Great Falls Portage — Patrick Gass: June 23, 1805

LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION 103
this morning I found a material difference between the river
and country here and below the falls. Here the river is wide
and the current gentle. There are three small islands at this
place and some timber on the banks, but not much, and what
is there is cotton-wood and willow. The banks are very low,
and the country rising in plains a considerable distance on
both sides of the river; and far off mountains covered with
snow on both sides and ahead. Two of the men and myself
remained with Captain Lewis here to assist him in putting
together his iron boat, the rest went back for another load.
The iron boat-frame is to be covered with skins and requires
a quantity of thin shaved strips of wood for lining. In the
forenoon we put the frame together, which is 36 feet long,
4 1-2 wide, and 2 feet 2 inches deep. In the afternoon Capt.
Lewis and one of the men went down to Medicine river,
which is about two miles distant; to see whether the three
men sent there to hunt had procured any elk skins. In the
evening they found one of the hunters and encamped with
him all night.