Fort Mandan, preparing for departure — John Ordway: February 21, 1805

Stayed to find and take care of the meat 2 Elk which was left in
the woods, and to hunt Some, we Set off eairly and proceeded on
verry fast, the Snow and Ice thoughed on the River consider-
able So that it was wet & Slopy hailing the Sled, we pushed on
and arived at the Fort before Sunset with all our meat and Skins
&.C. the men generally fatigued hailing a heavy load1 21 miles
on the hard Ice & Snow in places which made the Sleds run hard
except where the Ice was Smoth under it.