Overlooking Brownlee Dam Reservoir-Lake, Local History Signs Explain Prospecting & Mining In This Region. =>
….The Left Sign Says John Brownlee Operated A River Ferry For Miners 1862-64, And Merely From This Meager Beginning => His Name Brownlee Is Adopted For ALL The Major Institutions In This Region!
…. The Steep Canyon Walls Are Seen Above the Water Are Probably Volcanic Rocks, Also Part The Columbia River Basalt Group.

….[ “ …. My lips, with the wind blowing into them, feel dry and cracked.“ ]
….“Farther on we cross a dam ….“

The ZMM Narrator’s“ We Cross A Dam ” Was In 1968: AND By Happenstance Is Same Summer When The Dam Was Completed (See Discussion Below). Before This Year, There Was Likely NO Road Crossing Of The Snake River Hereabouts. (Cont.Next)

Seven Tenths mile upriver from Brownlee Dam, Snake River Canyon, Border of ID & OR.
..****************..

According To An Idaho Power Company Re-Licensing Document April 25 2003, The Dam For This Lake Was Completed By Summer 1968. Start PDF.
…. “A classic debate between the proponents of public and private power [started in 1930’s and ] then ensued and continued until 1955, when the Federal Power Commission (FPC) issued a license to Idaho Power Company for its three dam complex. Construction of the Hells Canyon Complex began in the late 1950s, with formal dedication of the entire complex occurring in May of 1968. The HCC is a 1,167 megawatt, 3-dam complex on the Snake River bordering Oregon and Idaho. The HCC Project is comprised of Brownlee,….Oxbow,….and Hells Canyon ….dams and their associated reservoirs, which inundated 12,000 acres and 94 miles of the Snake River.” End PDF.
….((NOTE: The above is/was from a WebPage no longer available, even at Archive.org. The Document was originally at => www.wrd.state.or.us/publication/pdfs/hydro/HCC_PUSP_4-25-03_PDF.pdf: ))
..****************..

….MORE INFORMATION ABOUT =>
…I) The Electrical Power Generation Dams On The Snake River, And
…II) Environmental Concerns, Including Associated Wildlife & Fish Reduction.
…A) Brownlee Dam is a hydroelectric earth fill embankment dam in the western United States, on the Snake River on the Idaho-Oregon border, Click Here.
This Wikipedia has a good photo of =>
….. a) Aerial View of Dam, Spillway, and Lake. ….
….. b) A Close Up (Fully Readable) Photo Of The LEFT Sign In /\ Above /\ Photo.
NOTE => Interestingly, we learn that => The Creek at Brownlee Campground, where Narrator & Chris stayed overnight => had “silver mines on Brownlee Creek.”.
…B) Hells Canyon Complex FERC No. 1971.. License Application. General Description and Location of the Hells Canyon Complex.... This huge document covers in great detail => Brownlee Dam, Oxbow Dam, and Hells Canyon Dam.
…C) Northwest Power and Conservation Council Document.
…. This Document Covers => At the center of this public debate were questions about how to develop the hydropower potential of the substantial annual volume of the Snake River in Hells Canyon; how to preserve the scenic canyon for public recreation; and how to protect salmon and steelhead that passed through or spawned in the canyon. These fish had economic importance in the region and, for Indian tribes, a cultural importance.

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Sunday, July 21, 2024: … Seventeen Minutes After The Previous Photo, ZMM Route Travelers Can Look Ahead To See The Idaho Power Company Dam In The Distance.
…And, Just This Side Of The Dam, Looking Closely Upon
… This Water Calmed Surface, You Can See A Reflection Of The Bluff Beyond. The Calm Water Is Likely Caused By A (Look Very Close), Surface Fence, Held Up By 6 White Buoys.
…..In Addition To Seeing The Road Cut In The Snake River Canyon Slopes, Mid Panorama, Two Local History Signs Are Seen.
…These Two Sighs Are Shown Close-Up, Next Two Photos.

