Successful Bitterroot crossing with Nez Perce guides — Patrick Gass: June 28, 1806
The party set out early and passed their September 15th campsite where they had been caught in snow. About a mile beyond, they took a left-hand path and followed high ridges until noon, when they stopped at a good grassy spot to rest the horses, which had eaten little the night before. Hunters went out after elk sign since the meat supply was gone, but returned empty-handed. The group still had plenty of roots to pound into soup. The ridge showed a stark contrast: green summer growth on its south side and six to eight feet of snow on the north.
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.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Early, and passed the place where we had camped on the 15th of September last, when the snow fell on us. After passing this place about a mile, we took a left-hand path and traveled 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 anything. 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.
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