Clark commandeers the dugout canoes through the Jefferson Canyon, another of his mountain gates. Lewis and three others scout ahead searching for Shoshones. Lewis describes two birds new to science, Pvt. Whitehouse loses his pipe tomahawk, and little mention is made of Clark’s birthday.
In Quest of the Snake Indians
by Yellowstone Public Radio[1]Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © … Continue reading
Exit from the Jefferson Canyon
(view southeast, downstream)
To see labels, point to the image.
© 2000 Airphoto, Jim Wark. All rights reserved.
Lewis: Boulder River Detour
Boulder River Detour
I set out with three men in surch of the Snake Indians or Sosonees. our rout lay over a high range of mountains on the North side of the river. Capt C. recommended this rout . . . . as soon as we discovered our error we directed our course to the river which we at length gained about 2 P. M. much exhausted by the heat of the day, the roughness of the road and the want of water.
—Meriwether Lewis
Dose of Glauber Salts
to add to my fatiegue in this walk of about 11 miles, I had taken a doze of glauber salts in the morning in consequence of a slight disentary with which I had been afflicted for several days. being weakened by the disorder and the operation of the medicine I found myself almost exhausted before we reached the river
—Meriwether Lewis
Blue Grouse
Dendragapus obscurus
© Brian E. Small, http://wwww.briansmallphoto.com.
Blue Grouse
as I passed these mountains I saw a flock of the black or dark brown phesants; it’s form is much the same. it is booted nearly to the toes and the male has not the tufts of long black feathers on the sides of the neck which are so conspicuous in those of the Atlantic.
—Meriwether Lewis
Clark: Third Mountain Gap
Jefferson Canyon
© 22 July 2013 by Kristopher K. Townsend. Permission to use granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
The Third Mountain Gap
I entered a verrey high mountain which jutted its tremedious Clifts on either Side for 9 Miles, the rocks ragide Some verry dark & other part verry light rock the light rocks is Sand Stone. The water Swift & very Sholey.
—William Clark
Broken Tow Rope
we proceeded on. passed over a bad rapid at the upper end of an Island jest above high rough clifts of rocks. the towing line of the Captains canoe broke in the pitch of the rapid and the canoe was near turning over nocking again the rocks.
—John Ordway
Bighorn for Dinner
Capt. Clark killed a Mountain Sheep [Bighorn Sheep] out of a flock on the Side of a redish hill or clifts on L. Side he Shot it across the River and the rest of the flock ran up the clifts which was nearly Steep. the one killed roled down Some distance when it fell. we got it and dined hearty on it.
—John Ordway
Lost Pipe Tomahawk
I left my Tommahawk on the Small Island where we lay last night, which makes me verry Sorry that I forgot it as I had used it common to Smoak in.
—Joseph Whitehouse
Clark’s Birthday
it being Capt. Clarks birth day he ordered Some flour gave out to the party.
—Joseph Whitehouse
Weather Diary
State of the Thermometer at rise
Weather at Wind at State of the Thermometer at 4 P.M. Weather at 4 P.M. Wind at 4 P.M. State of the River 54 [above 0] fair S W 91 [above 0] fair S. W. fallen ½ in. Left the party and proceeded on a head
—Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “State of the river” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations.
Notes
| ↑1 | Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © 2003 by Yellowstone Public Radio. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the date column, merged the “State of the river” columns, and spelled out some abbreviations. |
Experience the Lewis and Clark Trail
The Lewis and Clark Trail Experience—our sister site at lewisandclark.travel—connects the world to people and places on the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Discover More
- The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.
This page was funded in part by the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, U.S. National Park Service.
This site is provided as a public service by the
Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance
with cooperation and funding from the following organizations:
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
- Montana Committee for the Humanities
- Idaho Governor's Lewis and Clark Trail Committee
- The Capital Gallery (Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation)
- Yellowstone Public Radio
Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).