Columbia estuary, storm-bound, vote on winter camp — Patrick Gass: November 10, 1805

Patrick Gass · Columbia estuary, storm-bound, vote on winter camp · Thwaites Vol. Gass 1807 First Edition

not so high as it had been yesterday; and we set out from
Cape Swell, coasted along for 8 miles, passed some high cliffs
of sandy rocks, and then came to a point; where we found
the swells so high, the wind having risen, that we could not
proceed: so we had to return back about a mile to get a safe
harbour. Here we dined on some pounded salmon, that we
had procured from the Indians; and unloaded our canoes.
After we had been here about 2 hours, it became more calm
and we loaded our canoes again, but could not get round the
point, the swells were still so high; we therefore put to at a
branch of fresh water, under high cliffs of rocks and unloaded
again. Here we scarcely had room to lie between the rocks
and water; but we made shift to do it among some drift wood
that had been beat up by the tide. It rained hard all night
and was very disagreeable. While on our way down to day
we saw some porpoises, sea otter and a great many sea gulls.
The water is become very salt.