3415 Entries
Journal Entries
Original journal entries from all six expedition journalists: Lewis, Clark, Floyd, Ordway, Gass, and Whitehouse. Sourced from the Thwaites Edition (1904-1905).
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Sep
1
1805
Rugged Mountain Crossing with Sweet Serviceberries
The party set out on a fine morning and traveled through very steep, rugged mountains that were difficult for the horses, crossing several cold creeks lined with pine…
Sep
2
1805
Leaving the Road into Trackless Western Terrain
On a cloudy, rainy Monday, the party set out early and traveled up a creek, crossing forks from both sides. After eight miles, they left the established road…
Sep
2
1805
Cutting Paths Through Dismal Thickets of Balsam and Alder
The party set out around 7 a.m. and traveled roughly 13 miles northeast through extremely difficult terrain, crossing several cold spring-fed creeks lined with beaver dams, tall pine…
Sep
2
1805
Rain-Soaked March Through Spruce and Pine
The party pushed up a creek through dense spruce and pine forest, struggling against thick bushes, narrow paths, and sharp stones that hurt the unshod horses. They shot…
Sep
2
1805
Beaver Dams and Dense Forest Impede Progress
On a wet, cloudy morning the party loaded their horses and set out around 7 a.m., heading northeast up a creek through thick brush, fallen logs, and rocky…
Sep
3
1805
Horses Slip on Steep Rocky Mountainsides
On a cloudy Tuesday, the party delayed departure until 8 a.m. while two men retrieved a load left behind the previous night. They traveled through pine-timbered country with…
Sep
3
1805
Horses Roll Down Rocky Mountain Slopes
The expedition struggled through rough, rocky mountains all day, with several horses falling backward and rolling down slopes; one was nearly killed. The men cut paths through thickets,…
Sep
3
1805
Last Salmon Eaten; Hunters Sent Ahead
On a cool morning, two men were sent back with a horse to retrieve a load left behind the previous night, while the group breakfasted on their last…
Sep
3
1805
Horses Fall Among Towering Balsam Fir Mountains
Under cloudy skies, the party retrieved a load left behind the previous night and set out, traveling up and down steep, rocky mountains for the day. They crossed…
Sep
4
1805
Warm Reception and Horse Trade with Flathead Salish
In the Bitterroot Valley at Ross's Hole, the expedition met the Flathead Salish for the first time. The Salish welcomed them warmly, draping white robes over their shoulders…
Sep
4
1805
Frozen Sails Thawed; Cold Crossing of the Divide
On a frosty morning with mountains blanketed in snow, the party waited until about 8 a.m. to thaw their frozen sails by the fire before setting out. They…
Sep
4
1805
Frozen Moccasins and Snow on the Morning Climb
On a clear but bitterly cold morning with frozen moccasins and snow-covered mountains, the party set out around 8 a.m. without breakfast and climbed a snowy peak, suffering…
Sep
5
1805
Council with Eoote-lash-Schute Through Layers of Translation
On a cloudy Thursday, the expedition met with chiefs and warriors of the Eoote-lash-Schute people, communicating with difficulty through several layers of translation due to the tribe's distinctive…
Sep
5
1805
Council with Flathead Chiefs; Dogs Devour Moccasins
A hard white frost greeted the camp, with water freezing slightly and ravenous Indian dogs chewing through several pairs of moccasins. The captains met in council with a…
Sep
5
1805
Council with the Flathead Nation; Horses Purchased
On a clear, cold morning with frost on standing water, the captains raised the large flag and held a council with the Flathead nation. Through a chain of…
Sep
6
1805
Buying Horses and Recording Flathead Vocabulary
Light rain fell as the expedition bought two more horses, recorded a vocabulary of the local language, lightened their loads, and repacked. They departed at 2 PM, while…
Sep
6
1805
Shoshone Break Camp for Buffalo Hunt
On a clear, cold morning, the expedition packed up, gathered horses, and bought lash cords and other small items from the local natives. The natives broke camp around…
Sep
6
1805
Departing Flathead Camp with Forty Pack Horses
The expedition packed up alongside the local natives, who were preparing to head toward the Missouri. The Corps now had 40 sound pack horses and three colts, with…
Sep
7
1805
Down the Broad Valley of Clark's River
The expedition traveled down a river valley on a cloudy, drizzly day, passing several small runs on the right and three creeks on the left. The valley measured…
Sep
