Camp Fortunate / Shoshone contact — John Ordway: August 14, 1805
The party began the day early after two hunters had stayed out overnight. The river water was painfully cold, likely spring-fed, forcing the men to wade and ache from the chill. They traveled through a smooth, pleasant valley, passing a large spring creek on the starboard side with high hills to the west. Around 10 a.m. they reached the hunters' camp, where four deer and an antelope had been killed. Stronger currents required hauling the large canoes over rapids and shoals. They stopped to dine around 1 p.m. amid cottonwood groves and ripe currants.
2 hunters Stayed out all last night, we took an eairly breakfast
and Set out. the [water] is verry cold. We have to waid in it
which makes our feet and legs ake with cold, we expect it is made
of Springs and near the head of the most of them which causes the
River water to be as cold as Spring water, the upper part of this
valley is Smooth and pleasant passed a large Spring run or creek2
on the Stard Side a handsome valley & small timber Some dis-
tance up it. the hills appear verry high to the West about 10
oClock A. M. we came up to the hunters Camp at a grove of
cotton timber on L. Side, they have killed 4 Deer and one ante-
lope, we proceeded on the current more rapid [which] oblidged
us to hall the large canoes up the rapid & shole places, the bot-
tom of the River Shores & bars Stoney. about one oC. P. M.
we halted to dine at a dry part of the plain a fiew groves of
cotton timber along the River the red & yallow currents com-
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Two hunters stayed out all last night. We took an early breakfast and set out. The water is very cold. We have to wade in it, which makes our feet and legs ache with cold. We expect it is made of springs and is near the head of most of them, which causes the river water to be as cold as spring water. The upper part of this valley is smooth and pleasant. We passed a large spring run or creek on the starboard side, with a handsome valley and small timber some distance up it. The hills appear very high to the west.
About 10 o'clock A.M. we came up to the hunters' camp at a grove of cottonwood timber on the larboard side. They have killed 4 deer and one antelope. We proceeded on. The current was more rapid, which obliged us to haul the large canoes up the rapid and shoal places. The bottom of the river, shores, and bars are stony.
About one o'clock P.M. we halted to dine at a dry part of the plain. A few groves of cottonwood timber lie along the river. The red and yellow currants com—
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