Lemhi Valley, preparing to cross Bitterroots — John Ordway: August 30, 1805
The party purchased 8 more horses, bringing their total to 30, and prepared their loads for departure. Their hired guide described two possible routes to the ocean: a southern plains route lacking game and water, or a rougher northern mountain route reaching a navigable fork in about 10 days or salt water in 15. They chose the northern route. Some natives left to hunt buffalo on the Missouri. Around 1 p.m., a hunter returned with three deer. The group set out, traveled about 10 miles down the river bottom past springs and old camps, and camped near the river.
horses, bought 8 more, have now got 30 in all. we got our loads
ready, the guide who has engaged with us to go on to the ocean
tells us that their is 2 ways to go, but the one bearing south of
the Ri: is plains and a desert country without game or water, but
the road to the North of the River is rough and mountaineous
but sd he could take us in 10 days to a large fork of the River
which came in on the South Side where the River would be navi-
gable or in about 15 days we could go to where the tide came up
and Salt water. So we concluded to go that road, apart of the
natives went from this village over to the head of the Missourie
after the buffalow.1 about one oClock P. M. our hunter came in
had killed three deer we loaded all but 2 of our horses and set
out and proceeded on down the River bottom crossed several
this Spring runs and Sever[al] old Camps, went about 10 miles
1 Thus Sacajawea parted from her people, never, so far as we know, to see
them again.
278 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS lAug. 31
and Camped on a Smooth bottom near the River1 considerable
of cotton and alder wood along the Shores.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
We bought 8 more horses, and now have 30 in all. We got our loads ready. The guide who has agreed to go with us on to the ocean tells us that there are 2 ways to go. The one bearing south of the river is plains and desert country without game or water, but the road to the north of the river is rough and mountainous. He said he could take us in 10 days to a large fork of the river which comes in on the south side, where the river would be navigable, or in about 15 days we could go to where the tide came up and salt water. So we decided to take that road. A part of the natives went from this village over to the head of the Missouri after the buffalo.
About one o'clock P.M. our hunter came in, having killed three deer. We loaded all but 2 of our horses and set out, proceeding on down the river bottom. We crossed several spring runs and several old camps, went about 10 miles, and camped on a smooth bottom near the river. There is a considerable amount of cottonwood and alder along the shores.
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