June 16, 1806
Meriwether Lewis
We collected our horses very readily this morning, took breakfast and set out at 6
A.M.; proceeded up the creek about 2 miles through some handsom meadows of fine grass
abounding with quawmash, here we passed the creek [Eldorado Creek.] &
ascended a ridge which let us to the N. E. about seven miles when we arrived at a small
branch of hungry creek. [Actually a branch of Fish Creek.] the difficulty
we met with from the fallen timber detained us untill 11 oC before we reached this place.
here is a handsome little glade in which we found some grass for our horses
we therefore halted to let them graize and took dinner knowing that there was no other
convenient situation for that purpose short of the glaids on hungry creek where we
intended to encamp, as the last probable place, at which we shall find a sufficient
quantity of grass for many days. this morning Windsor busted his rifle near the muzzle.
before we reached this little branch on which we dined we saw in the hollows and N.
hillsides large qua[n]tities of snow yet undesolved; in some places it
was from two to three feet deep. vegetation is proportionably backward; the dogtooth
violet [Dogtooth Violet, also Called Fawn, or Glacier, Lily, Erythronium
grandiflorum. It was an undescribed western species that Lewis had collected at
lower elevations twice earlier (May 8 and June 5, 1806).] is just in blume, the
honeysuckle [Orange Honeysuckle, Lonicera ciliosa, he preserved a
specimen of this undescribed species on this day and two weeks earlier at their Clearwater
camp.], huckburry [Mountain Huckleberry, Vaccinium membranaceum.]
and a small speceis of white maple [Rocky Mountain Maple, Acer glabrum;
the only species of maple in this part of the Rocky Mountains.] are begining to
put fourth their leaves; these appearances in this comparatively low region augers but
unfavourably with rispect to the practibility of passing the mountains, however we
determined to proceed, accordingly after taking a haisty meal we set out and continued our
rout though a thick wood much obstructed with fallen timber, and intersepted by many steep
ravines and high hills. the snow has increased in quantity so much that the greater
part of our rout this evening was over the snow which has become sufficiently firm to bear
our horshes, otherwise it would have been impossible for us to proceed as it lay in
immence masses in some places 8 or ten feet deep. we found much difficulty in pursuing the
road as it was so frequently covered with snow. we arrived early in the evening at
the place that Capt. C. had killed and left the flesh of a horse for us last September.
[Now known as Horsesteak Meadows, on Hungery Creek, just below Windy Saddle. The
location is marked "Small prarie, Killed a horse," on Clark's map. Clark's party
killed the horse on September 19, 1805 and Lewis found it the following day.] here
is a small glade in which there was some grass, not a sufficency for our horses but we
thought it most advisable to remain here all night as we apprehended if we proceeded
further we should find less grass. the air is pleasent in the course of the day but
becomes very cold before morning notwithstanding the shortness of the nights. Hungry creek
is but small at this place but is deep and runs a perfect torrent; the water is perfectly
transparent and as cold as ice. the pitch pine, white pine some larch and firs constite
the timber; the long leafed pine extends a little distance on this side of the main branch
of Collins's creek, and the white cedar not further than the branch of hungry creek on
which we dined. I killed a small brown pheasant today [Likely the Oregon
Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus sabini; However, see March 3, 1806.], it
feeds on the tender leaves and buds of the fir and pitch pine. in the fore part of
the day I observed the Cullumbine [The Columbine in this area is the Red, or
Northwest Crimson, Columbine, Aquilegia formosa.] the blue bells [Tall
Bluebells, Mertensia paniculata, is common in this region.] and the
yelow flowering pea [Mountain Thermopsis, Thermopsis montana, is common
in this habitat and has bright yellow "pea" flowers.] in blume. there
is an abundance of a speceis of anjelico [The Angelica-like plant abundant here is
Licorice-root, Ligusticum verticillatum. It is highly scented as noted.
Lewis would have difficulty distinguishing between Angelica and Ligusticum
without fruits, which would not have been present on this date.] in these
mountains, much stonger to the taist and more highly scented than that speceis common to
the U' States. know of no particular virtue or property it possesses; the natives
dry it cut it in small peices which they string on a small cord and place about their
necks; it smells very pleasantly. we came 15 miles today.
