Clark: June 30, 1806
The party descended from the Bitterroot Mountains toward Travelers' Rest, with Drouillard and Joseph Field sent ahead to hunt. A deer killed at the springs provided dinner before they set out down the creek, passing their September 12, 1805 campsite around midday. Shields and Drouillard killed several more deer along the way, noting abundant game. Near sunset they reached their old camp near Clark's River and decided to rest two days before splitting the expedition. They saw no recent sign of the Ootlashoot Indians, whom their guides feared had been attacked. The horses held up well.
Monday June 30th 1806 We dispatched Drewyer & Jo. Field early this
morning ahead to hunt. just as we had prepard. to set out at an early
hour, a deer Came in to lick at the Springs and one of our hunters killed
it; this Secired to us our dinner. and we proceeded down the Creek,
Sometimes in the bottoms and at other times on the tops or along the Steep
Sides of the ridge to the N of the Creek. at 11/2 m. we passd our
encampment of the 12th of Septr. last. we noon’d it at the place we had on
the 12 of Septr. last whiles here Shields killed a deer on the N. fork
near the road. here a rode leads up the N. fork and passed over to an
extensive vally on Clarks river at Some distance down that river as our
guids inform us. after dinner we resumed our march. Soon after Setting out
Shields killed another deer, and we picked up 3 others which G Drewyer had
killed along the road. Deer are very abundant in the neighbourhood of
travellers rest of boath Specis, also Some big horn and Elk. a little
before Sunset we arrived at our old encampment on the S. Side of the Creek
a little above its enterance into Clarks river. here we Encamped with a
view to remain 2 days in order to rest ourselves and horses and make our
final arrangements for Seperation. we found no signs of the Oatlashshots
haveing been here lately. the Indians express much Concern for them and
apprehend that the Menetarries of Fort d Prar have destroyed them in the
course of the last Winter and Spring, and mention the tracts of the
bearfooted indians which we Saw yesterday as an evidence of their being
much distressed-. our horses have stood the journey Supirisinly well and
only want a fiew days rest to restore them.
—
Descended the mountain to Travellers rest leaveing those tremendious
mountanes behind us-in passing of which we have experiensed Cold and
hunger of which I shall ever remember. in passing over this part of the
Rocky mountains from Clarks river, to the quawmash flats from the 14th to
the 19th of Septr. 1805 we marched through Snow, which fell on us on the
night of the 14th and nearly all the day of the 15 in addition to the cold
rendered the air cool and the way difficuelt. our food was horses of which
we eate three.On our return we Set out from the quawmash flats on
the 15th of June and commenes the assent of the rocky mountains; the air
became cool and vigitation backwardon the 16th we met with banks of
Snow and in the hollars and maney of the hill Sides the Snow was from 3 to
4 feet deep and Scercely any grass vegitation just commencing where the
Snow had meltedon the 17th at meridian, the Snow became So deep in
every derection from 6 to 8 feet deep we could not prosue the road there
being no grass for our horses we were obliged to return to the quawmash
flatts to precure meat to live on as well as grass for our horsesleaveing
our baggage on the mountains We precured 5 Indians as pilots and on the
24th of June 1806 we again under took those Snowey regn. on the 26th we
with our baggage arived at an open plain serounded with Snow where there
was grass for horses on the 27th & 28th also passing over Snow 6 or 8
feet deep all the way on 29th passed over but little Snowbut saw
great masses of it lying in different directions
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Monday, June 30th, 1806. We dispatched Drewyer (Drouillard) and Jo. Field (Joseph Field) early this morning ahead to hunt. Just as we had prepared to set out at an early hour, a deer came in to lick at the springs and one of our hunters killed it; this secured our dinner. We proceeded down the creek, sometimes in the bottoms and at other times on the tops or along the steep sides of the ridge to the north of the creek. At 1½ miles we passed our encampment of the 12th of September last. We took our noon break at the place we had stopped on the 12th of September last. While here, Shields killed a deer on the north fork near the road. Here a road leads up the north fork and passes over to an extensive valley on Clarks River at some distance down that river, as our guides inform us. After dinner we resumed our march. Soon after setting out, Shields killed another deer, and we picked up three others that G. Drewyer (Drouillard) had killed along the road. Deer are very abundant in the neighborhood of Travellers Rest, of both species, also some bighorn and elk. A little before sunset we arrived at our old encampment on the south side of the creek, a little above its entrance into Clarks River. Here we encamped with a view to remain two days in order to rest ourselves and our horses and make our final arrangements for separation. We found no signs of the Oatlashshots having been here lately. The Indians express much concern for them and apprehend that the Menetarries (Minnetarees) of Fort de Prairie have destroyed them in the course of the last winter and spring, and they mention the tracks of the barefooted Indians that we saw yesterday as evidence of their being much distressed. Our horses have stood the journey surprisingly well and only need a few days' rest to restore them.
Descended the mountain to Travellers Rest, leaving those tremendous mountains behind us—in crossing them we experienced cold and hunger that I shall always remember. In passing over this part of the Rocky Mountains from Clarks River to the Quawmash (Camas) Flats from the 14th to the 19th of September 1805, we marched through snow, which fell on us on the night of the 14th and nearly all the day of the 15th, and which, in addition to the cold, made the air chilly and the way difficult. Our food was horses, of which we ate three.
On our return, we set out from the Quawmash Flats on the 15th of June and commenced the ascent of the Rocky Mountains; the air became cool and vegetation was backward. On the 16th we met with banks of snow, and in the hollows and many of the hillsides the snow was from 3 to 4 feet deep, and there was scarcely any grass—vegetation just commencing where the snow had melted. On the 17th at midday, the snow became so deep in every direction, from 6 to 8 feet deep, that we could not pursue the road. There being no grass for our horses, we were obliged to return to the Quawmash Flats to procure meat to live on as well as grass for our horses, leaving our baggage on the mountains. We procured 5 Indians as pilots, and on the 24th of June 1806 we again undertook those snowy regions. On the 26th, we with our baggage arrived at an open plain surrounded by snow where there was grass for the horses. On the 27th and 28th we also passed over snow 6 or 8 feet deep all the way. On the 29th we passed over but little snow, but saw great masses of it lying in different directions.
This modernization is AI-generated for accessibility. The original above is the authoritative version.
Entities mentioned in this entry
Auto-extracted from the entry text. Hover any entity for context.
