After a busy day, thirty-three expedition members, Lewis’s dog, Seaman, and the two Lemhi Shoshone guides start down the Clearwater River in their five new dugout canoes. This is their first time paddling down a river as a team, and challenging rapids test the boats and paddlers. They camp near present Lenore, Idaho.
Down the Clearwater
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
Clearwater River above Lenore
© 12 October 2013 by Kristopher K. Townsend. Permission to use granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Down the Clearwater
we put the other three canoes in to the River. got them in readiness and loaded them about 3 oClock P. m. we Set out on our journay to descend the River.
—William Clark
Four Indian Helpers
the 2 Indians we came over the mount. with us continues on with us, and a chief & one more Indian who agreed to go down with us has gone by land Some distance down and then Intends comming on board.
—Joseph Whitehouse
Clearwater River below Orofino
© 12 October 2013 by Kristopher K. Townsend. Permission to use granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Above: as described by Joseph Whitehouse, the gentle Clearwater River divides into three shallow and rocky channels.
“Shole rapids”
we proceeded on over a nomber of bad rapids where the canoes run fast and obledged us to git out in the cold water and hale them off. Some places the water is deep & current gentle for Some distance, but the Shole rapids are common & rockey.
—Joseph Whitehouse
Leaky Canoe
one Canoe that in which I went in front Sprung a Leak in passing the 3rd rapid— . . . . Had the Canoes unloaded examined and mended a Small leake which we discovered in a thin place in her Side
—William Clark
Caching Lead Canisters
a Short distanc from the river at 2 feet 4 Inches N. of a dead toped pine Treee had burid 2 Lead Canisters of Powder
—William Clark
Weather Diary
Day of the month Wind State of the Weather 7th E fair Note from the 1st to 7th of October we were at the mouth of Chopunnuish [North Fork Clearwater] river makeing Canoes to Decend the Kooskooske [Clearwater].
Note from the 7th to the 16th octr. we were decending Kooskooske & Lewises [Snake] river
—William Clark[2]Some abbreviations have been spelled out.
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 | Some abbreviations have been spelled out. |
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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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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).