September 08, 1805
William Clark
a Cloudy morning Set out early and proceeded on through an open vallie for 23
miles passed 4 Creeks on the right Some runs on the left, [Skalkaho Creek,
Gird Creek, Willow Creek (near Corvallis, MT), Soft Rock, Birch, Spoon, and Willoughby
Creeks. Clark's map.] The bottoms as also the hills Stoney bad land. Some pine on
the Creeks and mountains, an partial on the hills to the right hand Side. two of our
hunters came up with us at 12 oClock with an Elk, & Buck-- the wind from the
N.W. & Cold. The foot of the Snow mountains approach the <Creek> River on
the left Side. Some Snow on The mountain to the right also [On the left were the
Bitterroot Mountains and on the right the Sapphire Mountains.] proceeded
on down the Vallie which is pore Stoney land and encamped on the right Side of the river [Near
Stevensville, MT.] a hard rain all the evening we are all Cold and
wet. on this part of the river on the head of Clarks River I observe great
quantities of a peculiar Sort of Prickly peare [Brittle Prickly Pear, noticed by
Lewis on August 12, 1805] grow in Clusters ovel & about the Size of a Pigions
egge with Strong Thorns which is So Birded [bearded] as to drw the Pear
from the Cluster after penetrateing our feet. Drewyer killed a Deer. I killed a
prarie fowl we found 2 mears and a Colt the mears were lame, we ventered to
let our late purchase of horses loose to night
September 08, 1805
John Ordway
cloudy and cold. we Set out eairly and proceeded on down this creek which is now
verry large. passed over Smooth plain no timber except along the bank of the
creeks. Saw Snow on the mount to our left. high barron hills to our right.[Bitterroot
Mountains on their left, Sapphire Mountains on their right.] about 11
oClock we halted to dine at a branch our hunters joined us. had killed an Elk,
and a Deer which they brought with them. the wind cold from the N. w. & Showers
of rain, and a little hail. passed over Smooth plains in this valley. the Mountains
are rough on each side and are covred with pine and on the tops of which are covd. with
Snow. our hunters found 2 Stray horses and a handsom colt, which they took along
with them we marched 20 odd miles this day and Camped [Near Stevensville,
Montana] on a Smooth bottom near the creek, where we had find feed for our
horses. our hunters joined us had killed one Deer.--
September 08, 1805
Patrick Gass
The morning was wet, and we proceeded on over some beautiful plains. One of our hunters
had remained out all night, at noon we halted and they all came in, having killed an elk
and a deer. At 2 we proceeded on again, and had a cold, wet and disagreeable afternoon,
but our road or way was level along the valley. Having travelled 20 miles, we encamped and
our hunters came in, one of whom had killed a deer, and another had caught two mares and a
colt, which he brought with him.
September 08, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
cloudy and verry chilley and cold. we Set out eairly and proceeded on down this
large creek or Small River. passed over Smooth dry plains. no timber only
along the River, which is large pitch pine the bottoms wide. we crossed
Several creeks. [See Clark's entry for the day.] Saw Snow on the
Mountains to our left. high barron hills to our right. [On the left are the
Bitterroot Mountains and on the right are the Sapphire Mountains.] about 11
oClock we halted to dine at a branch our hunters all joined us. had killed an
Elk & a Deer, Which they brought with them. the wind form N. W. chilley and
coldl. the Snow lays thick on the mot. a little to our left. we delayed and
let our horses feed about 2 hours, and proceeded on down the valley. had Several Small
cold Showers of rain & a little hail. passed over level Smooth plains in this
valley. the Mountains are rough on each Side and are covered with pine and the tops
of which are covered with Snow. Some places appear th lay thick. one of our
hunters found & caught 2 horses and a handsom Colt. we take them along with us
though the horses are lame. we expect that to be the reason that the natives left
them in these bottoms. we travveled 20 odd miles this day and Camped [Near
Stevensville, MT] at the Creek and Smooth bottom where was fine feed for our
horses. our hunters all joined us One [Drouillard] of them
had killed a Deer. crossed Several branches in course of the day.--
September 08, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
A cold chilly Cloudy morning. We set out early and proceeded on our Journey.--
We went down this large Creek or small River, we passed over smooth dry plains, but
no timber to be seen excepting what grew along the Creek, which were large Pitch Pine
trees.-- The bottom land along this large Creek were wide & the Soil very
rich.-- We crossed several small Creeks, which made into the large Creek which we
left this morning.-- We saw Snow lying on Mountains, which lay to the South of us,
& high Barren hills, which lay to the North likewise of us.-- About 11 o'Clock
A. M. we halted to dine at a Creek.-- Our hunters all joined us here, they had
killed an Elk & one Deer, which they brought to us. The Wind had been from the N
West during this day & the Air chilly & Cold.--
The Snow still continues on the Mountains, a small distance to the South of us.
We delayed about 2 hours to let our horses feed, we then proceeded on down the Valley
& had several small showers of rain accompanied with hail.-- We passed over
level smooth plains in this Valley, the Mountains on each side of which, are rough, and
are cover'd with Pine Trees, the Tops of which are Covered with Snow & the snow
appears to lay thick in many places on these Mountains.-- One of our hunters came
across 2 Strange horses & a Colt, which he caught.-- We took those horses &
Colt along with us, the horses were lame & we expected that the Natives had left them
in this Valley, on that account. We came 25 Miles this day as near as we can guess,
and encamped at a Creek, on a smooth bottom of land. We found here fine food for our
horses. Our hunters joined us in the Evening. They had killed only one deer
which they brought to us.--
|