At the Great Falls of the Missouri, Lewis finds a continuous series of waterfalls, too many prickly pears, and one combative grizzly bear. Clark and the boats struggle to make ten more miles among cliffs of “much had slate” and a “Small quantity of timber”. Sacagawea‘s illness becomes “Somewhat dangerous”.
More and More Falls
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
Lewis with Grizzly
© Michael Haynes, https://www.mhaynesart.com. Used with permission.
A Great Many Falls
I took my Gun and espontoon and thought I would walk a few miles and see where the rappids termineated above, and return to dinner.
—Meriwether Lewis
Grizzly versus Espontoon
I scelected a fat buffaloe and shot him very well, through the lungs . . . . and having entirely forgotton to reload my rifle, a large white, or reather brown bear, had perceived and crept on me within 20 steps before I discovered him . . . . I had no sooner terned myself about but he pitched at me, open mouthed and full speed, I ran about 80 yards and found he gained on me fast . . . . I ran haistily into the water about waist deep, and faced about and presented the point of my espontoon . . . . sudonly wheeled about as if frightened, declined the combat on such unequal grounds, and retreated with quite as great precipitation as he had just before pursued me.
—Meriwether Lewis
Plains Prickly Pear
Opuntia polyacantha
Near Lower Portage Camp, 1 July 2013. © by Kristopher K. Townsend. Permission to use granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Lewis’s Prickly Dream
at sometimes for a moment I thought it might be a dream, but the prickley pears which pierced my feet very severely once in a while, particularly after it grew dark, convinced me that I was really awake, and that it was necessary to make the best of my way to camp.
—Meriwether Lewis
Sacagawea Dangerously Ill
the Indian woman [Sacagawea] complaining all night & excessively bad this morning— her case is Somewhat dangerous—
—William Clark
Hard Slate Cliffs
“Hard Slate” strata at Carter Ferry
Near Carter Ferry, 29 June 2013. © by Kristopher K. Townsend. Permission to use granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
we made only 10 miles to day and Camped on the Lard Side, much hard Slate in the Clifts & but a Small quantity of timber
—William Clark
Weather Diary
State of the thermometer at rise
Weather Wind at State of the thermometer at 4 OC. P.M. Weather Wind at 4 OC. P. M. State of river 60 [above 0] fair S W 74 [above 0] fair S. W fallen ¾ in. Capt. Lewis Discover the falls & Send back Joe Fields to inform me
—William Clark[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.
Rainbow Falls is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. An overlook of the falls is accessible by roadway or footpath, and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center is located about 1.5 miles to the west.
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).