Traveling on the River

Traveling on the River. . , “…one canoe in which Sergt. Gass was Stearing , And was nearle turning over, she Sprung , A leak or Split open on one side and , Bottom filled with water and Sunk on the rapid…” , ~Captain Wm. Clark, October 8, 1805 , Dugout Canoes , After proceeding through the intimidating Bitterroot Mountains, the Corps of Discovery prepared to use water again for transportation. They burned and chipped out Ponderosa pine logs under the guidance of the Nimi’ipuu to create canoes. This would be the last change in transportation before they reached their goal: the Pacific Ocean. , Stage Coaches , Goods and people were transported throughout the region by horse-powered vehicles, such as this stage on the Waha Road. , “Their horses appear to be of an excellent race; they are lofty elegantly formed active and durable…” , ~Captain Meriwether Lewis , February 15, 1806 , Appaloosas , The horse was an important form of transportation to the Nimi’ipuu. The horse, or “s’ik’em,” enabled them to travel from river valleys to the highlands in search of the seasonal fishing, hunting, and crop harvesting. The Nimi’ipuu also traveled east to buffalo country. Horses were not only a form of transport, they were a source of wealth and pride. On their return trip from the Pacific, Meriwether Lewis noted that the Nimi’ipuu ”m’a min” was, and remains, a special breed. The Nimi’ipuu used selective breeding techniques to develop these famous spotted horses, a tradition that continues today. , Steamboats to Jetboats , Beginning in the 1860’s, steamboats moved supplies up the rivers and transported grain and regional products downriver to markets. The steamboat Lewiston is shown on the Snake River near the location of this sign. Today, barges are the workhorses and jetboats are the toys of recreationalists on the rivers.