The corps’ Indian companions argue about which trail to take, and three honest Walla Wallas return a steel beaver trap left behind. After twenty-six miles, they camp on the Touchet River near present Waitsburg, Washington.
Which Road?
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
Touchet River Valley
© 2 May 2009 by Kristopher K. Townsend. Permission to use granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Pursuing the Indian Road
We collected our horses tolerably early this morning took and set out a little after 7 A. M. we pursued the indian road which led us up the creek about nine miles
—Meriwether Lewis
Touchet River
the timber on the creek becomes more abundant and it’s extensive bottoms affords a pleasent looking country. the guide informs us that we shall now find a plenty of wood water and game quite to the Kooskooske [Clearwater River].
—Meriwether Lewis
Honest Walla Walla Indians
three young men arrived from the Wallahwollah [Walla Walla] village bringing with them a steel trap belonging to one of our party which had been neglegently left behind; this is an act of integrity rarely witnessed among indians. during our stay with them they several times found the knives of the men which had been carelessly lossed by them and returned them. I think we can justly affirm to the honor of these people that they are the most hospitable, honest, and sincere people that we have met with in our voyage.—
—Meriwether Lewis
Weather Diary
State of the Weather at rise
Wind at State of the Weather at 4 P.M. Wind at 4 P.M. State of the Kooskooskee cloudy after rain S. W. cloudy S. W. had a pretty hard shower last night. cold morning.— having left the river we could no longer observe it’s state; it is now declining tho’ it has not been as high this season by five feet as it appears to have been the last spring. the indians inform us that it will rise higher in this month, which I presume is caused by the snows of the mountains.
—Meriwether Lewis[2]To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented, the river columns have been merged, and some abbreviations have been spelled out.
Travois Road is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The old Nez Perce trail stretches from the mouth of the Walla Walla River to the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers. Sites include Lewis & Clark Trail State Park, The Encampment (Dayton, Washington), and Chief Timothy State Park.
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. |
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| ↑2 | To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented, the river columns have been merged, and some abbreviations have been spelled out. |
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.
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This site is provided as a public service by the
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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
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- 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).