Clark: May 17, 1806
Steady rain fell overnight and through the day, swelling the small river at camp and dampening Captain Lewis's chronometer for the first time on the expedition, though Lewis dried it and expected no damage. Sergeant Pryor and Collins returned with a black bear, reporting they had also killed a large white bear left in the woods. Hunters and horse-keepers were assigned for the next day. No Indians visited, unusually. Snow fell on the nearby mountains, which natives said would not be passable until mid-June.
Saturday 17th May 1806 rained moderately all the last night and this
morning untill we are wet. The little river on which we are encamped rise
Sepriseingly fast. at 9 A.M. Sergt. Pryor and Collins returned with the
flesh and Skin of a Black bear on Sgt. Pryors horse. Collins’s horse
haveing run off from him yesterday. they informed us that they had each
killed a Bear neither of which were fat. the one which they left in the
woods was of the white Species and very large we did not think it
necessary in the cours of this day to Send for the flesh of the bear left
in the woods. the rains of the last night unfortunately wet the Crenomuter
in the fob of Capt. L. breaches. which has never before been wet Since we
Set out on this expedition. her works were cautiously wiped and made dry
by Capt. L. and I think She will recive no injury from this misfortune
&c. we arranged the hunters and horses to each hunter and directed
them to turn out in the morning early and continue out untill they Killed
Something. others arranged so as to take care of the hunters horses in
their absence. rained moderately all day. at the Same time Snowed on the
mountains which is in to the S. E. of us. no Indians visit us to day which
is a Singular circumstance as we have not been one day without Indians
Since we left the long narrows of the Columbia. the fiew worm days which
we have had has melted the Snows in the Mountains and the river has rose
considerably. that icy barier which Seperates me from my friends and
Country, from all which makes life estimable, is yet white with the Snow
which is maney feet deep. I frequently Consult the nativs on the subject
of passing this tremendious barier which now present themselves to our
view for great extent, they all appear to agree as to the time those
Mountains may be passed which is about the Middle of June.
Sergt. pryor informs me that the Snow on the high plains from the river
was Shoe deep this morning when he Came down. it is somewhat estonishing
that the grass and a variety of Plants Sustain no injurey from the Snow or
frost; Maney of those plants are in blume and appear to be of tender
susceptable texture. At the distance of 18 Miles from the river and on the
Eastern border of the high Plain the Rocky Mountain Commences and presents
us with Winter here we have Summer, Spring and Winter in the Short Space
of twenty or thirty miles
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Saturday, 17th May 1806. It rained moderately all last night and this morning, until we are wet. The little river on which we are camped is rising surprisingly fast. At 9 A.M. Sergt. Pryor and Collins returned with the flesh and skin of a black bear on Sgt. Pryor's horse, Collins's horse having run off from him yesterday. They informed us that they had each killed a bear, neither of which were fat. The one which they left in the woods was of the white species and very large. We did not think it necessary in the course of this day to send for the flesh of the bear left in the woods. The rains of last night unfortunately wet the chronometer in the fob of Capt. L.'s (Capt. Lewis's) breeches, which has never before been wet since we set out on this expedition. Its works were cautiously wiped and dried by Capt. L., and I think it will receive no injury from this misfortune, etc. We assigned the hunters and horses to each hunter and directed them to turn out early in the morning and continue out until they killed something. Others were arranged to take care of the hunters' horses in their absence. It rained moderately all day. At the same time it snowed on the mountains, which are to the S.E. of us. No Indians visited us today, which is a singular circumstance, as we have not been one day without Indians since we left the long narrows of the Columbia. The few warm days which we have had have melted the snows in the mountains, and the river has risen considerably. That icy barrier which separates me from my friends and country, from all which makes life estimable, is yet white with the snow, which is many feet deep. I frequently consult the natives on the subject of passing this tremendous barrier, which now presents itself to our view for a great extent. They all appear to agree as to the time those mountains may be passed, which is about the middle of June.
Sergt. Pryor informs me that the snow on the high plains from the river was shoe-deep this morning when he came down. It is somewhat astonishing that the grass and a variety of plants sustain no injury from the snow or frost; many of those plants are in bloom and appear to be of tender, susceptible texture. At the distance of 18 miles from the river, and on the eastern border of the high plain, the Rocky Mountains commence and present us with winter. Here we have summer, spring, and winter in the short space of twenty or thirty miles.
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