July 31,
2001. Harpster to Riggins, Idaho. (62 mi.) Mile 3635
Blue
skies, White Bird, Salmon River
Today was a visual treat, and
fortunately, Mike was able to see it clearly. Over the last week he has
noticed that his vision has been changing, and he has not been able to see
distant objects as clearly as he could at the beginning of the trip. He has
also been feeling under the weather, as if some sort of bug has been sapping
his energy. This was worrying us as we started out of Harpsters'
campground.
In addition it had rained all
night, and though we were dry and warm in the tent, it distracted us from
sleeping well wondering if we would have another day of rain. However, morning
brought patches of blue sky, and clouds were lifting off the hills as we
climbed the 6% uphill grade to Camas Prairie and Grangeville. This fertile
prairie once provided the camas root that was a staple in the diet of the Nez
Perce, but today, it is rangeland and wheat fields.
1) 
2) 
1) Mist and clouds lifted off Harpster Grade as we climbed from the river to
Camas Prairie
2) Camas Prairie, riding toward Grangeville
The sun shines
through the clouds over Camas Prairie near Grangeville
Our first business in
Grangeville was to find any optometrist's office, so it was good fortune when
we noticed a sign on Main Street with letters big enough for Mike to read,
"EYE CLINIC". Dr. Jerry Cowan was great in seeing Mike without an
appointment, confirming that he needed stronger lenses, and providing him with
appropriate contacts for the rest of the trip. Everything else checked out OK,
which was reassuring, and Mike headed off with clear vision.
After more climbing,
we came to the top of White Bird Hill and a spectacular panoramic view of the Salmon
River Canyon below. Our descent to the tiny town of White Bird on
traffic free old White Bird Hill Road was another scenic highlight of our trip. In the 11.6 miles of hairpin curves, we
dropped the 2,200 feet it had taken us all morning to climb. As we descended
into the Salmon River valley, we left the cold, cloudy mountain weather behind
and entered warmth and sunshine. At the bottom of the canyon, we passed another site of a battle
between the Nez Perce and the U.S. army in 1877, which was won by the Nez
Perce. We can understand their reluctance to leave their homeland here.
I am the speck on
old White Bird Hill Road in the distance.
1) 
2) 
3) 
1) Another view riding down White
Bird Hill
2) The market at the tiny town of
White Bird
3) Salmon River Canyon
For a finale, we followed the
Salmon River Canyon on the river side for 19 flat miles to Riggins, Whitewater
Capital of Idaho. The Salmon River cut this canyon through basalt lava flows
over 15 million years ago. Each bend in the river offered a new and beautiful
variation on this scenic canyon. We stopped once at a fruit stand,
bought ripe nectarines and apricots, and fixed the fourth flat of the trip.
Riggins is not much more than a narrow main street crowded against the side of the
canyon, consisting of a number of whitewater rafting outfitters, tourist and
support services. We chose to camp at the Riverside RV Park, but the four tent
sites were taken. A group of Harley motorcyclists welcomed us to share
their site with them. We have found that motorcyclists are among the
friendliest travelers we encounter. They cover far more miles on far fewer
calories (well, some appear to eat as many calories as we do), but they
share many similar experiences on their bikes.
