Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — John Ordway: March 30, 1806
The river continued rising, now high enough that the tide had no noticeable effect, with considerable driftwood floating down. The party passed Wapato Island, about 25 miles long with mixed timber and prairie and rich soil, where two large Native villages were observed. Some Native people followed in canoes, which Ordway praised as the neatest, lightest, and best-formed canoes he had ever seen, handled by skilled paddlers. Mount Rainier and Mount Hood were visible, heavily covered in snow. Around sunset, the group camped at a handsome prairie with oak groves in smoother, lower country.
River Still riseing & is now so high that the tide has no effect
to be perceived at this time considerable of drift wood floating-
down the River. Saw 2 large villages on a large long Island which
is named wapatoe Isld2 & is about 25 miles long, partly timbered
& partly prarie & soil rich, a number of the Savages followed
us some distance with their canoes I must give these Savages
as well as those on the coast the praise of makeing the neatest and
handsomest lightest best formed canoes I ever Saw & are the
best hands to work them. Saw mount rainey and Mount Hood
which is verry white with Snow. &C about Sunset- we Camped3
at a handsom prarie & Groves of oak timber &C. the country
is lower & more Smooth than below.
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The river is still rising and is now so high that the tide has no perceivable effect at this time. There is considerable driftwood floating down the river. Saw 2 large villages on a large long island which is named Wapatoe Island and is about 25 miles long, partly timbered and partly prairie, with rich soil. A number of the natives followed us some distance with their canoes. I must give these people, as well as those on the coast, the praise of making the neatest, handsomest, lightest, and best-formed canoes I ever saw, and they are the best hands at working them. Saw Mount Rainey (Mount Rainier) and Mount Hood, which is very white with snow, etc.
About sunset we camped at a handsome prairie with groves of oak timber, etc. The country is lower and more smooth than below.
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