Jefferson/Beaverhead River near present-day Dillon — Joseph Whitehouse: August 11, 1805

ad COOL cloudy morning Some rain we Set out after
breakfast and proceeded on 3 men out a hunting.
about 3 miles came to a verry large prarie Island which
is 3000 miles from wood River or the mouth of the Missourie.
So we call it 3000 mile Island. we took up the L. Side of it
& had to hall over Several Shole places. Saw a nomber of
geese & ducks. one of the hunters joined us at noon. had
killed 3 three Deer & 2 otter, Some distance a head. the day
warm. the large flys troublesome. we proceeded on passed
Several Sunken ponds and low bottoms which is Soft and
boggy the beaver has cut many channels to their houses along
the Shores they are verry numerous in this valley. I think
they are more pleanty than ever we Saw them before. towards
evening we Came to a fiew Scattering cotton trees along the
Shore. the valley continues to be 8 or 10 miles wide and all
low Smooth prarie with timber. we See Mountains a head
Some distance which appear high. large Spots of Snow on
them. we Came 14 miles this day and Camped on a wet
bottom on the Star‘ Side. the Mosquitoes troublesome, &c.