The Ely miner., 1936-01-16
National Geographic Party
Explores 'River Of
No Return"

Idaho's "Grand Canyon" deeper
than the famous Grand Canyon of
the Colorado. has been explored and
photographed from end TO end by
the National Geographic society's Sal
mon River expedition, according to
an announcement from the Washing
ton, D. c., headquarters of the Ma
tional Geographic society.
"The Salmon river flows through
one of the widest regions in the
United States" the announcement
continues. "Five hundred miles long,
it rises in Reddish lake in central
Idaho. After flowing about 20
miles eastward, it veers north, near
ly touching the Idaho-Montana boun-
dary. Then, as if preferring TO re-
main in Idaho, it turns westward
across the Idaho waistline. Finally
the Salmon pours its torrents into
the Snake river, about 90 miles
south of Lewiston, Idaho.
First to Record Features.
"While hunters and tourists have
drifted down the Salmon, members of
the National Biographies expedition
were the first to negotiate the stream
to study the geological formation of
the region and to record thoroughly
it's features by black and white and
natural color photography.
"The strong current and frequent
rapids in the Salmon make neviga
tion of the river hazardous. Only
sturdy scows, built especially for
the Salmon and manned by expert
boatmen who know every rock and
habit of the river, are used to nego-
tiste the treacherous stream. The
scows have no power, not even oars.
Their steering gear consists of two
long rudderlike sweeps, one at either
end of the craft.
"River of No Return"
"At times the expeditions scows
moved downstream at a rate OF more
than 10 miles an hour. That speed
was not particularly dangerous IN
smooth water, but when there we're
hairpin turns to make, banks of
jagged rocks. and huge midstream
boulders to avoid, the barge often
had to be checked.
"The Salmon river justly bears the
name River of No Return No one
has ever navigated more than short
local portions of the river upstream.
Because of low water early in
October, members of the expedition
travelled by automobile along the up
per reaches of the river to point
about 56 miles below Salmon, Idaho.
Here the scow, a clumsy, 'but built
for-the purpose craft, was boarded.
Scenery Is Spectacular.
"For 100 miles below Shoup,
Idaho, the expedition found the Sal
mon River canyon a wild country,
inhabited by only few scattered.
weather-beaten prospectors.
"Spectacular was the scenery
viewed from the scow. Several times
| the river narrowed, flowing between
sheer cliffs hundreds of feet hign.
Often the canyon opened, however.
and there were magnificent vistas of
jagged, snow-covered granite peaks
soaring above narrow plains flecked
with myriad shrubs and wild flowers.
Vast national forests Of majestic
| trees flanked most of the course and
members of the expedition frequent
ly passed cascading streams, feeders
of the Salmon that would challenge
the brush of famous painters of Ma
| lures beauty.
I'm some places the Salmon
spread out as wide as $50 yards and
navigation was comparatively easy.
Then, suddenly, it became mar
row cascade. In one place the river
dropped II feet in 80.
"On the rocks in one portion of
the canyon the explorers discovered
Indian paintings of men and ami