Reclamation and Perpetuation
We woke up and went straight to work: laundering, cleaning, and repacking. With sage advice from Tom, we departed Medina with significant ground to cover. On our way out of town we stopped by to say a final goodbye to Aunt Sally. Claire had just begun her first day of work with her new job, so we asked Aunt Sally to say goodbye to her for us. She sent us off with a bag full of treats (once again spoiling us). After such a great experience in Seattle, it was difficult to say goodbye. In the near future, and hopefully when things return to a “new normal” after the pandemic, I hope to visit Seattle again.
We began the drive towards Kalispell via a scenic route. We drove through North Cascades National Park, Winthrop, and past the Grand Coulee Dam. Neither my Dad nor I had been to the North Cascades, and we were both quite impressed. The snow-spotted peaks rising above the turquoise waters seemed to be nearly too perfect. We also walked down a short trailhead to see the Gorge Dam. Along the way, we found a really cool rock climbing cliff. My Dad and I spent quite a while seeking potential routes up the rock face. We decided we would need a rain check to climb it. We continued on the winding roads of Washington State Route 20 until reaching Winthrop. My Aunt Sally used to have a vacation spot in Winthrop, and suggested we take a look at the town. The first store in the town was a homemade ice cream shop. Dad and I splurged and got ice cream cones and walked around the town. While walking, I was interested in knowing how many states my Dad has visited. After going through each state, we realized my Dad has visited all 50! I enjoyed asking him about his visits to some of them.
The North Cascades
Winthrop
The sunset on our drive on the Colville Indian Reservation towards Coeur d’Alene.
Onward we traveled to Coulee Dam, the largest hydropower producer in the United States. The mile-long dam built by the Bureau of Reclamation was impressive to say the least. The power of water is immense; channeling 806,600 gallons of water per second into a form of renewable energy for 4.2 million homes in the Pacific Northwest reveals the importance of engineering and suggests great human innovation. Yet, concern for the preservation of these natural forces must be considered. My Dad and I discussed the ongoing debates between the Bureau of Reclamation, a group trying to harness the power of water in the West, and the Sierra Club, one of the foremost environmentalist groups. While these two groups advocate for the polar opposites based on their principles, it is probable that solutions on matters of the environment should be compromises between these two ideologies.
The massive Grand Coulee Dam at dusk
This trip is centered around enjoying the untouched natural beauties of our country. Yet, our transport and other trip necessities would not be possible without the use of resources that may require exploitative use of the land. Acknowledging this complex and paradoxical situation is perhaps where this process of compromise begins. I am thankful that my Dad explained the ideas of the Sierra Club to me, and I am quite glad we spent the extra time on our drive to visit the Great Coulee Dam. This segment of the trip has allowed me to see both side of the environmental discussions; by stepping onto the land, I have gained more understanding of the beauty and sheer power in the West.
After finishing another two-hour drive, we are spending the night in a Love’s gas station parking lot in Post Falls, Idaho.
