon and thanks for stopping by. Happy Trails!