Party camps about 5 miles west of Orofino, Idaho – Canoe Camp

October 1, 1805

 " Capt Lewis getting much better. had examined and dreid all our clothes and other articles and laid out a Small assortment of Such articles as those Indains were fond of to trade with them for Some provisions (they are remarkably fond of beeds) nothin to eate except a little dried fish which they men complain of as working of them as as much as a dost of Salts.  Several Indians visit us from the different tribes below.  " Clark

With nothing to eat except roots, the hunters were dispatched to the hills and returned with a small prairie wolf: " Provisions all out, which compells us to kill one of our horses to eate and make Suep for the Sick men."  Clark

October 3, 1805

 " all our men getting better in helth, and at work at the Canoes & The Indains who vistited us form belwo set out on their return early.  Several others Came rom different directions -  " Clark

" I displeased an Indain by refuseing him a pice of Tobacco which he tooke the liberty to take out of our sack.  Three Indians visit us from the Grat River South of us. As our horse is eaten we have nothing to eate except dried fish & roots which disagree with us verry much. Capt  Lewis still sick but able to walk a little. "  Clark

October 5, 1805

The canoes  nearly finished, it now became necessary to entrust  the horses: " had all our horses 38 in number Collected and branded* … delivered them to the 2 brothers and one Son of one of the Chiefs who intends to accompany us down the river. to each of those men I gave a Knife & some small articles & they promised to be attentive to our horses untill we Should return -  Nothing to eate except dried fish & roots.  Capt. Lewis & myself eate a Supper of roots boiled, which swelled i=us in such a manner that we were Scercely able to breath for Several hours - "   Clark

branded*  - Lewis's branding iron bore the legend "U.S. Capt. M. Lewis."  Now in the possession of the Oregon Historical Society, it is one of the few authenticated articles associated with the expedition known to have survived.  It was found in 1892, 1893, or 1894, by Lineaus Winans of Hood River, Oregon, near present The Dalles, Oregon, on or below one of the Memaloose Islands before Columbia River dams inundated the area. 

October 6, 1805

" had all our saddles collected a whole dug and in the night buried them- also a Canister of powder and a bag of Balls at the place the Canoe which Shield made was cut from the body of the tree - the Saddles were buried on the Side of a bend -  all canoes finished this evening ready to put into the water.  I am taken verry unwell with a paine in the bowles & Stomach, which is certainly the effects of my diet - which last all night - The river below this forks is Called Kos kos kee* it is clear rapid with Shoal or swift places -  " Clark

Kos kos kee* - The Clearwater River.  Later they adopted the spelling "Kooskooskee."  There are different explanations of the name; sources differ as to whether it is the Nez Perce name for the river.  A common version is that koos keich keich means "clear water."  Or it may prepresent the Nez Perce term qu-spu-s, "blue gray."

October 7, 1805 ( Camped near present day Lenore, Idaho)

The  Corps departs from Canoe Camp: "I continu verry unwell but obliged to attend every thing all the canoes put into the water and loaded as we set out we missd. both of the Chiefs who promised to accompany us*, I also missed my Pipe Tomahawk which could not be found.  proceeded on passed 10 rapids which wer danjerous the Canoe in which I was Struck a rock and Sprung a leak in the 3^rd rapid, we proceeded on 20 miles and encamped." Clark

  Chiefs who promised to accompany us*- Twisted Hair and Tetoharsky joined the party on October 8