As I recall "Yellepit" was the name of the Walla Walla chief that Lewis and
Clark met at the mouth of the Snake River (at the village called Kw'sis, now
Sacajawea State Park) in October 1805. They presented him a special medal
from President Jefferson. His name, I believe, means "trading partner" in
the Sahaptin Indian language.

Gene Hunn.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dennis K Rockwell" <dennis.rockwell at gte.net>
To: <chiawana at bossig.com>; "tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2001 7:13 AM
Subject: Re: Birds at Yellepit


> Cheryl & Tweeters,
>
> Hiking south from Yellepit across the slopes below the the basalt cliffs
is
> a real adventure and in late spring should yield up birds like raven,
> magpie, crow, several species of swallow, white-throated swift, rock wren
&
> horned lark. Additional surprises are occasionally found this time of
year
> in the small patches of raparian habitat that occur here. We should all
> count ourselves lucky to even be able to still go to Yellepit. Recently
> landowners abutting Ayers Road (which gives access to Yellepit) attempted
to
> have Benton County vacate the right-of-way so they could shut off public
> access. Only a strong protest from the local public (including Lower
> Columbia Basin Audubon Society) prevented this from happening.
>
> Dennis Rockwell Kennewick, WA dennis.rockwell at gte.net
>
> One fifth of the people are against everything all the time.
> Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cheryl essary <chiawana at bossig.com>
> To: tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Date: Sunday, May 20, 2001 7:59 AM
> Subject: Birds at Yellepit
>
>
> >Hi Tweeters,
> > So who knows where Yellepit is? Yesterday my Lewis & Clark group
> >ventured out there to see one of the least-visited Lewis & Clark
> >campsites. Yellepit is on the western shore of the Columbia River,
> >across from the Walla Walla delta. We had a great view across, and also
> >of Wallula Gap.
> > While we were there getting cheat grass in our socks, a few birds flew
> >by. There was a WESTERN KINGBIRD, a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, and an
> >OSPREY. And, of course, everywhere the songs of WESTERN MEADOWLARKS.
> > Not a lot of birds, but all were in flight and in a magnificent
> >setting.
> >
> >Cheryl Essary
> >Othello
> >chiawana at bossig.com
> >
>