Missouri River above Great Falls, Gates of the Mountains — Patrick Gass: July 20, 1805

early. About 8 we got out of the high part of the mountains,
and came to where they are lower and not so rocky; and
where there are the finest currants I ever saw of different
kinds, red, yellow and black: the black are the most pleasant
and palatable. There is also a good portion of timber on the
mountains all along this part. We killed an elk in our way,
and found the skin of one which Captain Clarke had left on
the bank with a note, informing us he would pass the moun-
tain he was then on, and wait for the canoes. We passed a
small creek on the south side, and about 2 o’clock came to a
level plain on the north side, from which we saw a strong
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114 GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
smoke rising, and supposed it was from a fire made by Capt.
Clarke. The river is very crooked in general, and here is a
great bend to the southeast; and in the afternoon it turned
so far that our course was north of east. We proceeded on
through a valley between two mountains, one of which we
passed, and the other is in view ahead. We went 15 miles and
encamped at the mouth of a small run on the south side.