Clark: September 15, 1805
The party set out early on a cloudy morning and traveled four miles down the right side of the river before the trail veered up a steep mountain choked with fallen timber from past fires and wind. The climb was grueling: several horses slipped and rolled down the slopes, including one carrying Clark's desk and trunk, which was broken when the horse tumbled 40 yards into a tree. After 12 hard miles, they camped on the timbered summit without water, melting old snow to cook the last of their colt meat. Two exhausted horses were left behind, and only two pheasants were killed. The evening was cold and cloudy, with snow-covered ranges visible in every direction.
Wednesday Septr. 15th 1805 We set out early. the morning Cloudy and
proceeded on Down the right Side of River over Steep points rockey &
buschey as usial for 4 miles to an old Indian fishing place, here the road
leaves the river to the left and assends a mountain winding in every
direction to get up the Steep assents & to pass the emence quantity of
falling timber which had falling from dift. causes i e. fire & wind
and has deprived the Greater part of the Southerley Sides of this mountain
of its gren timber, 4 miles up the mountain I found a Spring and halted
for the rear to come up and to let our horses rest & feed, about 2
hours the rear of the party came up much fatigued & horses more So,
Several horses Sliped and roled down Steep hills which hurt them verry
much The one which Carried my desk & Small trunk Turned over &
roled down a mountain for 40 yards & lodged against a tree, broke the
Desk the horse escaped and appeared but little hurt Some others verry much
hurt, from this point I observed a range of high mountains Covered with
Snow from S E. to S W with Their top bald or void of timber. after two
hours delay we proceeded on up the mountain Steep & ruged as usial,
more timber near the top, when we arrived at the top As we Conceved we
could find no water and Concluded to Camp and make use of the Snow we
found on the top to cook the remnt. of our Colt & make our Supe,
evening verry Cold and Cloudy. Two of our horses gave out, pore and too
much hurt to proceed on and left in the rearnothing killed to day
except 2 Phests.
From this mountain I could observe high ruged mountains in every direction
as far as I could See. with the greatest exertion we Could only make 12
miles up this mountain and encamped on the top of the mountain near a Bank
of old Snow about 3 feet deep lying on the Northern Side of the mountain
and in Small banks on the top & leavel parts of the mountain, we
melted the Snow to drink, and Cook our horse flesh to eat.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Wednesday September 15th 1805. We set out early. The morning was cloudy, and we proceeded on down the right side of the river over steep points, rocky and bushy as usual, for 4 miles to an old Indian fishing place. Here the road leaves the river to the left and ascends a mountain, winding in every direction to get up the steep ascents and to pass the immense quantity of fallen timber which had fallen from different causes, i.e. fire and wind, and has deprived the greater part of the southerly sides of this mountain of its green timber. 4 miles up the mountain I found a spring and halted for the rear to come up and to let our horses rest and feed. About 2 hours later the rear of the party came up much fatigued, and the horses more so. Several horses slipped and rolled down steep hills, which hurt them very much. The one which carried my desk and small trunk turned over and rolled down a mountain for 40 yards and lodged against a tree, breaking the desk. The horse escaped and appeared but little hurt. Some others were very much hurt. From this point I observed a range of high mountains covered with snow from S.E. to S.W., with their tops bald or void of timber. After two hours' delay we proceeded on up the mountain, steep and rugged as usual, with more timber near the top. When we arrived at the top, as we conceived we could find no water, we concluded to camp and make use of the snow we found on top to cook the remnant of our colt and make our soup. The evening was very cold and cloudy. Two of our horses gave out, poor and too much hurt to proceed on, and were left in the rear. Nothing was killed today except 2 pheasants.
From this mountain I could observe high rugged mountains in every direction as far as I could see. With the greatest exertion we could only make 12 miles up this mountain, and camped on the top of the mountain near a bank of old snow about 3 feet deep lying on the northern side of the mountain, and in small banks on the top and level parts of the mountain. We melted the snow to drink and to cook our horse flesh to eat.
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