Clark: June 27, 1806
The party traveled 28 miles along snow-covered ridges of the Bitterroot Mountains, retracing their westward route from September. Guided by Nez Perce pilots whose skill Clark praised as essential, they paused at a stone mound topped with a pine pole, where the guides shared customs about fishing at Colt Creek. They descended a steep mountain, crossed branches of the Chopunnish River, and camped on a high ridge with little grass. With meat gone, they ate bear's oil and roots. Wild ginger eased Joseph Potts's swollen leg, and Clark's headache lessened.
Friday June 27th 1806 We collected our horses early and Set out. the road
Still Continue on the hights of the Dividing ridge on which we had
traveled yesterday for 9 Ms. or to our encampment of the 16th Septr. last.
about 1 m. Short of the encampment we halted by the request of the Guides
a fiew minits on an ellevated point and Smoked a pipe on this eminance the
nativs have raised a conic mound of Stons of 6 or 8 feet high and erected
a pine pole of 15 feet long. from hence they informed us that when passing
over with their families some of the men were usually Sent on foot by the
fishery at the enterance of Colt Creek in order to take fish and again
meet the party at the quawmash glade on the head of Kooskoske river. from
this place we had an extencive view of these Stupendeous Mountains
principally Covered with Snow like that on which we Stood; we were
entirely Serounded by those mountains from which to one unacquainted with
them it would have Seemed impossible ever to have escaped, in short
without the assistance of our guides, I doubt much whether we who had once
passed them could find our way to Travellers rest in their present
Situation for the marked trees on which we had placed Considerable
reliance are much fewer and more difficuelt to find than we had
apprehended. those indians are most admireable pilots; we find the road
wherever the Snow has disappeared tho it be only for a fiew paces. after
haveing Smoked the pipe and Contemplating this Scene Sufficient to have
dampened the Spirits of any except Such hardy travellers as we have
become, we continued our march and at the dist. Of 3 m. decended a Steep
mountain and passed two Small branches of the Chopunnish river just above
their fok, and again assend the ridge on which we passed. at the distance
of 7 m. arived at our Encampment of 16th Septr. last passed 3 Small
branches passed on a dividing ridge rugid and we arived at a Situation
very Similar to our Situation of last night tho the ridge was Somewhat
higher and the Snow had not been So long disolved of course there was but
little grass. here we Encamped for the night haveing traveled 28 Ms. over
these mountains without releiveing the horses from their packs or their
haveing any food. the Indians inform us that there is an abundance of the
Mountain Sheep, or what they Call white Buffalow on those Mountains. we
Saw 3 black tail or mule deer this evening but were unable to get a Shoot
at them. we also Saw Several tracks of those animals in the snow. our Meat
being exhosted we issued a point of Bears Oil to a mess which with their
boiled roots made an agreeable dish. Jo. Potts leg which had been much
Swelled and inflaimed for several days is much better this evening and
givs him but little pain. we applied the poundd root & leaves of wild
ginger from which he found great relief. Near our encampment we saw great
numbers of the Yellow lilly with reflected petals in blume; this plant was
just as foward here at this time as it was in the plains on the 10th of
May. My head has not pained me so much to day as yesterday and last night.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Friday June 27th 1806. We collected our horses early and set out. The road still continued on the heights of the dividing ridge on which we had traveled yesterday for 9 miles, or to our encampment of the 16th September last. About 1 mile short of the encampment we halted by the request of the guides for a few minutes on an elevated point and smoked a pipe. On this eminence the natives have raised a conic mound of stones 6 or 8 feet high and erected a pine pole 15 feet long. From here they informed us that when passing over with their families, some of the men were usually sent on foot by the fishery at the entrance of Colt Creek in order to take fish, and to again meet the party at the quamash glade on the head of the Kooskooske river.
From this place we had an extensive view of these stupendous mountains, principally covered with snow like that on which we stood. We were entirely surrounded by those mountains, from which, to one unacquainted with them, it would have seemed impossible ever to have escaped. In short, without the assistance of our guides, I doubt much whether we who had once passed them could find our way to Travellers Rest in their present situation, for the marked trees on which we had placed considerable reliance are much fewer and more difficult to find than we had apprehended. Those Indians are most admirable pilots; we find the road wherever the snow has disappeared, even if only for a few paces.
After having smoked the pipe and contemplating this scene, sufficient to have dampened the spirits of any except such hardy travelers as we have become, we continued our march. At the distance of 3 miles we descended a steep mountain and passed two small branches of the Chopunnish river just above their fork, and again ascended the ridge on which we had passed. At the distance of 7 miles we arrived at our encampment of 16th September last. We passed 3 small branches and traveled on a dividing ridge that was rugged, and we arrived at a situation very similar to our situation of last night, though the ridge was somewhat higher and the snow had not been so long dissolved, so of course there was but little grass. Here we camped for the night, having traveled 28 miles over these mountains without relieving the horses from their packs or their having any food.
The Indians inform us that there is an abundance of the mountain sheep, or what they call white buffalo, on those mountains. We saw 3 black-tail or mule deer this evening but were unable to get a shot at them. We also saw several tracks of those animals in the snow. Our meat being exhausted, we issued a pint of bear's oil to a mess, which with their boiled roots made an agreeable dish. Jo. Potts's leg, which had been much swelled and inflamed for several days, is much better this evening and gives him but little pain. We applied the pounded root and leaves of wild ginger, from which he found great relief. Near our encampment we saw great numbers of the yellow lily with reflected petals in bloom; this plant was just as forward here at this time as it was in the plains on the 10th of May. My head has not pained me so much today as yesterday and last night.
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