Day-by-Day / November 16, 1805

November 16, 1805

A break in the weather

Station Camp near Chinook, WA A break in the weather enables the main party to dry gear and for Clark to make celestial observations. Lewis botanizes, hunters find some success, and Gass reflects on reaching the end of their voyage.

Finally Able to Move on Down[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

A Break in the Weather

a fine morning cool the latter part of the night, I had all our articles of every discription examined, and found much wet, had all put out & dried, The 5 [Chinook] Indians Theves left me.

Celestial Observations

I took a meridenal altitude with the Sextn. 50° 36′ 15 which gave for Lattitude 46*deg; 19′ 11 1/10″ North.
William Clark

Hunting

I Sent out Several hunters and fowlers in pursute Elk, Deer, or fowls of any kind. . . . our hunters and fowlers killed 2 Deer 1 Crain & 2 Ducks, and my man York killed 2 geese and 8 Brant
—William Clark

Gass Reflects

We are now at the end of our voyage, which has been completely accomplished according to the intention of the expedition, the object of which was to discover a passage by the way of the Missouri and Columbia rivers to the Pacific ocean; notwithstanding the difficulties, privations and dangers, which we had to encounter, endure and surmount.
Patrick Gass

 

Oregon Boxleaf Specimen

A Small Shrub about 4 feet high with a Small deep purple berry, evergreen! Near the Pacific Ocean Novbr: 16th 1805
—Meriwether Lewis[2]Paxistima myrsinites. Moulton, ed. Herbarium, specimen No. 119a.

Weather Diary

Day of the month Wind State of the Weather
16th W. S. W. fair

Meriwether Lewis[3]Some abbreviations have been spelled out.

 

Notes

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. The actual move to Station Camp occurred the previous day, November 15.
2 Paxistima myrsinites. Moulton, ed. Herbarium, specimen No. 119a.
3 Some abbreviations have been spelled out.

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.