This was a fascinating study of the Ice Age Floods that originated in Idaho and Montana, then crossed into Washington and Oregon: scouring the landscape, ripping out the rocks along the way making vertical rock walls, and depositing the debris in many places, forever changing the landscape and the geology of these 4 states. We did our original exploration in 2018, but just in Washington. Now we’ve gone deeper into it.
There’s a lot of information about the Ice Age Floods and it’s still being shared with people in general. Many people we’ve talked to didn’t know much about it, even though they live in its path! We’ve met several people who have been involved for many years and were responsible for creating the Ice Age Floods Institute, a non-profit organization. I recommend you check out their website if you want to learn more: Ice Age Floods Institute. Our travel companion Loris is an avid fan and has been responsible for our doing this! Thanks, Loris!! Many of the locations we visited also offered a lot of history from the Indian tribes who occupied these lands for thousands of years and the later influx of settlers and their confrontations with the native tribes.
IAF #1 – Beginning our Exploration
I met up with Loris in Cle Elum, WA, and we proceeded to the Snake River where we joined Myrna, RV friends, staying near the Ice Harbor Lock and Dam. We explored the area, starting with Palouse Falls.
IAF #2 – Wallula Gap – Frenchtown – Walla Walla
We found the history as interesting as the geology. I hope you enjoy it too. There’s a lot of information about how the settlers and the native tribes interacted.
IAF #3 – Orofino, ID – Missoula, MT
We stayed a few nights in Orofino along the Clearwater River, then we explored a number of museums and historical sites in and around Missoula.
IAF #4 – Missoula
We explored several loops in the Missoula area – museums, rock formations, huge ripples, a bison range, all fascinating and beautiful.
IAF #5 – Clark Fork – Ice Dam – Eddy Narrows
This is one of the most important stories about the Ice Age Flood. We have been seeing the effects of it and now we explored the area where the ice dam was. Try to imagine the size and scope of it all!
IAF #6 – Bonner Fairgrounds – Farragut State Park
This was the heart of the Ice Age Floods – we followed the Ice Dam and the flow of the flood waters and its many effects on the landscape as it flowed thru Idaho, Washington, and Oregon to the Pacific Ocean!
IAF #7 – Bowl & Pitcher – Spokane Falls
I took a solo trip to see these interesting places.
IAF #8 – Cheney – Turnbull NWR – Steptoe Battlefield SP
We drove the loop through Cheney, visited the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, down to Rock Lake through the beautiful valleys, and last to Steptoe Battlefield State Park.
IAF #9 – Connell – Palouse River
This is the final episode of this trip. The history of the Palouse River and the effect of the Ice Age Floods is fascinating.