Fort Mandan, preparing for departure — John Ordway: February 21, 1805
The party finished retrieving two elk left in the woods and continued hunting before setting out early on a fast-paced return journey. Thawing snow and ice on the river made the going wet and slushy as they hauled their sleds. Despite the difficult conditions, with sleds running hard over rough ice and snow, they covered 21 miles and reached the fort before sunset with all their meat and skins. The men were generally exhausted from pulling the heavy loads.
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.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Stayed to find and take care of the meat from 2 Elk which was left in the woods, and to hunt some. We set off early and proceeded on very fast. The snow and ice thawed on the river considerably, so that it was wet and sloppy hauling the sled. We pushed on and arrived at the Fort before sunset with all our meat and skins, etc. The men were generally fatigued from hauling a heavy load 21 miles on the hard ice and snow, which in places made the sleds run hard, except where the ice was smooth under it.
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