(Re: bears)

... I have therefore come to a resolution to act on the defencive only, should I meet these gentlemen in the open country.

May 12, 1805
John Ordway

a clear pleasant & warm morning.   we Set off Soon after Sun rise, and proceeded on    passed the pitch pine hills on N.S.   one of the hunters killed a deer on a bottom on s.s.  Capt Clark killed a beaver in the River.    passed a creek or Small river on the N.S. [Seventh Point Coulee.]    about one o.C. P.M. we halted to dine at a bottom covred with timber on S.S. opposite the lower point of a willow Island, which is in the middle of the River.    the wind rose high from the N.W.   the detained us the remainder part of the day.  Some men went out hunting.   we camped for the night.    the hunters killed Some Elk & deer &.c.   we had come [blank] miles this day.  Some Squawls of rain this evening.--

May 12, 1805
Patrick Gass

We early renewed our voyage and had a pleasant morning; passed some hills on the North side, covered with pine and cedar [Probably Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa and Rocky Mountain Red Cedar, Juniperus scopulorum.], the first timber of any kind we have seen on the hills for a long time.  At 1 we halted for dinner and a violent storm of wind then arose, which continued until night when some rain fell.  Our distance this day onely 13 1/2 miles.

May 12, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse

a clear pleasant warm morning.   we Set off Soon after Sunrise and proceeded on.   passed the pitch pine hills on the N.S.   one of the hunters killed a deer in a bottom on the S.S.  Capt. Clark killed a beaver in the River.    passed a Small River on the N.S.  the wind rose high from the N.W.    we halted about one oC. to dine on the S.S. opposite the lower point of an Island covred with willows in the middle of the River.  the wind detained us the remainder of the day.  Some men went out hunting & killed Some Elk & Deer.   Camped for the night.   had come [blank] miles this day.   Squwls of rain this evening. &c.

May 12, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse

We had a clear, pleasant warm morning and set off soon after sunrise; and  passed some hills, having pitch pine growing on them, lying on the North side of the River; one of our hunters that was out, killed  deer in a bottom, which lay on the South side of the River, Captain Clark as we passed on, killed a Beaver as it was swimming in the River, We proceeded on, and passed a small River, lying on the North side of the Mesouri, here the Wind rose from the North West, and blew hard.--  About One o'Clock, we stopped to dine, on the South side of the River; opposite to the lower point of an Island, cover'd with Willows.  This Iland lies in the middle of the River Mesouri,

The wind continuing to blow hard, detained us here the remainder of the day.--  A party of our Men went out hunting, and killed some Elk and deer, which they brought into our Camp, In the Evening we had some squalls of Rain,  We encamp'd having come 10 Miles this day.--