Cascades of the Columbia, portage — Patrick Gass: November 2, 1805
The party completed a two-and-a-half mile portage, with men carrying baggage while others took the canoes downriver through a narrow eight-mile rapid. Towering rock hills on both sides featured springs, some falling 200 feet straight down. They passed two Indian lodges before the river widened to a mile with a gentle current. After traveling 23 miles, they camped beside a tower-like peak on the south shore in flatter country. One Indian canoe stayed with them while three others went ahead. The group killed 17 geese and brants during the day.
where the men had to carry part of the baggage across a
portage of two miles and an half, while the rest took down the
canoes. At 12 o’clock we proceeded on again; passed a nar-
row rapid part of the river of about 8 miles, the hills on both
sides are very high and a number of fine springs flowing out
of them, some of which fall 200 feet perpendicular. The hills
are mostly solid rock. On our way we passed two Indian
lodges. At the end of eight miles, the river opens to the
breadth of a mile, with a gentle current. We came 23 miles,
and encamped at a high peak resembling a tower on the south
side. The country here becomes level, and the river broader.
One of the Indian canoes remained with us and the other
three went on. On our way and at camp we killed 17 geese
and brants.
168 GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
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where the men had to carry part of the baggage across a portage of two and a half miles, while the rest took the canoes down. At 12 o'clock we set out again; we passed a narrow, rapid stretch of the river about 8 miles long. The hills on both sides are very high, with a number of fine springs flowing out of them, some of which fall 200 feet straight down. The hills are mostly solid rock. Along the way we passed two Indian lodges. At the end of those eight miles, the river widens to a mile across, with a gentle current. We traveled 23 miles and camped at a high peak resembling a tower on the south side. The country here becomes level, and the river broader. One of the Indian canoes stayed with us and the other three went on. On our way and at camp we killed 17 geese and brants.
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