7
1805
Cold Descent Through Timbered Creek Bottoms
On a cold, cloudy morning, the party set out early and traveled northwest down a creek through narrow timbered bottoms, with pine-covered mountains rising to the left and…
Sep
7
1805
Descending Bitter Root Valley Past Snowy Peaks
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…
Sep
7
1805
Crossing a Great Mountain on Parched Corn
After a cloudy morning following a long night, the party ate parched corn and set out at 8 o'clock, crossing a large mountain to reach a creek and…
Sep
8
1805
Twenty-Three Miles Along Clark's River Headwaters
On a cloudy Sunday, the party set out early and traveled 23 miles down an open valley along the headwaters of Clark's River, crossing four creeks on the…
Sep
8
1805
Midday Rest on Pine-Bordered Plains
On a cold, cloudy day with chilly northwest winds, the party set out early and traveled down a large creek through smooth, dry plains bordered by pitch pine…
Sep
8
1805
Hunters Return with Elk and Deer at Midday
The party traveled down a now-sizable creek, crossing smooth, treeless plains with snow-capped mountains to the left and barren hills to the right. Around 11 o'clock they paused…
Sep
8
1805
Dogs Eat Moccasins; Forty Horses Assembled
The morning brought frost, and the party discovered that the local Indians' hungry dogs had chewed up four or five pairs of moccasins overnight. The expedition stayed in…
Sep
9
1805
Open Plain Travel to the Main River
On a fair morning with a northwest wind, the party set out early and continued down the valley across an open plain. They crossed a large scattering creek…
Sep
9
1805
First Red-Headed Woodpecker Since Illinois
The expedition set out at 7 A.M. and traveled down the Flathead River valley, a prairie five to six miles wide dominated by long-leafed pine. They breakfasted on…
Sep
9
1805
Wild Hyssop Plains Below Snow-Capped Mountains
On a cloudy, cold morning with a northwest wind, the party traveled down a valley featuring smooth plains, pitch pine timber along the river, and grass and wild…
Sep
9
1805
Productive Hunt Yields Deer, Ducks, and Prairie Hens
The party continued down a valley with open plains, crossing several creeks lined with cottonwood and pine, while snow remained visible on the mountains flanking either side. Hunters…
Sep
9
1805
Leaving Fatigued Horses; Heading Northwest Over Mountain
Around noon a light rain fell as the party prepared to break camp, having left their fatigued horses with the natives. They set out at 1 o'clock, accompanied…
Sep
10
1805
Halting at Travelers Rest to Fix Latitude
The expedition halted for the day at Travelers Rest Creek to take astronomical observations, fixing the latitude at 46° 48' 28". Because their guide reported no game would…
Sep
10
1805
Hunters Dispatched; Speculating on Valley Plain River
On a fair morning, hunters were dispatched, including two sent to scout where the river meets an eastern fork the party named Valley Plain River. Lewis speculated about…
Sep
10
1805
Hunters Bring Four Deer Before Mountain Crossing
On a clear, pleasant morning, the captains decided to halt for the day to take observations, rest the horses, and send hunters out for meat before crossing the…
Sep
10
1805
Cautious Encounter with Three Flathead Horsemen
The expedition paused to rest and hunt, with the best hunters going out for the day. The weather was warm, and by evening the hunters returned with four…
Sep
10
1805
Missing Hunter Returns; Two Deer End the Hunger
The party continued down the creek with hunters scouting ahead. They were met by a hunter who had been missing overnight and had lost his horse. At noon…
Sep
11
1805
Setting Out up Travelers Rest with Flathead Guides
On a fair, warm Wednesday with northwest winds, the party set out at 3 p.m. up Travelers Rest Creek, accompanied by Flathead (Tushapaw) Indians. Their departure was delayed…
Sep
11
1805
Latitude Observed; Heading West Up Pine Creek
The party spent the morning rounding up their horses, which took until afternoon at this campsite located at latitude 46°48'28" North. Around 4 p.m. they set out heading…
Sep
11
1805
Hunters Bring Elk and Deer Across Open Plains
The party traveled across attractive plains, pausing at noon when their hunters—one of whom had stayed out overnight—returned with an elk and a deer. They set out again…
Sep
11
1805
Scattered Horses Delay Departure Until Afternoon
On a pleasant morning, the party searched for their scattered horses, not gathering them all until noon, so they dined in camp. Their latitude was recorded as 46°48'28"…
