This area is rich in history. Three great events took place in this
region that impact our lives today. They include the nearby Lewis
& Clark Ordway Trail, the Nez Perce War, and the discovery of a
mammoth leg bone in 1994 leading to the archaeological dig
uncovering a mammoth graveyard of hundreds of skeletons at the
lake.
Tolo Lake is a shallow, natural 30-35 acre lake and is the
largest body of water on the Camas Prairie. It is believed to have
been formed by a lava flow which is still visible in the area
today. A lava dome formed here and then collapsed creating a
depression that filled with water. The Nez Perce name for Tolo Lake
is Tepahlewam (Split Rocks). Could this be from the lava rocks? The
lake was actually named after an Indian woman, Alab-Lemot that was
well like by her people and the settlers. When the uprisings
started, she traveled many miles to bring back help for the
settlers. She was nicknamed, Tolo which means “win” in
Chinook jargon because she liked to gamble. She was so well thought
of that she was given land off the reservation at Slate Creek to
live.
Today the lake is regularly stocked with rainbow trout,
bluegill, crappie and largemouth bass. It is open year-round and
has a boat ramp but only allows non-motorized boats. This area is a
migration area for water fowl and shore birds. Up to 10 species
have been seen here including Trumpeter swan, snow and Ross’s
Geese, common tern, red-tailed hawk, raptors and western
meadowlark, among others. The Idaho Fish and Game have just
received a grant that will pay for a interpretive tri-panel display
at the lake. It should be in place by the end of 2008.
THE LEWIS & CLARK ORDWAY
TRAIL
The Lewis & Clark Ordway Trail traveled through the nearby
area. Camp Chopunnish in Kamiah was a stop for the Lewis &
Clark expedition while waiting for the snow to melt in order to
cross the Bitterroot Mountains. During the time at the camp, food
was scarce for them and for the Nez Perce. A year before the men
had tasted salmon and it had made them sick. By the time they
camped in Kamiah, people were craving salmon as a change from what
they had been having. Sgt. John Ordway and 2 men were sent to the
Lewis River (Snake River) for salmon. The prospect was very good
since hearing the dove cooing. The dove cooing was a signal that
the salmon were approaching. It was May 31, 1806 when Sgt. John
Ordway and Pvts Frazer and Weiser began the return trip from the
Snake River with their catch of salmon. By the time they returned
to camp, most of the salmon had spoiled. However, what they did
taste was described as, “extremely delicious.”
NEZ PERCE WAR
This lake was an ancient rendezvous site for the Nez Perce. They
camped here to gather the food supplement, camas root, and to meet
with neighboring bands. On June 2, 1877 this was a gathering place
in preparation for moving on to the Nez Perce reservation. Several
young Nez Perce were angered by the forced move to the reservation
and avenging the death of others, fired the first shots at several
Salmon River settlers on June 13,1877. The resulting battle at
White Bird killed 34 soldiers and two volunteers. Many skirmishes
in Cottonwood, Kamiah and Clearwater resulted in many deaths on
both sides over a period of several months and many miles between.
It was in Montana on October 4, 1877 that Chief Joseph said his
famous words, “The old men are all dead. The little children
are freezing to death…Hear me, my Chiefs, my heart is sick
and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more
forever.”
MAMMOTH DISCOVERY
In 1994, what was first started as a volunteer project by the
Idaho Department of Fish and Game to improve fishing at Tolo Lake
soon became an interdepartmental cooperation between several
entities when a large leg bone was discovered. Archaeologist for
the Nez Perce National Forest were contacted and it was that
department that recognized what they were looking at. Soon
cooperative efforts from the Idaho State Historical Society, the
University of Idaho and the Idaho Museum of Natural History
conducted an excavation. The dig uncovered a mammoth graveyard of
hundreds of skeletons. Organizers raised funds to purchase a resin
mammoth skeleton replica that is housed in a superb display in
Grangeville, Idaho.
It is believed that during the Pleistocene-era, Tolo Lake was
used as a watering hole by animals that roamed the area. These
animals may have included saber-toothed cats, bison, dire wolves,
giant mammoths and Clovis wanderers (which is early man). The only
proof of any of these is the bison and mammoth bones discovered
during the dig. After the dig, the lake was re-filled with water to
protect any fossils remaining and to provide improved fish
habitat.
The Camas Prairie is a sub-basin of the Clearwater Plateau which is
a part of the basalt plateau, which stretches from the Waha
Escarpment to the Mount Idaho Escarpment south of Grangeville. The
Clearwater Plateau is also a part of the Columbia River Basalt
Group. Prior to the Miocene Epoch, the Clearwater Sub-area was
constructed of Permian and Triassic sedimentary and volcanic rock
from the Seven Devil's Complex, as well as as Cretaceous granite
from the Idaho Batholith. Exposed deposits include metamorphosed
rhyolite and pyroclastics, sand, silt, clay, gravel, and boulders.
You can see some large rocks at the coordinates that are left over
from volcanic actions years ago. These basalt rocks have vesicles
(gas bubbles) that are evident. Basalt rocks were formed when the
volcanic lava or magma cooled.
TO LOG THIS EARTHCACHE: If you are
traveling from the South going North, Go to Mammoth site in
Grangeville first. If you are traveling South, go to the lake first
before the Mammoth display.
Email me the answers to the questions. Do not post them on the log.
- Posting a picture is no longer allowed as a requirement for
logging an earthcache as of 1/1/11 but would be greatly
appreciated. If you choose to take a picture, do so of yourself
with your gps at the lake
- Describe the large rocks found at the lake and where you think
they came from?
- Estimate the distance across the lake at the boat launch?
Go to the Mammoth display in Grangeville to answer the following
questions: N45° 55.926 W116° 07.915
- What did the mammoth eat?
- Is the replica male or female?
- How many mammoth and bison were found at the dig?