Hwy. 12- from Missoula to Orofino, ID 6-2 & 3,2010

We are crossing or following some of the Lewis and Clark Trail. This road Hwy. 12 takes us up over Lolo Pass and they did come this way. The pass is 5235' with snow between the trees and a steady drizzle which turned into a rain which it did the rest of the way to Orofino, ID and during the evening for awhile. During this time as we were driving in this valley beside the Selway R. and then the Clearwater River Marvin's windshield wipers were not cooperating. Thank heaven for the stuff he had put on his windshield that helps because you can see without using your wipers in a motorhome.

We've been slowly climbing thru the valley. There has been fog over the river, clouds low in the mountains and not much traffic. Earlier we saw turkeys and some poor sway back donkeys. We are in the Bitterroot Mt. Range now. The mountains are covered in tall evergreens and deciduous trees and rocks and warnings of rock slides. We parked for lunch on a pull-out right beside the river and it was spectacular. Nothing like staying dry inside while eating lunch and listening to the water go over the huge rocks.

So far we have seen 1 group with 2 float boats going down the river and later another boat with 2 men in it trying to get to shore. It has been raining continually---wouldn't want to have been in the boats today. It is 57 degrees. Seen people out hiking and camping. One tent had a stovepipe coming out of it. At several of the trailheads there were walking bridges over the river and we also saw several areas that had cable cars across the river in order to get to their homes or wherever.

We finally had some pretty weather. We stayed Wed and Thurs night, June 2nd and 3rd at the Clearwater Crossing RV Park in Orofino, ID right beside the Clearwater River and watched the river rise some due to all the rain. On the 3rd it was lovely so after going to the hardware store twice, the bank and to breakfast we finally started touring. We headed to the Fish Hatchery first and checked it out. No fish coming up the ladder yet but in one trailer they were inserting a micro chip with a needle and then checking to make sure they could read it and then put it down a tube with water that went to a truck that would carry the fish to their release point. They were working with fingerlings of salmon and steelhead trout. They were put in a container with water that anestisized(sp) them so they could be handled without hurting the fish. There were a team of 3 or 4 people and they moved quickly. After the fish have been out in the ocean for 3 or 4 years they come back to the hatchery to spawn and come up the ladders. In the wild they die after spawning and the same thing happens here only they are killed after being stripped of their eggs and milked of their sperm. Then the eggs are incubated very similar to the wild way and when they hatch they are put in concrete tanks and fed and raised and on goes the process. I may not have everything exact but you can google it.

Then we went on to Dworshak Dam & Reservoir. This is the largest one that the Corp of Engineers ever built. There are 3 types of dams and this is the largest one of its kind. We watched a movie about it and its being built and then took a tour down thru the tourable inside of it and then out onto the top to view the reservoir. In the reservoir and up the river in different places they have port-a-potties floating on the water for use as well as areas squared off for people to swim in. Never heard of such things and then they have a barg like thing that goes and pumps them out. We also saw an osprey's nest and the osprey. We went back inside the Visitor Center and watched another movie about the last log run that was near the last of the 60's. They cut the trees and stacked them beside the river and then when the spring came and the snow and rains made the river flow big they would knock down the stack and let them float down the river to the mill. As is everthing else it wasn't that easy because the logs would get caught along the side or in a log jam and the men would have to get in the cold water and get them unstuck. They had this thing that was like 3 large tents erected on rubber pontoon boats. The center tent was the cook tent and the two outer ones were for sleeping. The men got 3 hot meals every day. It was a very good movie.

Then we went on to see the Dent Bridge. A beautiful drive up one side of a mountain and down the other. It was a lovely 8 million dollar bridge that ended near a dirt road and campgrounds. But it was the only way to get to Elk River ( a town).

We stayed in a park right on the river in Orofino, ID. I do believe the river has risen due to all the rain. I think we are going to drive on today toward our ultimate destination which is Soap Lake, Washington.