September 16, 1805
William Clark
[Clark] |
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Septr. 16th Satturday 1805 |
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Course &c. |
S. 75o W |
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miles over the mountain passing emince Dificuelt Knobs Stones much falling
timber and emencely Steep with great dificulty we proseeded on. The Snow began to
fall about 3 hours before Day and Contd. all day. I found great dificulty in finding the
road in the evining as the Snow had fallen from 6 to 8 Inches deep, verry Cold and the
pine which in maney places verry thick So covered with Snow, as in passing I became wet
discover 8 distinct kinds of pine on those mountains. We Encamped on a Small branch
running to the right. Killed a Coalt & [eate it] |
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began to Snow about 3 hours before Day and continued all day the Snow in the morning 4
inches deep on the old Snow, and by night we found it from 6 to 8 inches deep,
I walked in front to keep the road and found great dificuelty in keeping it
as in maney places the Snow had entirely filled up the track, and obliged me to hunt
Several minits for the track at 12 oClock we halted on the top of the mountain to
worm & dry our Selves a little as well as to let our horses rest and graze a little on
Some long grass which I observed, (on) The South <Knobs> Steep hills Side &
falling timber Continue to day, and a thickly timbered Countrey of 8 different kinds of
pine, [Clark uses the general term "pine" for all the types of evergreen
conifers. The species include Logepole Pine; Douglas Fir; Subalpine Fir; Englemann Spruce;
Whitebark Pine, Pinus albicaulis; Grand Fir, Abies grandis; and Mountain
Hemlock, Tsuga mertensiana. Other possibilities at lower elevations are:
Ponderosa Pine; Western White Pine, Pinus monticola; and Western Red Cedar, Thuja
plicata.] which are So covered with Snow, that in passing thro them we are
continually covered with Snow, I have been wet and as cold in every part as I ever was in
my life, indeed I was at one time fearfull my feet would freeze in the thin Mockersons
which I wore, after a Short delay in the middle of the Day, I took one man and proceeded
on as fast as I could about 6 miles to a Small branch passing to the right, halted and
built fires for the party agains their arrival which was at Dusk verry cold and much
fatigued we Encamped at this Branch in a thickly timbered bottom which was Scercely
large enough for us to lie leavil, [Near the rock mounds later called Indian Post
Office (which none of the journalists mention), perhaps on Moon Creek.] men all
wet cold and hungary. Killed a Second Colt which we all Suped hartily on and thought it
fine meat.
I saw 4 Black tail Deer to day before we Set out which came up the mountain and what is
Singular Snaped 7 tims at a large buck. it is Singular as my gun has a Steel Frisen [The
frizzen is the upright piece of metal against which the flint in a flintlock firearm
strikes to produce the spark that fires the powder. The repeated misfires were probably
due to the wet conditions as well as the loose flint.] and never Snaped 7 times
before in examining her found the flint loose to describe the road of this day
would be a repitition of yesterday excpt the Snow which made it much wors to proseed as we
had in maney places to derect our Selves by the appearence of the rubbings of the Packs [The
packs of the Indians who had passed previously, going east or west.] against the
trees which have limbs quiet low and bending downwards
September 16, 1805
John Ordway
when we a woke this morning to our great Surprize we were covred with Snow, which had
fell about 2 Inches deep the later part of last night, & continues a cold Snowey
morning. Capt Clark Shot at a deer but did not kill it. we mended up our mockasons and Set
out without any thing to eat, and proceeded on could Scarsely keep the old
trail for the Snow. kept on the Mountn. rather descending more than ascending.
about one oClock finding no water we halted [Possibly on Spring Hill]
and melted Some snow and eat or drank a little more Soup, and let our horses graze about
one hour and a half then proceeded on. Saw considerable of old snow passed
several bald knobs and high points of rocks &C. towards evening we descended a
Mountain down in to a deep cove where we Camped on a small creek in a thicket of Spruce
pine and balsom fer timber. [Possibly on Moon Creek, near Indian Post Office, not
mentioned by any members of the Corp.] the Snow is now about 4 Inches deep
on a levl. we came about 15 miles this day. the clouds so low on the Mount
that we could not See any distance no way. it appeared as if we have been in
the clouds all this day. we all being hungry and nothing to eat except a little portable
soup which kept us verry weak, we killed another colt & eat half of it.
September 16, 1805
Patrick Gass
Last night about 12 o'clock it began to snow. We renewed our march early, though the
morning was very disagreeable, and proceeded over the most terrible mountains I ever
beheld. It continued snowing until 3 o'clock P.M. when we halted, took some more soup, and
went on till we came to a small stream where we encamped for the night. Here we killed
another colt and supped on it. The snow fell so thick, and the day was so dark, that a
person could not see to a distance of 200 yards. In the night and during the day the snow
fell about 10 inches deep.
September 16, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
when we awoke this morning to our great Surprise we were covred with Snow which had
fallen about 2 Inches the latter part of last night, and continues a verry cold Snow
Storm. Capt. Clark Shot at a deer but did not kill it. we mended up our mockasons.
Some of the men without Socks raped rags on their feet, and loaded up our horses and Set
out without anything to eat, and proceeded on. could hardly See the old trail for
the Snow. kept on the ridge of the mountain Several high knobs to pass
over but had more down hill than up. about one oClock finding no water we halted and
melted Snow and made a little more Soup, and let our horses graze 1 hour & a half.
then proceeded on the Snow is fell So fast that it is now in
common 5 or 6 Inches deep. Some places is considerable of old Snow on the moutn. towards
evening we descended the mountain down in a lonesome cove [A designation unique to
Whitehouse] on a creek [Near the rock mounds called Indian Post Office
(which none of the journalists mention. Perhaps they weren't there at the time?), possibly
on Moon Creek.] where we Camped in a thicket of Spruce pine & bolsom fir
timber. all being tired & hungry, obledged us to kill another colt and eat the
half of it this evening. it has quit Snowing this evening, but continues
chilley and cold. Came about 15 [The words "about 15" appear to have
been squeezed into a blank space and possibly written by another person.] miles
to day over a rockey rough road. Some places bare on the top high places of
rocks &c.
September 16, 1805
Joseph Whitehouse
We were all surprized when we awoke this morning to find ourselves covered with Snow,
which was 2 Inches deep & had fallen in the latter part of last night & it still
continuing to Snow. Captain Clark went out with his Gun & shot a deer on the
Mountain but did not get it.-- The Snow storm continued and the Men were employed in
mending up their Moccasins. some of our party are without Socks, and are forced to
wrap Rags round their feet to keep out the cold. We loaded up our horses, & set
out not having anything for to eat, We proceeded on our way, but had great difficulty to
follow the Indian trail on account of the Snow that had fell, we still continued on our
Journey, along the ridge of the Mountain; and we had several of the Nobs of the Mountain
to pass over, but all the way on a descent, about 1 o'Clock P.M. we finding no Water we
halted, & melted some Snow & made some portable Soup for our party, and turned out
our horses to Graze about One hour & a half The Snow fell so fast that it
is now from 5 to 6 inches deep & where old the Snow remained it was considerably
deeper, towards evening, we descended the mountain; down into a lonesome looking Cove on
to a Creek, where we encamped in a thicket of spruce Pine timber. The party were all
much fataigued & hungry, our officers had a Colt killed and the party eat the half of
it this evening. In the evening it quitted snowing, but the wind was very chilly
& Cold, We came about 15 Miles this day & passed over a rough & rockey road,
& on the tops of rocks which were quite bare.--
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