July 5, 1806 - Discover Lewis & Clark

Contents

Lewis continues east on the Road to the Buffalo generally following the Blackfoot River. He crosses several creeks, and names one Werner’s Creek and another Seaman‘s Creek.

Clark continues south. His group crosses the West Fork Bitterroot River and wets several items. After another ford, the group camps where they met the Salish last fall—present Ross’ Hole, Montana.^[1]For more on the captains’ strategy and various groups after leaving Travelers’ Rest, see Dividing Forces at Travelers’ Rest.

A Distance Frame

by Yellowstone Public Radio^[2]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

High Prairie near Werner’s Creek

Lewis Names Creeks

Werner’s Creek

East 6 Miles to the entrance of Warners [Werner] Creek [Clearwater River] 35 yards wide through a high extencive prarie on the N. Side. hills low and timbered with the long leafed pine, larch and Some fir.
—Meriwether Lewis

Seaman’s Creek

East 3 m. to the entrance of a large creek 20 yds. wide Called Seamans’ Creek [Monture Creek] passing a creek at 1 m. 8 yds. wide. this course with the river, the road passing through an extensive high prarie rendered very uneven by a vast number of little hillucks and sinkholes
—Meriwether Lewis

Clark Crosses the Bitterroot

Bitterroot River

Shannon Shows the Way

Shannon took a different derection from Colter rained his horse up the Stream and passed over very well I derected all to follow Shannon and pass quartering up the river which they done and passed over tolerably well the water running over the back of the 2 Smaller horses only.
—William Clark

Clark’s Wet Items

unfortunately my trunk & portmantue Containing Sea otter Skins flags Some curiosites & necessary articles in them got wet, also an esortment of Medicine, and my roots.
—William Clark

Hunting Report

Shannon & Crusat [Cruzatte] killed each a deer this morning and J. Shields killed a female Ibex or bighorn on the side of the Mountain, this Animal was very meager.
—William Clark

Clark’s Camp near Ross Hole

Camp at Ross Hole

we packed up and Crossed the Mountain into the vally where we first met with the flatheads . . . . encamped on the E. side of the Creek, and Sent out several men to examine the road. Shields returned at dark and informed me that the best road turned up the hill from the creek 3 Miles higher up, and appeared to be a plain beaten parth.
—William Clark

Weather Diaries

State of the weather at rise Wind at rise State of the weather at 4 P. M. Wind at 4 P. M.

fair N E fair S W

a great number of pigeons breeding in this part of the mountains musquetoes not so troblesome as near Clark’s river. some ear flies of the common kind and a few large horse flies.
—Meriwether Lewis

State of the weather at rise	Wind at rise	State of the weather at 4 P. M.	Wind at 4 P. M.
fair	N E	fair	S W

State of the weather at Sun rise Wind at Sun rise State of the weather at 4 P. M Wind at 4 P M.

fair N. E. fair S W.

Cool night. Some dew this morning the nights are Cool. the musquetors are troublesome untill a little after dark when the air become Cool and Musquetoes disappear.
—William Clark^[3]For clarity, the date column is omitted and some abbreviations have been spelled out.

State of the weather at Sun rise	Wind at Sun rise	State of the weather at 4 P. M	Wind at 4 P M.
fair	N. E.	fair	S W.

Notes[+]

Notes
↑1	For more on the captains’ strategy and various groups after leaving Travelers’ Rest, see Dividing Forces at Travelers’ Rest.
↑2	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.
↑3	For clarity, the date column is omitted and some abbreviations have been spelled out.