Heading Downriver to the Pacific (CoD October-November, 1805)

The Nez Perce Indians helped the CoD coming out of the mountains and also guided them to a place on the Clearwater River, with large trees for canoe building. Here the CoD spent about 10 days recovering their health and building 6 new canoes to take them to the coast. The first photo shows Pris by a modern version of the canoes, this one built in the same manor as the CoD used. The Clearwater River is in the background. The Captains kept good records, including latitude and longitude measurements. About 100 yards to the left of Pris is where the measurement was reconstructed; this is what the CoD called “Canoe Camp”. The second photo is another picture of the Clearwater, about 10 miles downstream from Canoe Camp.
The Clearwater runs about 45 miles from Canoe Camp before entering the larger Snake River in current day Lewiston Idaho. Here the Snake River is running north/south, forming the border between Idaho and Washington. We spent 3 lovely days here at Hells Canyon State Park. It is right on the Snake River, with large camp sites and full hook ups. The large trees made the increasing temperatures tolerable. A beautiful swimming beach was only 30 seconds walk.
From Lewiston, the Snake runs about 130 miles west through Washington until it empties into the Columbia River, in what is called the Tri Cities area (Richland, Pasco and Kennewick). The Columbia is actually running north to south at this point. The third photo shows John and Pris at Sacajawea State Park, Washington. The Snake is coming in from the left, the Columbia is coming in from the right and the combined flow is going straight away behind us, which is to the south.
Yes, the spelling of the state park is correct. They have used the j, rather than the g, as most historians do. Even the plaques at the park use the g in describing her name.
We are staying in a private RV park in Richland, as the 4th holiday is approaching and public campgrounds are virtually full.