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Sunday, July 21, 2024: … Unmentioned By The ZMM Narrator, ZMM Route Travelers Can Stop & Study The First Of Two Local History Signs.
…The sign mentions “Oregon Trail Emigrants”. ZMM Enthusiast should be aware that A) About 100 miles south of here => The Oregon Trail traveled some 300 miles in the easily traveled valley of the so called Snake River Plane, before leaving the Snake River and going on into Oregon Territory. AND B) The ZMM Route crosses over The Oregon Trail, some 60 miles West and a bit South of here, just before Baker City, Oregon.

… Notice that the sign also says “silver discovered on Brownlee Creek”. This is the same creek seen at Brownlee Campground, and you can still see one of the ore processing crude oil storage bunkers, still visible not far from the Campground.

…You May
… See & Read More About This In The 8th & 9th Photo Of The 15 Total Brownlee Campground Photos, Provided By Google Maps. Click Here. .

…As happens at many places along The ZMM Route, a rather minor historical happenstance, ends up eventually providing a Name that, over the years, is applied to many surrounding landmarks.
…In this case, John Brownlee was here for only two years, but his “Brownlee” name, is applied to => Brownlee Dam, Brownlee Reservoir, Brownlee Campground, and Brownlee Town. Plus, perhaps more I don’t know about.

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Sunday, July 21, 2024: … Unmentioned By The ZMM Narrator, ZMM Route Travelers Can Stop & Study The Second Of Two Local History Signs.
…Which Tells Of Much Mining Or Rich Veins Of Copper, And Even Silver, As Mentioned The Previous Photo.

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Sunday, July 21, 2024: … Seven Minutes After The Previous Photo, And Also Unmentioned By The ZMM Narrator
…ZMM Route Travelers Can Stop & Study The Idaho Power Company’s Electric Power Generating Equipment, At This Major Snake River Dam.

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Sunday, July 21, 2024: …Five Minutes After The Previous Photo, And Also Unmentioned By The ZMM Narrator
…The ZMM Route Traveler Can Stop & Study This Major Snake River Dam, From Its Down-River Side.
…From The Size Of The Electrical Switch Yard & Abundance Of Electrical High Tension Wires, Obviously Lots Of Electrical Power Is Generated Here!!
…Also, Scrolling To The Right From The Dam, A View Down River, Shows That The Snake River Then Flows Into A Narrow Deep Canyon.

The ZMM Narrator Says =>
….“ Farther on we cross a dam and leave the canyon into some high semidesert country.”…

NOTE: Henry Gurr’s Photos Taken 2002, Shows A Roadway Over The Dam, With Full Discussion. …. It Is Very Likely What Author Robert Pirsig used To Cross The Snake River Into Oregon, in 1968. Click Here.
…However, since that time, the traveler can no longer travel on top of the dam, and must cross the river using a special road bridge, that was later constructed further downstream. The view from the center of this bridge is seen in the NEXT Panorama Photo.

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Sunday, July 21, 2024: …Five Minutes After The Previous Photo, And Also Unmentioned By The ZMM Narrator
…The ZMM Route Traveler Can Stop & From The Center Of The Bridge, Study This Major Snake River Dam, And River & Canyon, On Either Side Of The Bridge.

NOTE: At the base of the dam, the river’s water is seen to be wide and calm. Why this happens here is not clear, because this is not at all typical of the narrow Snake River & Canyon hereabouts.

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WELCOME TO OREGON!!

Sunday, July 21, 2024: …Three Minutes After The Previous Photo, And Also Unmentioned By The ZMM Narrator
...A Bicycle Traveler Stops To Rest, In The Heat!
….And Takes A Photo Of The Sign!
…… Taking A Photo, is Just As Henry Gurr Has Done!!

..The Narrow Strip Of Pavement, Edged With A Line Of Rocks, Is A Traveler Rest Pull Off, About Which The Second Sign Tells The Rules.

