Successful Bitterroot crossing with Nez Perce guides — Patrick Gass: June 28, 1806

early, and passed the place where we had encamped on the
15th Sept. last when the snow fell on us. After passing this
place about a mile, we took a left hand path, and travelled
along high ridges till noon, when we came to a good place of
grass; where we halted and remained all the afternoon to let
our horses feed, as they had but little grass last night. Some
hunters went out, as we saw some elk signs here, and our
meat is exhausted. We still have a good stock of roots,
which we pound and make thick soup of, that eats very well.
In the evening our hunters came in but had not killed any
thing. On the south side of this ridge there is summer with
grass and other herbage in abundance; and on the north side,
winter with snow six or eight feet deep.