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Borrego Springs, CA

Friday, October 1, 2010

Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area

IMG_5977When I travelled through this area in the middle of August, and stayed in Marsing, ID, for a week I chose not to visit Snake River Birds of Prey NCA (SRBOPNCA) or the World Center for Birds of Prey.  I guess my mind was centered on getting to Malheur NWR, and battling off the construction worker at the campground.  :)  I later regretted not going to these two places that are so well known to birders.  Fast forward to being stuck at Camping World for the week, and it afforded me the opportunity to take care of that regret.

I packed a lunch this morning, and Emma and I headed out for SRBOPNCA.  The best time to be here is in the spring, but even with few if any birds of prey visible today, it was a great day trip.  I drove the 56 mile loop tour which began at the visitor’s center in Kuna, ID.  I had no idea there was a visitor’s center to begin with, and was just following a brown sign.  It turned out that the VC is only open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, so I lucked out.  The woman inside was very helpful, and gave me the loop tour booklet.  That really helped since I didn’t know where I was going.  :)
IMG_5955Our next stop was at Dedication Point.  Emma and I took a half mile hike to the overlook of the Snake River Canyon.  What a view it was!  In spring, eagles, hawks, and falcons can be viewed hunting over the sage brush for squirrels and nesting on the rock ledges of the canyon.  The only thing in the air today was a noisy raven.
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Then it was on to Three-Pole Pullout for more views in both directions of the canyon.  That’s the Swan Falls Dam in the right hand picture.  I wouldn’t want to do the drive from the top down to the dam with my rig, because I’m guessing the grade is more than 15%!  It’s a good road, but very very steep.
IMG_5968While at the top, I met a Harley lady from Boise.  She asked if I’d take a picture of her on her bike with the canyon in the background, and I said sure, just as long as you let me take a picture for my blog.  :)  She reminded me of Froggy Donna that some of you may know.   She had never been here before either, but had decided that today was too gorgeous of a day to be working, so took off on her bike.  She also gave me an idea for another nice road trip that Emma and I may take on Sunday.
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Swan Falls Dam was built in 1901, and is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  In 1995, a new powerhouse was completed and the old historic powerhouses were renovated into a visitor/interpretive center.  Sorry to say, they are only open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and that’s by appointment only.  :(  See that long pole like thing sticking into the water on the left hand picture?  Well if you look closely at the right hand picture, I hope you can see that it is pulling up sea weed (I know you can’t have seaweed in a fresh water river, but I don’t know what else to call it…river yuck?) and piling it on the dock.  The bed of that truck was full of the green stuff!  I suppose this is done so it doesn’t clog up the turbines??
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The other apparatus for doing this is a crane like machine that moves along railroad tracks along the dam.  You can see the mass of green plants in it’s claw. 

After the dam, we made our way back up the steep incline and headed for our last destination on the driving tour: Celebration Park.  It is Idaho’s only archaeological park, and I was hoping to see more petroglyphs.  Try as I might, I couldn’t find the park!  I had a map and followed it.  I turned right at the sign that pointed to Celebration Park, but the pavement ended at some BLM land.  I continued in but was soon in deep doo doo with my little car.  A pick up truck with high clearance and four wheel drive is the ticket for those gravel roads.  I reversed my direction as soon as possible and back tracked out of there.  I never did find the park or any more signs pointing the way.  :(  Too bad, because there’s supposed to be tours and presentations by staff members.
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Thought I’d include a couple of pics of last night’s sunset in my present “campground”!  :)
IMG_5942You know who found something more interesting than the sunset on our walk last night.
Tomorrow, I think I’ll visit the World Center for Birds of Prey.  Emma will have to stay at home, as dogs aren’t allowed there. 

Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later,  Judy

16 comments:

  1. That sure looks like sea weed or a close relative. The pictures from above Snake River are really great. Nice Harley too. Stay safe.

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  2. The Snake River is really beautiful - glad you and Emma had a nice drive today. Beautiful sunset...even if it was at Camping World.

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  3. I love the Snake River. When we moved to CA in 1983 we bought a house in a subdivision called Sun River, and all the streets were named for rivers. Snake River was one of them, and we lived on Yukon River, my mom lived on Roanoke River, and when we separated Bill rented a house on Klamath River. I camped last year in Idaho along a very wide section of the Snake, and it reminded me more of a river in the eastern US at that point.

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  4. We haven't toured Idaho yet so it's great to know about these places to visit. I got to meet Froggi Donna at the Gypsy Journal Raly last month. I love sunset pictures.

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  5. Great pictures of the Snake River - another place we've yet to visit.

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  6. What a gorgeous area you're in! I can only imagine how wonderful it must be in the springtime. Have fun at the World Center for Birds of Prey when you visit!

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  7. So glad you're going to the WCBP tomorrow! Even my son is excited!

    We once camped in OR along the Snake River with ID right across from us and while we were fishing an Osprey dove in the river right beside me and caught a fish! To me that was more exciting than catching one myself!! The campground was near Halfway, OR for anyone who might be interested and is run by the electric company, however I don't remember the name of it. If I recall correctly, it was first come/first serve.

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  8. We didn't visit the SRBOPNCA when we were there in July so it was nice to see the pictures. Thanks for sharing. The Snake River is beautiful.

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  9. Beautiful photos! Sounds like a nice day with Emma. :)
    Barbara

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  10. I liked the wide open spaces of the Snake River area but you sure looked ram jammed into that RV Park. I remember back in the early 70's watching television coverage of that crazy guy Evil Knievel's attempt to jump the Snake River with his motorcycle. Turned out to be a bust & I'm glad it did or it might have set the stage for more crazies to come out there & further dusturb & damage the beautiful lands of the Snake River Canyon.

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  11. Great Spot...Very nice photos of the river too!

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  12. Looks like a fun time for you and Emma, she looks like a smaller version of Rigg's in the bottom picture, so alert, you have the perfect companion there. And they never disagree with what you have to say they just look into your eyes with theres full of love. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

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  13. Even Camping World has a great view of the sunset! It sounds like you are making the best of your time there by going on a couple of day trips. There's always more to see, even while you are waiting for repairs!

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  14. I remember seeing the Snake river when we went on a ski trip to Sun Valley. We had to take a bus from the ski resort to the airport and passed by the river on the way.

    Not much of a sight in February from a bus. I like your sunset images. A beautiful end of the day.

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  15. Great pictures...I think Idaho is one of the forgotten beauties of the lower 48....We loved it there!

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  16. Idaho?? Where's that? Just kidding :) I've never heard of the Snake River, but after seeing your pictures, it makes me want to go!

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