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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Father, Son To Bring Expedition To Life

From Staff And Wire Reports

Casey Hardison was 13 years old and faced with a daunting junior high homework assignment on the Lewis and Clark expedition.

He enlisted the help of his father, and before long the elder Hardison had a crazy idea.

“I said, ‘The hell with it. Let’s just go do it,”’ Bob Hardison recalled. Thus began a six-month father-and-son canoe trip from Lake Coeur d’Alene to New Orleans, along the same routes as Lewis and Clark.

They braved rapids and log jams, hunted and gathered plants for food, and made dozens of friends along the way.

They’ll tell the story of their trip in a slide show at noon Thursday in the Bonner Room at North Idaho College.

Casey Hardison is now 24, and studying botany and chemistry at North Idaho College. He’s fascinated with the medicinal uses of plants - an interest he picked up on the epic cross-country trip.

“I don’t think human beings are meant to stay in one position and not explore their surroundings,” Casey said. “I’m always willing to go on a journey.”

, DataTimes