Lost and starving in Bitterroot Mountains — Patrick Gass: September 17, 1805

142 GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE
passed over a large mountain, crossed Stony creek, about 30
yards wide, and then went over another large mountain, on
which I saw service-berry bushes hanging full of fruit; but
not yet ripe, owing to the coldness of the climate on these
mountains; I also saw a number of other shrubs, which bear
fruit, but for which I know no names, There are black elder
and bore-tree, pitch and spruce pine all growing together on
these mountains. Being here unable to find a place to halt at,
where our horses could feed, we went on to the junction of
Stony creek, with another large creek, which a short distance
down becomes a considerable river, and encamped for the
night, as it rained and was disagreeable travelling. The two
hunters, that had gone back here joined us with Capt. Lewis’s
horse, but none of the hunters killed any thing except 2 or 3
pheasants; on which without a miracle it was impossible to
feed 30 hungry men and upwards, besides some Indians. So
Capt. Lewis gave out some portable soup, which he had
along, to be used in case of necessity. Some of the men did
not relish this soup, and agreed to kill a colt; which they im-
mediately did, and set about roasting it; and which appeared
to me to be good eating. This day we travelled 17 miles.
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION _ 143
CHAP. XIII.
UNDAY 15th. Having breakfasted on colt, we moved on
down the river 3 miles, and again took the mountains.
In going up, one of the horses fell, and required 8 or 10 men
to assist him in getting up again. We continued our march
to 2 o’clock when we halted at a spring and dined on portable
soup and a handful of parched corn. We then proceeded on
our journey over the mountains to a high point, where, it
being dark, we were obliged to encamp. There was here no
water; but a bank of snow answered as a substitute; and we
supped upon soup.