Lolo Trail, ascending into Bitterroot Mountains — John Ordway: September 12, 1805

hunters set out eairly we loaded and set out soon after and pro-
ceeded on soon took the Mountains came up and down Several
Steep places crossed Several Small creeks and we descended a
1 Here the captains decided to lie by for a day in order to rest the horses
and take some “sceleslial Observations.” They named the creek, therefore,
“Travelers rest.” It is now known as Lolo Creek, or the Lolo Fork of Bitter
Root. Relying on the Indian guide’s information the party now prepared
to abandon their descent of the valley of the latter and. ascending Lolo Creek,
renew then’ effort to break through the mountain ranges which barred them
from the Columbia.
2 On Lolo Creek, nine miles, according to the captains’ calculations, above
its mouth.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 285
bad Steep part of the Moun18 and came down on the creek again
and halted to dine our hunters had killed this day 4 Deer and a
pheasant, we dined and proceeded on crossed 2 more creeks
ascended up a mountain on a high ridge a verry bad trail rough
and rockey. we found no water nor place to camp untill 10 oGlock
at night, then descended a Steep part of the Mountain, came
down on the creek which we left this morning or at noon and we
had came 17^ miles1 this day. and near sd creek where we could
not find a level place to Sleep, and Scarcely any feed for our horses.