Boise, ID

To read Part 1 of this adventure, go to http://boise.onethousandthingstodo.com/2008/09/04/idaho-adventure-boise-to-white-bird
Grangeville

We left White Bird and headed the 18 miles or so, up Highway 95, towards Grangeville. The town is unique in that it is centrally located, offering up several routes to explore our wonderful state. One can continue up 95 towards Lewiston or take 13 towards Kooskia then US-12 to the NW Passage Scenic Byway that runs parallel to the beautiful Clearwater River.

Camas Prairie Railroad

Since we were headed to Lewiston, I continued up 95. About three quarters of the way to Cottonwood, I spotted the first wooden railroad trestle of the old Camas Prairie Railroad. Although we didn’t stop this time, my wife and I drove down to the old trestle several years ago for a closer look. A farmhouse is located nearby and we could just imagine trying to get a good nights sleep under a rumbling train load of timber!

The most enjoyable part of the trip for me, was the drive up and down the canyons between Ferdinand and Craigmont. Though the scenery is terrific, my railroad interest was peaked by several sightings of other wooden trestles crossing steep canyon walls.

Lawyer’s Canyon

Across the road from the above wooden trestle is Lawyer’s Canyon-so named after an argumentative and shrewd Nez Perce Indian Chief. (Image at right is of a Nez Perce Warrior)

The trestle crossing the canyon at this point is the third tallest steel railroad trestle in the United States!

A bit later we descended the steep canyon into Craigmont. It was probably just south of there that we first sighted scores of yellow train cars parked on the winding rails of the Camas Prairie Railroad. One particular type of car, peaked our curiosity. Yellow in color, it had an open steel frame in the center with dozens of small steel cables, strung like spider webs crisscrossing each trailer.

We were all amazed at how many cars were parked on the tracks and they seemed to never end. We must of have watched them for dozens of miles, clear up to the tiny town of Lapwai. It wasn’t until we reached Spalding that we learned what they were used for.

Spalding and the Nez Perce

Spalding is located along US-95, and runs parallel to the Clearwater river. Not far from here, US-95 runs back into US-12 and the NW Passage Scenic Byway. I had been to Spalding many years ago, but hadn’t had the opportunity to visit the Nez Perce Museum. Neither had my mother or her sister, so we made a special effort to spend some time here.

As we entered the museum, which is located right off the highway, I cornered a museum worker and asked about the strange looking railroad cars we had seen along the way. My thoughts of them hauling bins filled with wheat were wrong. “It’s a Center beam flatcar,” He pronounced. “Believe it or not, Potlatch-the now closed timber mill, used to haul stacks of finished wood products such as plywood and chipboard.” He informed us. I also found out that they had been parked for a very long time, due to the closing of the mill and the economy.

That settled, we entered a large room where we were told we could view a video presentation of the Nez Perce and the region. Before the movie started I noticed a long wooden item lying on the floor next to a wall. I was surprised to notice it was a Nez Perce dugout canoe. If I recall right it was some 46 feet long or so!!

I again cornered a hostess and found out that it had been found along the Clearwater river, just below of what is now the museum site. If memory serves me right, it was found in the late 1800‘s or early 1900‘s, and was hewn out of a large cottonwood tree. There was so much to see here, that I have included some links. One of the more interesting things to see is the old town of Spalding-with it’s Church, Nez Perce Cemetery and General Store.

To be continued.

Stay tuned for more adventures . . .