Clark: June 16, 1806
The expedition collected horses and set out at 7 AM, traveling up a creek through swampy bottoms before climbing a high mountain still buried under snow up to 4 feet deep. They stopped midday in a small grassy valley, then pushed through dense fallen timber and steep ravines, often crossing snow 8-10 feet deep firm enough to support the horses. Windsor burst his rifle near the muzzle. Vegetation appeared backward, raising doubts about crossing the mountains, but they pressed on. They camped 15 miles out at a glade where Clark had killed a horse the previous September. Lewis shot a small brown pheasant.
Monday June 16th 1806 Collected our horses early and Set Out 7 A M
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 propotionable 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 dificulty 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.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Monday June 16th 1806. Collected our horses early and set out at 7 A.M. Proceeded on up the creek through a gladey, swampy bottom with grass and quamash. Crossed the creek to the east and proceeded on through the most intolerable bad fallen timber over a high mountain on which a great quantity of snow is yet lying scattered through the thick woods, and in many places the banks of snow are 4 feet deep. We noned it, or dined, on a small creek in a small open valley where we found some grass for our horses to eat, although it was surrounded by snow. There was no other convenient situation short of the glades on Hungery Creek (Hungery Creek), where we intended to camp, as it is the last probable place at which we shall find a sufficient quantity of grass for many days. This morning Windsor burst his rifle near the muzzle. Vegetation is proportionably backward; the dog-tooth violet is just in bloom, and the honeysuckle, huckleberry, and a small species of white maple are beginning to put forth their leaves where they are clear of the snow. These appearances in this comparatively low region augur unfavorably for the practicability of passing the mountains; however, we are determined to proceed.
Accordingly, after taking a hasty meal, we set out and continued our route through a thick wood, much obstructed with fallen timber and interrupted by many steep ravines and hills which were very high. The snow has increased in quantity so much that the greater part of our route this evening was over the snow, which has become sufficiently firm to bear our horses; otherwise it would have been impossible for us to proceed, as it lay in immense masses, in some places 8 or 10 feet deep. We found much difficulty in finding the road, as it was so frequently covered with snow. We arrived early in the evening at the place where I had killed and left the flesh of a horse for the party in my rear last September. Here is a small glade in which there is some grass, not a sufficiency for our horses, but we thought it advisable to remain here all night, as we apprehended that 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, notwithstanding 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 pitch pine, white pine, some larch, and firs make up the timber. The long-leafed pine extends but a short distance on the mountains. Capt. L. (Capt. Lewis) 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 columbine, the bluebells, and the yellow flowering pea in bloom. There is an abundance of a species of angelica in the mountains, much stronger to the taste and more highly scented than the species common to the U. States. I know of no particular virtue or property it possesses; the natives dry it, cut it into small pieces which they string on a small cord and place about their necks; it smells pleasantly. We came 15 miles today.
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