Lost Trail Pass, meeting Flathead Salish at Ross’s Hole — John Ordway: September 7, 1805
The party set out early after their hunters, who had stayed out overnight, rejoined them—one having lost his horse. They traveled down the Bitter Root Valley, passing through narrow plains with large pine and cottonwood timber along the creeks, with snow-covered mountains to the south. Hunters killed two deer, a goose, a crane, several pheasants, and a hawk. The group crossed several small creeks and experienced several rain showers as the valley widened into smooth, dry plain. They covered 18 miles and camped on the creek bank.
hunters Stayed out all last night, we set out eairly and pro-
1 From the time of this first visit by white men these Indians are highly
spoken of by visitors to them. Wheeler (II, 64-72) quotes some of these reports
and pays a deserved encomium to the hospitable band. He also gives their
own account, reduced to writing in 1899, of Lewis and Clark’s visit.
2 The party began this day the descent of Bitter Root Valley, following,
in general, the course of Hitter Root River. This stream they named in honor
of Captain Clark. From its confluence with Hell Gate River, near Missoula,
it still bears Clark’s name. To that point the general direction of its course
is almost due north. Coues locates the camp six miles above the junction of
Ross and Nez Perces forks of the Bitter Root.
1805] SERGEANT ORD WAY’S JOURNAL 283
ceeded on down the creek, our hunter who stayed out last night
over took us had lost his horse, we passed over narrow plains
larg pine and cotton timber along the creeks high mountains a
little to the Lard Side which is covred thick with Snow, one of our
hunters killed two Deer. Some of the the hunters killed 1 goose 1
crain Several pheasants and a hawk, we proceeded on crossed
Several Small creeks and runs1 we had Several Showers of rain,
this valley gitting wider, the plain Smooth & dry. we came 18
miles this day and Camped on the bank of the creek.2
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
The hunters stayed out all last night. We set out early and proceeded on down the creek. Our hunter who stayed out last night overtook us; he had lost his horse. We passed over narrow plains with large pine and cottonwood timber along the creeks, and high mountains a little to the larboard side which are covered thick with snow. One of our hunters killed two deer. Some of the hunters killed 1 goose, 1 crane, several pheasants, and a hawk. We proceeded on, crossed several small creeks and runs, and we had several showers of rain. This valley is getting wider, the plain smooth and dry. We came 18 miles this day and camped on the bank of the creek.
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