National Park Road Trip 2010: The Nez Perce

Editor's note: Having crossed the country while following the Oregon National Historic Trail, David and Kay Scott now are heading back east, this time by starting out along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Greetings from Bass Creek, a pleasant U.S. Forest Service campground about 30 miles south of Missoula, Montana. Last night we spent our 27th night of this trip in the tent. A large forest fire started yesterday in the mountains across U.S. 93 from our campground. Fortunately, the wind was mostly blowing smoke away from us to the east. Today the valley is bathed in a light smoke.

Yesterday evening a nearby camper walked over to tell us that a large black bear and her two cubs had been spotted several times in the area. He also related that he recently attended a party to celebrate two milestones that occurred within a couple of weeks of each other; he had been retired longer than he had worked (he is in his 80s), and he had been divorced longer than he had been married. He is currently living in his pickup camper, so his ex-wife must have done okay.

Our last note was from Lewis & Clark State Park west of Clarkston, Washington. The next day we drove east to Lewiston, Idaho, an attractive town at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers. Lewiston (named for you know who) is a bonanza for Lewis & Clark buffs. A Lewis & Clark Discovery Center in Hells Canyon State Park includes numerous interpretive displays, sculptures, and a two-acre plaza overlooking the Snake River.

Here is our Discovery Center video.

A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lewis and Clark Center at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater has exhibits and an inspiring sculpture of a Native American earth figure. We thought the sculpture was of Sacagawea, but later learned differently. Regardless, it is quite stunning.

Ten miles east of Lewiston, we stopped at the main visitor center for Nez Perce National Historical Park, a wide-ranging National Park Service unit with multiple locations throughout the Nez Perce Nation. These friendly people saved the expedition from disaster when the starving and sick men of the Corps of Discovery following their descent from a long and tiring trip over the Bitterroot Mountains. The Nez Perce provided the men with food and offered to guide them west to the Columbia.

The visitor center offers books, exhibits, and an excellent video describing the history of the Nez Perce and their contact with traders, explorers, and homesteaders who moved through their land, most of which they eventually lost. Scheduled guided walks are offered at or near the visitor center.

Highway 12 follows the path of Lewis and Clark on both their outbound and return trips. The drive is quite scenic and provides access to several important Lewis and Clark sites. One site on their outbound journey is Canoe Camp where the Corps of Discovery spent ten days cutting trees and hollowing logs for five canoes that they would use going west. Trusting the Nez Perce, Lewis and Clark left their horses for the Indians to hold for their return the following year.

Another important site was Lolo Pass (elevation 5,233 ft.), which the men had to cross. The U.S. Forest Service operates a visitor center with books, films, and exhibits at the pass .

On the east side of the pass near the town of Lolo, Traveler's Rest was used as a campsite by Lewis and Clark on both their outbound and return journey. According to volunteers at the site, this is the only L&C campsite that has been documented by archeologists. Interestingly, one of the most important finds was residue of mercury that had been used in medication the men called “Thunderclaps.” These medicines had been given to the men by Dr. Benjamin Rush and were used for all types of illnesses. Taking them caused terrible diarrhea. The residue was found in an area of the campsite where the latrine would have been located. We wonder if the archeologists counted on this type of research when they were students.

Here is our Traveler's Rest video.

Traveler's Rest is where Lewis & Clark split on their return to St. Louis. Clark went south to hook up with the Yellowstone River, while Lewis went northeast toward Missoula and Great Falls. The two agreed to meet at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers.

David and Kay Scott are regular contributors to the Traveler. Their book
The Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges was first published by the Globe Pequot Press in 1997 and is now in its sixth edition.