Thank you to Dylan Fischer and his class from The Evergreen State
College for a great trip last week on Banks Lake! What a sight to see
five big canoes out on the water, paddling together and packed with
people and gear. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful morning to
set off on, and we took our time getting to lunch, darting in and out
of some islands, and rafting up for lunch.
Our lunch beach offered an opportunity to explore the rugged
landscape left behind after the torrents from the Great Missoula Floods
receded from Grand Coulee. As we paddled after lunch to our campsite,
we paddled along cliffs at an elevation where the ravens would have been
soaring if Banks Lake had not come into existence.
Some rivalry sprang up between the Goat and River canoes, but the
Goat-People couldn't overcome the spirit of 'Merican Dreamin' in a few
impromptu drag races. The air filled with various canoe songs, we
paddled into camp, and unloaded the gear we would need for the night.
Dinner of burgers and stir-fry was followed by a seminar Session on
the Columbia River and a talk by Churchill Clark on his journeys
traveling the trail of Lewis and Clark, and paddling dugout canoes.
Unfortunately we were unable to have campfires on the beach due to
regulations, so everyone turned in pretty early in preparation for the
day ahead.
After breakfast in the morning, the class went on a walk to
investigate a cave in the riverside cliff-band, and check out the
ecology of the sage brush steppe that appeared to have burned earlier
this year.
When the class returned the guides had the canoes
loaded and everyone piled in for an all too soon return to the
boat-ramp. We had a great time with everyone, and it's always fun to
have a whole class out on the water. We're looking forward to seeing
some familiar faces in the spring time, in our canoes, or at a guide
training event somewhere!
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