At the Top of White Bird Hill, Looking Down, Down, Down, and South, To the Lands of the Salmon River Canyon.
“Back in the heat again and not far from Grangeville we see that the dry plateau that looked almost like prairie when we were out on it suddenly breaks away into an enormous canyon. I see our road will go down and down through what must be a hundred hairpin turns into a desert of broken land and crags. I tap Chris’s knee and point and as we round a turn where we see it all I hear him holler, "Wow!" .. At the brink I shift down to third, then close the throttle. The engine drags, backfiring a little, and down we go.
Three miles ahead is White Bird, ID. The location for this panorama photo was by a fairly modern expressway that replaces all the switchbacks experienced by Chris and the Narrator. My photo vantage point is at a scenic viewing area plus roadside pull-off at the top of the hill. At the start of the panorama you can see a segment of the Narrator’s road with one of the first of their hairpin curves. Observe the absence of a Guard rail on what was probably a dirt & gravel road back in 1968. As you scroll to the right, you will see a portion of the newer road where it goes down. Look closely near the center of the panorama, you will see that the local rocks here are volcanic! Also see my ZMM Album III Photos for this same area of Idaho. They give much, much, more information about the volcanic origins of this part of Idaho and Washington States.
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(Photo = 111 1120+10sc ...... ZMM Page = 259 ...... WayPt = 281x 4164ft)