I have to take some time to talk about our hotel. We stayed in the Riggins Hotel; the rooms really reflected the feel of the West, with knotty pine furniture and Native American designs on the bed throws. This was a nice, clean, comfortable little hotel run by a husband and wife team. We had two very quiet evenings there. I'm posting a couple of pictures to give you more of an idea of the accommodations.
My half-day river rafting trip was supposed to start at 1 p.m., but I had trouble finding the launching point. (If you ever have to get to Patterson Memorial Park in Riggins, it's down the hill behind the large parking lot on the river side of the road.) However, once I met up with my party, we set out. I had booked my trip through Epley's Whitewater Adventures, but my guide, Jake, actually worked for Mountain River Outfitters instead. Regardless, it turned out to be a pleasant and educational trip. I floated with two other visitors for nearly two hours on the Little Salmon River. Most of the rapids were fairly small, but we still managed to get wet several times. The photos I'm posting were taken from the road the next day; my camera is new, digital, and not waterproof, so I didn't want to risk having it get soaked.
Jake explained that the flats along the river were often the result of miners who built small homes and mined for gold and silver. Once a year they would take their findings down river to sell, then buy supplies and return. One particularly large flat was originally used by the Nez Perce Indians as a wintering ground for their horses; it was later used by miners and other settlers as a place to pasture their mules and horses. There were a few places where mining equipment could still be seen on the shores.
Jake also pointed out a local orchard and the sales stand where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables. A number of people in the area apparently hunt and fish to supplement both their incomes and diets. River rafting, fishing, and other outdoor sports provide much of the employment in the area.
On September 9th, we packed up and headed north, stopping for a few minutes at the Whitebird Battlefield, where Nez Perce Indians fought U.S. Cavalry and infantry. This was the first battle in a war that eventually resulted in the Nez Perce being removed from their land and placed on reservations. We will see more of the Nez Perce on this trip in a later entry.
On our way up to the Winchester, Idaho, home of the Wolf Education and Research Center, we passed a place called Dog Bark Park. The first indication we had that this was something out of the ordinary was the giant beagle standing near the road. We just had to stop and get a picture. Then we had to stop for a longer period of time and talk to the owners. Dennis and Frances Sullivan had the beagle built as a bed and breakfast. Yes, you really can sleep there! (Check their website for details.) They're both artists. Dad bought one of the carved critters for sale in the gift shop (a buzzard), which he had shipped home so we didn't have to cart it around and try to pack it for the train.
The building has been featured in the book Buildings in Disguise: Architecture That Looks Like Animals, Food, and Other Things, by Joan Marie Arbogast.
On our way up to the Winchester, Idaho, home of the Wolf Education and Research Center, we passed a place called Dog Bark Park. The first indication we had that this was something out of the ordinary was the giant beagle standing near the road. We just had to stop and get a picture. Then we had to stop for a longer period of time and talk to the owners. Dennis and Frances Sullivan had the beagle built as a bed and breakfast. Yes, you really can sleep there! (Check their website for details.) They're both artists. Dad bought one of the carved critters for sale in the gift shop (a buzzard), which he had shipped home so we didn't have to cart it around and try to pack it for the train.
The building has been featured in the book Buildings in Disguise: Architecture That Looks Like Animals, Food, and Other Things, by Joan Marie Arbogast.