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Sunday, July 21, 2024: …Sixteen Minutes After The Previous Photo, And Also Unmentioned By The ZMM Narrator
…A Panorama Showing The Snake River, And Its Canyon Walls.
…Interesting Dryland Vegetation Is Seen, At Left End, Especially The Larger Dryland Shrub, By The Water.
… As You Saw In The Previous Panorama Photo, The ZMM Route Has Just Crossed Over The Snake River, And We Are Now On The West Side Of The River.
…The Road Will SoonTrend West, And Will Continue Along The South Side Of The Snake River, And Soon Will Become Rt-86.

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Sunday, July 21, 2024: …One Minute After The Previous Photo, And Also Unmentioned By The ZMM Narrator
…Even More Interesting Vegetation By The River.

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Sunday, July 21, 2024: …One Minute After The Previous Photo, And Also Unmentioned By The ZMM Narrator
…Even More Interesting Vegetation By The River. The Vertical Red Pods Look Like The Sumac Trees That Grow Back In Our South Carolina.

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Sunday, July 21, 2024: …Three Minutes After The Previous Photo, And Also Unmentioned By The ZMM Narrator
…Seen In The Upper Part Of This Photo =>
…..The Darker Old Horizontal Volcanic Lava Formations:
…….In Creating This Snake River Canyon, The River Has Cut Down Thru These Old Volcanic Lava Formations.
…This /\Above/\ Seen Formation, Is Especially Interesting, Because The Once Molten Lava, As It Cooled, Made (As You Can See) Vertical Columns, Which Are Called “Devil’s Post Piles”.
******************

These So-Called “Devil’s Post Piles”, Are Most Noteworthy, And May Be Seen At =>
…A) The Dry Stone Garden WebPage Has Explanation And 12 Good Photos. Click Here.
…B) The Devils Postpile National Monument, a U.S. National Monument located near Mammoth Mountain in Eastern California. To See Wikipedia Article, Map, And 4 Photos, Click Here.

“Devil’s Post Piles” Are Formed In Ancient Lava Formations: These Formations Occur In Idaho, Oregon, And Washington, And Are Called The Columbia River Basalts,
…A) For A Short Beginner’s Introduction, A Map, And 2 Good Photos, Click Here.
…B) The Columbia River Basalts, were deposited between 17.5 and 6 million years ago and cover an area of approximately 210,000 km2. Five main episodes of volcanism occurred in western Idaho, central and southern Washington, and northern Oregon. For A Longer & More Technical Discussion Of These Basalts, With A Time Diagram Showing Historical Millions Of Years Ago Times Of Occurrence, And 7 Maps Including Oregon, Part Of Idaho, And Southern Washington. Click Here.
…C) For A Brief Discussion About The Columbia River Flood Basalts, And 7 Good Photos, Click Here.

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Sunday, July 21, 2024: …Same Camera Location As Previous Photo.
…Interesting Dryland Vegetation Is Seen Along The Snake River, Especially The Larger Shrub, By The Water.
… A Close-Up Of What Was Mentioned In The Previous Panorama Photo.

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Sunday, July 21, 2024: …Two Minutes After The Previous Photo, And Also Unmentioned By The ZMM Narrator
…Even More Interesting Vegetation By The Snake River.

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Sunday, July 21, 2024: …Two Minutes After The Previous Photo, And Also Unmentioned By The ZMM Narrator
…Along The ZMM Route, A Panorama View Of The Snake River Valley, Here Now Following Rt-86 Trending NorthWest.
…At The Left End Of This Panorama, You See Buildings, Which Even Though Here Is A Mile Into Oregon, Are Said To Belong To The Idaho Fish & Game Department’s, Oxbow Fish Hatchery.
…Looking A Bit Further Right, And At The Right End Of The Longest Building, You Can Just Barely See The Water Of The Snake River, And Study Its Valley.
…Previous Photos Showed Scenes At The Edge Of The Snake River, But, To Arrive At The /\Above/\ Panorama Photo Location => Rt-86-Has A Mile Previously, Departed The Snake River Valley, And Traveled NorthWest, Gone Over A Hump (Seen Behind The Toyota Prius), And Has Come Back Down Again =>
…To Be At The South Edge Of The Snake River Canyon, Which You Can See At Medium Distance /\Above/\. ALL THIS IS FURTHER EXPLAINED Below.
…The Large Shrub, Seen At Right Edge Of Panorama, You Will See A Better View NEXT Photo.

