Two million years ago Lake Idaho burst its bounds and ripped its way to lower ground. As it poured north it tore the earth away beneath it, forming the deepest gorge in North America, Hells Canyon. Two million years. Before the canyon was formed, Lake Idaho existed for over ten million years. Ten million.

I spent an hour at this overlook one summer afternoon, considering the scene.  The flood that formed the canyon, the fires that had ravaged the hillside to the left and the rowdy road crew who laid this ribbon of asphalt to Pittsburgh Landing in the 1950s.

A car pulled up. A couple hopped out and snapped selfies. With their engine still running they asked if I’d take a photo of the two of them. German tourists on a whirlwind tour of the Pacific Northwest. They pointed to the bottom of the canyon. “Did you ever take a visit there?”

“Yes.”

They were back in the car before I could elaborate.