Camp Chopunnish (Long Camp), waiting for snow to melt — John Ordway: May 13, 1806

all our horses 60 in number now together and all good ex-
cept 4 which has Sore backs, &C. a number of the natives went
at playing the game as those below had considerable property
up on each Side Such as beed[s] Strips of otter Skins which was
filled with rich Shells, trinkets & Spanish bridles &C. &C. about
12 oClock we set out and proced on down the creek, a bold riming
Stream about 15 yds wide, considerable of cotton & cherry servis
berry also in the bottoms, about 4 miles we came to its mouth a
handsom low plain rich Soil & timber around went a short dis-
tance down [up] the kooskooskee river and halted to wait for a
canoe which we expect the natives to bring us from above this
place, we intend crossing the river here and Camp on the other
Side untill Such times as the Snow will admit of our crossing the
mountains.1 a number of the natives followed us we Swapped
several horses with them.
1 They had been informed by the Indians that the mountains would be im-
passable until “after t he next full moon” — that is, until some time iu June.
Accordingly the plan was formed of camping <>n the eastern side of the Koos-
kooskee until such lime as the melting of the snow should make possible the
1806] SERGEANT ORD WAY’S JOURNAL 357