Hell’s Canyon
Hell's Canyon -- the name has such an ominous ring to it. Early explorers found the canyon to be steep-walled and rugged, with summer temperatures soaring above a hundred degrees Fahrenheit. The black basalt cliffs and the jagged limestone of the inner canyon also contributed to the "hellish" perception. Much to the contrary, the Nez Perce people of the region spent their summers in the cool high country of the Wallowa mountains, and only moved down into the canyon when the snows came. Throughout the mild winter they found plentiful game and fish and forage for their horses.
Our day in Hell's Canyon was delightful. We sped upstream all morning, with a stop at Cache Creek for coffee and a short walk. The riverbank and canyon walls were ablaze as the sumac and mulberry, chokecherry and willow flashed bright fall colors before dropping their leaves for the winter. We spotted several small herds of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep high on the cliffs, as well as a few ospreys out fishing.
During our lunch stop, this bold little mule deer decided to join our picnic. She sauntered through, munching apples along the way.
Hell's Canyon -- the name has such an ominous ring to it. Early explorers found the canyon to be steep-walled and rugged, with summer temperatures soaring above a hundred degrees Fahrenheit. The black basalt cliffs and the jagged limestone of the inner canyon also contributed to the "hellish" perception. Much to the contrary, the Nez Perce people of the region spent their summers in the cool high country of the Wallowa mountains, and only moved down into the canyon when the snows came. Throughout the mild winter they found plentiful game and fish and forage for their horses.
Our day in Hell's Canyon was delightful. We sped upstream all morning, with a stop at Cache Creek for coffee and a short walk. The riverbank and canyon walls were ablaze as the sumac and mulberry, chokecherry and willow flashed bright fall colors before dropping their leaves for the winter. We spotted several small herds of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep high on the cliffs, as well as a few ospreys out fishing.
During our lunch stop, this bold little mule deer decided to join our picnic. She sauntered through, munching apples along the way.
