At present Shepperds Dell, Oregon, the dugout canoes are hastily unloaded before wind-driven waves fill them with water. In the evening, Lewis takes a nature walk and sees salmonberry blossoms. Late in the night, thief is caught sneaking into camp.
High Wind and Waves
Storm over Dalton Point
© 29 March 2009 by Kristopher K. Townsend. Permission to use granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
In the above photo, a sudden storm sweeps up the Columbia River Gorge. Snowy ridges and Beacon Rock can be seen in the distance. Such is spring at Shepperds Dell.
The wind blew so violently this morning that we were obliged to unlode our perogues and canoes, soon after which they filled with water. being compelled to remain during the day at our present station we sent out some hunters in order to add something to our stock of provision; and exposed our dryed meat to the sun and the smoke of small fires.
—Meriwether Lewis
Poor Hunting
in the evening the hunters returned having killed a duck only; they saw two bear and some of the blacktailed jumping or fallow deer, such as are found about Fort Clatsop; this kind of deer are scarce in this neighbourhood, the common longtailed fallow deer being most abundant.
—Meriwether Lewis
Salmonberry Vine
Rubus spectabilis
Sandy River delta, 26 March 2012. © by Kristopher K. Townsend. Permission to use granted under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Salmonberry
I took a walk today of three miles down the river, in the course of which I had an opportunity to correct an error which I have heretofore made with rispect to the shrub I have hithertoo called the large leafed thorn.
—Meriwether Lewis
Late Night Thief
late at night the centinel detected an old indian man in attempting to creep into camp in order to pilfer; he allarmed the indian very much by presenting his gun at him; he gave the fellow a few stripes with a switch and sent him off.
—Meriwether Lewis
Weather Diary
State of weather at rise
Wind at State of the weather at 4 P.M. Wind at 4 P.M. River fair E fair E raised 1 ½ in. wind commenced at 5 A M and continued to blow most violently all day. air temperate the male flowers of the cottonwood are falling. the goosburry has cast the petals of it’s flowers, and it’s leaves obtained their full size. the Elder which is remarkably large has began to blume. some of it’s flowerets have expanded their corollas. the serviceburries, chokecherries, the growth which resembles the beach, the small birch and grey willow have put fourth their leaves.
—Meriwether Lewis[1]To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented, the “State of the Columbia River” columns have been merged, and some abbreviations have been spelled out.
Notes
| ↑1 | To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is not presented, the “State of the Columbia River” columns have been merged, and some abbreviations have been spelled out. |
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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 is funded in part by the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, U.S. National Park Service.
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Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance
with cooperation and funding from the following organizations:
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
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- 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).