9-6-2013 On to White Bird, ID

We decided to depart Clarkston earlier then we had planned.  We could not make all the arrangements without delaying our departure by at least one day, so Sharon did some research and found another RV site in White Bird that also had jetboat excursions up the Snake River through Hell’s Canyon.

So we decided to pack up, reload on a few provisions and head further south.  We have been following the Lewis and Clark trail some of the way and there were several stops along the way that provided more information about their journey to the west.  You may recall that we visited the Lewis and Clark Museum in Great Falls, Montana in the beginning of our trip.

The route that Sharon had chosen would take us through the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. The Nez Perce Indians assisted Lewis and Clark during the harsh winter they experienced and provided them food and shelter.  Most likely had they not taken care of them, they would not have survived and the Lewis and Clark trail would have ended at the Montana and Idaho border.

Sweat lodge

Sharon had been in a sweat lodge, so this was special for her.

beaded ceremonial dress
The white pieces are porcupine quills, at the base of "dangles" are Hudson Bay Company thimbles.

We stopped by the Nez Perce Cultural Center and viewed many artifacts and exhibits. There was a native Nez Perce woman working for the Park Service who gave a presentation on the Nez Perce, their customs and talked about how the Nez Perce Indian mothers cared for their babies with the use of cradle boards.  She even had made them for her grandchildren.  At first her daughter didn't use them, but after putting up with a few fussy nights (she had twins) she put them on the cradle boards and they slept perfectly fine.  It was very interesting and we thoroughly enjoyed the presentation.

We stopped by one of the original Presbyterian churches and a general store that were located on the property.  Rev. Spalding and his family came to the area and began teaching Christianity to the Nez Perce.  I’m not sure that it shouldn't have been the other way around.  The Nez Perce, as well as most Indians, were very spiritual people to begin with.  The cultural changes that Rev. Spalding presented to the Nez Perce were not well received and it created a great deal of friction.

Further south on the highway is the battlefield where the Nez Perce defeated the US Calvary. That was the beginning of the end for the Nez Perce tribe.  After that battle, the Calvary chased them nearly to the Canadian border.  The broken treaties with the Nez Perce, as with all other native peoples, continued to reduce the size of their lands as trappers, gold prospectors, and homesteaders came to the area. 

After viewing the battlefield we continued down the mountain to the town of White Bird.  The incline was very steep and the road had several run away trucks ramps.  Fortunately, we did not have to use one.

with a 7% grade, with no brakes, you have to go straight up to stop

We found our RV site which was located along side the Salmon River. We walked along the river bank and enjoyed the scenic views of the mountains and the calm refreshing river as it flowed by.