Clark: June 5, 1805
On a cold, lightly rainy morning with snow visible on the mountains to the southeast, Clark's party watched eight buffalo fail to cross the swift river. Three white (grizzly) bears approached camp and were killed, with the men eating part of one before setting out. Clark traveled about 11 miles northwest along a ridge, observing snow-covered mountains to the south and west. Concluding the river continued too far south to be useful, he decided to turn back, killing elk and deer along the way, and carved his name in a tree near the ridge.
June 5th Wednesday 1805 Some little rain & Snow last night the
mountains to our S E. covered with Snow this morning air verry Cold &
raining a little, we Saw 8 buffalow opposit, they made 2 attempts to
Cross, the water being So Swift they Could not, about the time we were
Setting out three white bear approached our Camp we killed the three &
eate part of one & Set out & proceeded on N. 20° W 11 miles.k
the river at maney places in this distance to a ridge on the N. Side t m
the top of which I could plainly See a mountain to the South & W.
covered with Snow at a long distance, The mountains opposit to us to the
S. E. is also Covered with Snow this morning.a high ridge from
those mountains approach the river on the S E Side forming Some Clifts of
hard dark Stone.From the ridge at which place I Struck the river
last, I could ____ discover that the river run west of South a long
distance, and has a Strong rapid Current, as this river Continued its
width debth & rapidity and the Course west of South, going up further
would be useless, I deturmined to return, I accordingly Set out, thro the
plain on a Course N. 30° E on my return & Struck the little river at
20 miles passing thro a Leavel plain, at the little river we killed 2 buck
Elk & dined on their marrow, proceeded on a few miles & Camped,
haveing killed 2 deer which was verry fat, Some few drops of rain to day,
the evening fair wind hard from the N. E. I Saw great numbers of Elk &
white tale deer, Some beaver, antelope mule deer & wolves & one
bear on this little river marked my name in a tree N. Side near the ridge
where the little river brakes thro
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
June 5th, Wednesday 1805. A little rain and snow fell last night. The mountains to our southeast are covered with snow this morning. The air is very cold, and it is raining a little. We saw 8 buffalo on the opposite side; they made 2 attempts to cross, but the water was so swift they could not. About the time we were setting out, three white bears approached our camp. We killed the three, ate part of one, and then set out and proceeded on N. 20° W. 11 miles.
The river at many places in this distance runs to a ridge on the north side, from the top of which I could plainly see a mountain to the south and west, covered with snow at a long distance. The mountains opposite us to the southeast are also covered with snow this morning. A high ridge from those mountains approaches the river on the southeast side, forming some cliffs of hard, dark stone.
From the ridge where I last struck the river, I could ____ discover that the river runs west of south a long distance, and has a strong, rapid current. As this river continued its width, depth, and rapidity, and its course west of south, going up further would be useless. I determined to return. I accordingly set out, through the plain, on a course N. 30° E. on my return, and struck the little river at 20 miles, passing through a level plain. At the little river we killed 2 buck elk and dined on their marrow. We proceeded on a few miles and camped, having killed 2 deer which were very fat. There were a few drops of rain today; the evening was fair, with hard wind from the northeast. I saw great numbers of elk and white-tail deer, some beaver, antelope, mule deer, and wolves, and one bear on this little river. I marked my name in a tree on the north side near the ridge where the little river breaks through.
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