Clark: September 8, 1805

William Clark · Lost Trail Pass, meeting Flathead Salish at Ross's Hole

That night's camp, per the NPS campsite reconstruction (Bergantino): east side of Bitterroot River, 2½ mi south of Stevensville, MT

September 8th Sunday 1805 a Cloudy morning Set out early and proceeded on
through an open vallie for 23 miles passed 4 Creeks on the right Some runs
on the left, The bottoms as also the hills Stoney bad land. Some pine on
the Creeks and mountains, an partial on the hills to the right hand Side.
two of our hunters came up with us at 12 oClock with an Elk, & Buckthe
wind from the N. W. & Cold. The foot of the Snow mountains approach
the River on the left Side. Some Snow on The mountain to the right also
proceeded on down the Vallie which is pore Stoney land and encamped on the
right Side of the river a hard rain all the evening we are all Cold and
wet. on this part of the river on the head of Clarks River I observe great
quantities of a peculiar Sort of Prickly peare grow in Clusters ovel &
about the Size of a Pigions egge with Strong Thorns which is So birded as
to draw the Pear from the Cluster after penetrateing our feet. Drewyer
killed a Deer. I killed a prarie fowl we found 2 mears and a Colt the
mears were lame, we ventered to let our late purchase of horses loose to
night