Along Rt-86, At Ifs Furthest North, Snake River Canyon, Small Town Of Oxbow, Oregon.

EXPLANATION:
…Travelers should be aware that The ZMM Route here now following Rt-86, has a mile previously, departed The Snake River Valley, And has traveled NorthWest.
…This Omits Seeing => The Very Famous Oxbow Of The Snake River AND Omits Seeing => The Idaho Power Oxbow Dam. … For Wikipedia Article & 2 Photos, Click Here.

NOTE: AFTER the Blue Link below comes up, please see the following =>
…A) Mid Height Right Of Center > The Oregon town name “Oxbow”..
…B) Next down see “Hells Canyon Scenic Byway”.
…C) Next down see “Pacific Time Zone Edge”.
…D) Next right see “Idaho Fish Hatchery”.
…E) Botton Center see Red PinPoint, and 3 inches up & to right >
…….See “Scorpion Creek:, where you see the Idaho Power Oxbow Dam. .

NOW: TO STUDY WHY
… . Rt-86 Departs Snake River Valley, And Study The Famous Snake River Oxbow Curve & Subsequent Twists, AND See Where The Idaho Power Oxbow Dam Is Located . Click Here.
…
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Sunday, July 21, 2024: …Two Minutes After The Previous Photo, And Also Unmentioned By The ZMM Narrator
…Looking North, A View Of The Snake River Valley, And At Lower Center, You Can See The Gray Straight Of A Bridge, And Below It You Can Imagine Water. This Is The Snake River.
…AND, And At Bottom, Look Closely In The Tree. …. What Is Those Orange Colored Spheres In The Tree?
… Is that Due To Blossoms? Wonderment Is So Much So, That David & Henry Start Watching For More.
…This Is Shown And Explained NEXT Photo.

Along Rt-86, At Ifs Furthest North, Snake River Canyon, Small Town Of Oxbow, Oregon.

NOTE: Travelers should be additionally aware that the Photos For The Above-Mentioned Panorama, were taken at where Rt-86 goes furthest North, and, AFTER the small town of Oxbow, Oregon, Rt-86 departs again the Snake River Valley, AND trends Southwest, in the Pine Creek Valley.

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Sunday, July 21, 2024: …Even More Interesting Vegetation => What Is That Orange Color In The Tree?
…Is that Due To Blossoms? Wonderment So Much So, That David & Henry Stop To Investigate.
…And A Wonderous Find!! => The Orange Is Ripe Delicious Fruit!! … Which At First We Thought Were Plums, Even Though Orange Colored!

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Sunday, July 21, 2024: …A Wonderous Find!! => The Orange Is Ripe Delicious Fruit, Which At First We Thought Were Orange Colored Plums, But After About 10 Minutes, Belatedly Realized That Plums Are Never Orange, And These Were Apricots!!!
…We Just Had To Get Into Mind, That Plums Are NEVER Orange!

NOTE1: Since a Wild Turkey was seen under this tree, we decided the turkey must be eating these fallen Orange Fruit, and from this, it must be safe for us.
…From closely studying the seed shape & slight ridges that are around the edge of the seed ….we finally realized … 10 Minutes later … “Apricot” !!!

NOTE2: We collected into a box about a quarter cubic foot of Apricots, picked from the tree, and ground. Ang, despite no cooling, other than put box on top of Toyota Prius at night, we were enjoying these wonderful fruits six days later!

NOTE3: This Apricot Tree was growing along a depressed lower stretch of the highway, and in a shallow ditch, such that rainwater, off the highway, would provide extra moisture to this apricot tree!


… Wikipedia Has Full Apricot Details And Five Photos. Click Here.

… Prunus Armeniaca, Is The Most Commonly Cultivated Apricot Species. Wikipedia Has Full Details And Ten Photos. Click Here.

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