Canyon Creek Trail, Lochsa

LR was peacefully sleeping as we were driving home following the morning race in Lewiston. Both of us were sunburned and I was looking for a cool place to take an evening hike as the sun was setting. I thought about the pack trail near the Knife's Edge campground, but decided I wanted the cool water. Canyon Creek would do. "If a bear were along the creek, how would he catch the fish?" I was asked. "He would wait and catch it as it bounds up the creek, perhaps at a spot the fish must leap out of the water." I replied. "But I have not seen a single fish, let alone leaping out of the water!" He said. "That's because most of the wild steelhead that once frequented this drainage, and would now be moving back down to the ocean after spawning, have been eliminated due to the dams on the Columbia and Snake." I stated finally. The cool dusk air felt wonderful. Little Gandalf and I had a most enjoyable hike into the mossy wilderness. This area reminded me a lot of Oregon and had me thinking of Westfir. There were lots of cedars and numerous Glacier Lillies here.I love the Lochsa area. Absolutely beautiful and still reasonably quiet. A person can get away from the world in here pretty quickly if he wants to. We did not, however, see any fish.