Parting Shots of Camas NWR

After spending four enjoyable months at Camas, we thought we would post some memories of our time.



We spent a day applying sealer to the bird observation deck. It was very weathered and the sealer sure made a huge improvement. We had almost completed the deck using existing material, but ran out. The new sealer didn't match, so we ended up recoating the entire deck again. About a third of the deck is shown here.

This summer contractors built a large pavilion at the Refuge to be used for education, meetings and promotion of the Refuge's mission. We assisted with the building of eight picnic tables from raw material. There was much steel cutting, welding and grinding of the stock before the frames were sent off to be powder coated.

Wood sealing was the last step. We took the unfinished boards off and applied three coats of Minwax Polyurethane. This provided a durable finished look. One down and seven more to go.

One of our favorite jobs was the Tuesday morning Elk Survey. Following a specified 22 mile two-track route through the Refuge we basically inventoried various mammals and birds of interest as well as any newborns. We estimated a herd of about eighty elk stayed the summer on the Refuge, rather than migrating to the higher elevations. Camas averages only about 4700 foot elevation.

We observed the elk at the "beach" on
one of several 90° days.

A juvenile Swainson's Hawk

Two pair of Trumpeter Swans raised cygnets this summer.

Mom and Her Brood

Prong-Horn Antelope are a Common Sight

Rattlesnakes are mostly an uncommon sight.
We caught this one and
its mate wrapped together on a refuge road.

Potato fields border parts of the Refuge.
But then it's Idaho after all.

Thursday the staff put on a going away lunch for us in the shop building.

Farrel, the heavy equipment operator, fired up the dutch ovens. This way of cooking seem to be very popular in the West. We enjoyed the beef enchiladas, with bean salad and peach cobbler (bottom) for dessert.  
This was a very memorable meal. Usually we were going off in different directions so it was nice to all sit back and enjoy the great company and food together.



Camas has a small staff, a Manager, Biologist,
Heavy Equipment Operator and two Seasonals

After lunch we completed the annual cleaning of the
Maintenance Shop by washing the floor.

Condoing in McCall

After leaving Missoula, on Monday morning, we headed southwest over Lolo Pass and back into Idaho. Driving the 100 mile Northwest Passage Scenic Byway (US 12) from the Montana border we followed Lewis and Clark's path toward the Columbia River. It was a very interesting and beautiful drive but slow. The drive wound through the mountains to the town of Kooskia. From there we drove south following the Little Salmon River to McCall where we spent a week in a condo.

We even had a one car garage.

 Our three bedroom, sleeps 10 unit was part of the
Aspen Village Complex.

Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
The Snake River divides Idaho and Oregon within Hells Canyon and the National Recreation Area. We spent two days exploring Hells Canyon. The first day we followed the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway from Brownlee Dam, proceeding north, passing Oxbow Dam and finally Hells Canyon Dam and the end of the road at Hells Canyon Visitor Center.

Boat Launch North of Oxbow Dam

This paved road followed the Snake River north for 22 miles.

The scenic byway crossed Hell's Canyon Dam.

Just beyond the Dam the road terminated at the south
end of Hell's Canyon National Recreation Area.

We found the Pancake House and Christmas Store
in McCall. We didn't eat breakfast here but
ate dinner there twice.

A Day in Boise

Idaho State Capital Building built in 1905

The Rotunda renovated 2007

The Senate Chamber

The inner dome called the oculus, or eye of the dome.

Kurt rang this Liberty Bell replica.

After lunch at Chipotle we went to the Peregrine Fund, World Center for Birds of Prey. The main purpose of the center is to help restore rare species through captive breeding and releases. One of their success stories is the Peregrine Falcon. Current projects include the California Condor and the Aplomado Falcon. We enjoyed a live demonstration with "Bob" the American Kestrel as well as a Falcon Heritage Tour which explained the ancient art of falconry as well as an Arab falconry exhibit.



California Condors are highly endangered.
Only 22 individuals remained alive in 1982.



On our way to and from Boise we followed the
Payette River Scenic Byway.

Hell's Canyon National Recreation Area Jet Boat Trip
On Thursday morning we drove north to the small town of White Bird and met our tour company, Killgore Adventures, for the Hell's Canyon Wild River Tour through the Wilderness Area. This tour took us south on the Snake River through the biggest whitewater rapids and the deepest, most rugged part of Hell's Canyon. We traveled 32 miles upstream (south) to the Hell's Canyon Dam and Visitor Center. While at the Visitor Center they provided a very nice box lunch. After lunch the boat returned back downstream (north) to our launch point.

Our launch site, Pittsburg Landing, in
the National Recreation Area.

Homer, our trusty captain did a good job guiding the
boat around all the rocks and water hazards.

Our tour stopped at two historic sites, Kirkwood  Ranch
and Sheep Creek Cabin, accessible only by boat.

The afternoon was very warm and we got very wet
on the Wild Sheep Rapids, a class V, where we all
donned our life jackets.

Hell's Canyon Dam viewed from the River.

Outfitters and ranchers along the river get their
weekly mail delivered by boat.

Our last stop was the beach.

Payette Lake and Upper Payette Lake
McCall is located on the south shore of Payette Lake. We spent Friday and Saturday touring this beautiful area.

Picnic lunch on Upper Payette Lake

Ponderosa State Park on Payette Lake was only
two blocks from our condo.

We found a decent Mexican Restaurant with a great view
in McCall.

Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway
Returning east to Camas National Wildlife Refuge on Sunday we drove three separate scenic byways, Wildlife Canyon, Ponderosa Pine, and Salmon River Scenic Byway.

A Weekend Trip to Missoula

Saturday, August 8, we drove to Missoula, Montana, for the weekend. Our stay at the Red Lion Hotel in the downtown area was very nice. We had never stayed at a Red Lion before. This hotel was very centrally located.

St. Francis Xavier Church, built in 1892 is the tallest church in town.

The inside reminded us of the painted churches in Texas.

National Elk Foundation

The Elk Foundation has been protecting critical
elk habitat since 1984,
financed largely by hunting permits.

Record Setting Mounts in the Trophy Room

Smoke Jumpers Base

We took a tour of the Smoke Jumpers Base.

Utilizing a fleet of fixed wing aircraft, including this
Turbine DC-3, Twin Otter, and a Shorts Sherpa,
firefighters and equipment
can reach anywhere in the country.

Fort Missoula Historical Museum

This fire tower lookout, built in 1933, was relocated in 1983
from Sliderock Mountain about 40 miles
southeast of Missoula.

This outdoor museum contains examples of many artifacts,
including the tipi-burner, train station & train
including a lumberjack's library car, schoolhouse,
and a homestead cabin.

National Bison Range National Wildlife Refuge

This almost 20,000 acre refuge is one of the oldest in
the system. We took the 19 mile Red Sleep
Mountain Drive seeing not only bison but pronghorn,
deer, elk and a trumpeter swan family.

This refuge was established in 1908 to protect the vanishing
bison population. Currently, this herd numbers
between 350-500 bison.