June 16, 1806
William Clark
Collected our horses early and Set out 7 AM proceeded on up the Creek through a
gladey Swompy bottom with grass and quawmash Crossed the Creek to the East and proceeded
on through most intolerable bad fallen timber over a high Mountain on which great quantity
of Snow is yet lying premisquissly through the thick wood, and in maney places the banks
of snow is 4 feet deep. we noned it or dined on a Small Creek in a small open Vally
where we found Some grass for our horses to eate, altho Serounded by Snow no other
Convenient Situation Short of the glades on Hungery Creek where we intended to encamp, as
the last probable place, at which we Shall find a Sufficent quantity of grass for maney
days. This morning Windsor bursted his rifle near the Muzzle. Vigitation is
proportionable backward; the dog tooth Violet is just in blume, the honeysuckle,
huckleberry and a Small Species of white maple are beginning to put foth their leaves,
where they are clear of the Snow, those appearances in this comparratively low region
augers but unfavourably with respect to the practibility of passing the Mountains, however
we deturmine to proceed, accordingly after takeing a hasty meal we Set out and Continued
our rout through a thick wood much obstructed with fallen timber, and interupted by maney
Steep reveins and hills which wer very high. the Snow has increased in quantity So
much that the great part of our rout this evening was over the Snow which has become
Sufficently firm to bear our horses, otherwise it would have been impossible for us to
proceed as it lay in emince masses in Some places 8 or ten feet deep. We found much
difficulty in finding the road, as it was So frequently covered with snow. we arived
early in the evening at the place I had killed and left the flesh of a horse for the party
in my rear last Septr. here is a Small glade in which there is Some grass, not a
Sufficency of our horses, but we thought it adviseable to remain here all night as we
apprehended if we proceeded further we should find less grass. The air is pleasant
in the Course of the day, but becomes very cold before morning not withstanding the
Shortness of the night. Hungary Creek is but Small at this place but is deep and
runs a perfect torrent; the water is perfectly transparent and as Cold as ice. the
titch pine, white pine Some Larch and firs consists the timber, the long leafed pine
extends but a Short distance on the Mts. Capt. L. killed a Small brown pheasant today, it
feeds on the tender leaves and buds of the fir and pitch pine, in the forepart of
the day I observed the Cullumbine the blue bells and the Yellow flowering pea in blume.
there is an abundance of a Species of Anjelico in the mountains much Stronger to
the taiste, and more highly Scented than that Species common to the U' States. I
know of no particular virtue or property it possesses the nativs dry it Cut it in
Small pieces which they string on a Small Cord and place about the necks; it Smells
pleasently. we Come 15 Ms. today.
June 16, 1806
John Ordway
two of our hunters went on to a glade a Short distance to hunt we took an eairly
breakfast the morning fair. we Set out proced on overtook
the hunters who hd killd nothing. folled up the glade and mountains Some distance
then took the hills on to a ridge of falling timber towards noon we passed over high
banks of Snow which bore up our horses. some places 5 or 6 feet deep about noon we
halted at a Small branch [A branch of Fish Creek] & green to dine
the grass is verry Short and in the woods jest Starting up. delayed about 2
hours and Set forward again. light Showers of rain this afternoon the Snow is
more Common and much deeper. Towards evening we came on hungry creek
followed down it to a green where Capt. Clark killed a horse last fall for the party to
eat. here we Camped. [At Horsesteak Meadow on Hungery Creek just below Windy
Saddle, Clark's party killed the horse on September 19, 1805, Lewis's group found it the
next day.] the young grass verry Short. the bushes are all bent flat
down by the deep Snow lying on them. the Snow must fall in these hollars in the
winter 15 or 20 feet deep and perhaps the Snow drifts in and fills the hollers full.
June 16, 1806
Patrick Gass
We had a pleasant morning, and renewed our journey; went up a handsome creek about
three miles, and then took to the hills which are very rough with a great many banks of
snow, some of them four or five feet deep. These banks are so closely packed and
condensed, that they carry our horses, and are all in a thawing state. We halted for
dinner at a handsome stream where there was some grass for our horses; and in about two
hours proceeded on again, and had some rain. In the afternoon we found the snow banks more
numerous, extensive and deep: in some of them the snow was as much as eight feet deep. In
the evening we came to Hungry creek (where Capt. Clarke killed a horse last fall and left
it for the party) and encamped, that our horses might get some grass as we do not expect
they will get any soon again; and there is not much here.
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