Over Memorial Day we took a trip to Avery, Idaho, on the St. Joe River. Besides being one of the country's premier fly fishing rivers, it is also claimed to be the highest navigable river in the US. They used to run steamboats from the lake up to the communities along the lower part of the river.
We drove east through Washington's big-time wheat country, the Palouse, where they take their farm tractors very seriously, and then to St. Maries, Idaho where the St. Joe flows into Cour d'Alene Lake. Last leg was up the river for fifty miles to the tiny railroad community of Avery. On the way back we stopped at Palouse Falls. Second to the last shot is of a marmot, a rodent about the size of a small raccoon. On the ranch I worked on in the Colorado Rockies the locals called them "Eeps" for the loud, piercing call they make.
I love that country. Some great rivers around there which were used by paddle wheelers in days gone by. I grew up about 250 miles north of Avery, just across the Canadian border.
Not really a river, but my highest boating to date. Approx 900' above sea level. The top of the Canal Du Nivernais, France. Even with 129 different locks during our 2 week trip (2008), it was the most relaxing vacation. No tides, waves, etc, etc. Highly recommended for a change of pace (about 5 knts).
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