Sep
12
1805
Through Dense Timber Past Sweat House Ruins
After a frosty morning, the party set out at 7 a.m. and traveled up a creek, passing an old Indian encampment with an earth-covered sweat house. They climbed…
Sep
12
1805
Climbing Steep Rocky Ridges into the Mountains
The party set out early after sending hunters ahead, then climbed into the mountains, crossing several small creeks and navigating steep, difficult terrain. The hunters brought in four…
Sep
12
1805
Crossing the Flathead River Northward
The expedition continued down a river through a poor, gravelly valley, with snow-topped mountains visible to the left and a general north-northwest course. After halting at noon, they…
Sep
12
1805
Four Deer Taken in Pine-Covered Mountain Country
After a frosty but clear morning, hunters set out early and the party loaded up shortly after sunrise. They climbed into pine-covered mountains, traversing steep hills and crossing…
Sep
13
1805
Lost Horses Delay Lewis; Near-Boiling Spring Discovered
On a cloudy morning, Captain Lewis and a guide lost their horses, so Lewis stayed behind with four men to search while Clark led the rest of the…
Sep
13
1805
Near-Boiling Warm Spring with Native Bathing Dam
The party searched unsuccessfully for Captain Lewis's horse and a missing colt before loading up and moving on. They reached a near-boiling warm spring flowing from a rock…
Sep
13
1805
Hunters Return with Five Deer; Flathead Visitors
The day was clear and pleasant, allowing the party to rest their horses and take an observation. In the evening, the hunters returned with five deer. Three Flathead…
Sep
13
1805
Hot Spring Dammed by Natives for Bathing
On a cloudy morning, the party rounded up most of their horses, though Captain Lewis's horse and a colt ridden by the young Indian guide could not be…
Sep
14
1805
Crossing the Worst Mountains Yet to Glade Creek
Setting out early under cloudy skies with rain and hail in the valleys and snow on the peaks, the party crossed steep, timber-strewn mountains far worse than the…
Sep
14
1805
Native Willow Weir Built for Salmon Harvest
The party traveled through rugged Bitter Root Mountain terrain, climbing and descending steep slopes for several miles. They crossed a rocky, rapid creek and observed a Native fishing…
Sep
14
1805
Missing Horse Delays Departure; Meridian Observation Taken
The party gathered their horses to continue traveling, but one was missing. While waiting, Captain Lewis took a meridian latitude reading of 46°48'28" north. The bottomlands held abundant…
Sep
14
1805
Ascending Two High Mountains on Empty Stomachs
The party set out on a cloudy morning after finishing the last of their meat. They climbed a pine-covered mountain for about four miles, descended to a rocky,…
Sep
15
1805
Horses Roll Down Slopes on Fallen-Timber Mountain
The party set out early on a cloudy morning and traveled four miles down the right side of the river before the trail veered up a steep mountain…
Sep
15
1805
Horses Roll Among Rocks on Cedar-Covered Ridge
The party traveled down a creek through swampy ground covered with cedar and spruce, then climbed a steep, rocky mountain where some horses fell and rolled among the…
Sep
15
1805
Four Deer Killed on Well-Traveled Mountain Road
On a fine morning, the party traveled two miles to reach steep mountains, finding the road in good condition due to frequent use by Native peoples crossing to…
Sep
15
1805
Colt Slaughtered as Hunger Overtakes the Party
The expedition camped after a hard day in mountainous country. With food scarce, the men ate a little portable soup but remained so hungry they killed a colt,…
Sep
16
1805
Punishing Snow and Ice on the Lolo Trail
The Corps of Discovery struggled through one of the most punishing stretches of the journey, crossing the Bitterroot Mountains along the Lolo Trail. Deep snow, steep slopes, and…
Sep
16
1805
Hot Spring Discovery Along Horse Trail
The party set out after losing track of a horse, leaving some men behind to search for it. After two miles they reached a striking warm spring, hotter…
Sep
16
1805
Surprise Snowfall; Struggling the Trail Without Breakfast
The party awoke to a surprise two inches of snow, which continued falling through a cold morning. Captain Clark shot at a deer but missed. After mending moccasins,…
Sep
17
1805
Drenched by Snow-Shaken Trees on the Ridge
On a cloudy Sunday, the party's scattered horses delayed departure until 1 p.m. They then traveled through wet conditions caused by falling snow and snow shaken from trees,…
