Map of the Area  PDF  2297 KB

September 1, 1805

Setting out early: " procceded on over high ruged hills... all the Indians leave us except our Guide*."

Guide*- The Captains nicknamed the Shoshone Guide "Old Toby"

September 2, 1805 - ( Camped on the North Fork Salmon River northwest of Gibbonsville, Lemhi County, Idaho.)

Ordway: "We call this place dimal Swamp* ... this is a verry lonesome place."

dimal Swamp*- Dismal Swamp is an area of southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina; here Ordway is in the vicinity of Gibbonsville, Lemhi County, Idaho.

September 3, 1805- (Camped probably to the west of Lost Trail Pass in either Ravalli County, Montana, or Lemhi County, Idaho.)

 " we met with a great misfortune, in haveing our last Thmometer broken by accident, This day we passed over emence hills and some of the worst roade that ever horses passed… Snow about 2 inches deep when it began to rain which termonated in a Sleet."

September 4, 1805- (Camped in the valley called Ross's Hole, east of Sula, Ravalli County, Montana.)

 "prosued our Course down the Creek to the forks about 5 miles where we met a part of the Flathead nation* of 33 lodges about 80 men 400 total and at least 500 horses,  those people recved us friendly, threw white robes over our shoulders & Smoked in the pipes of peace.   I was the first white man who ever wer on the waters of this river**"

Salish nation*- The captains used the term "Flatheads"

river**- In order to honor Clark being the first white man on the Bitterroot River (or its affluents), the captains called it "Clark's River" and enlarged its scope to include the Clark Fork and Pend Oreille Rivers in that designation ( Lewis's entry of May 6, 1806).

September 5, 1805 (Remained at Ross's Hole)

 " requsted to purchase & & exchangee a fiew horses with them, in the Course of the day I purchased 11 horses & exchanged 7 for which we gave a fiew articles of merchandize. Those people* possess ellegant horses."

people* - Lewis and Clark trade for horses with the Salish people*

September 6, 1805 (Camped a few miles northwest of Sula, Ravalli County, Montana, along the East Fork Bitterroot River)

 " we set out at 2 oClock at the same time all the Indians Set out on ther way to meet the Snake Indians at the 3 forks of the Missouri.  nothing to eate but berries, our flour out, and but little corn, the hunters killed 2 pheasents only. "

September 7, 1805 (The party camped southwest of Grantsdale, Ravalli County, Montana, on the east side of the Bitterroot River)

 " set out early in a cloudy cool morning; we proceeded down the creek and in our way we were met by a hunter, who has not some in last night, and who had lost his horse.  On the south of this place there are very high mountains covered with snow and timber.  we did not camp untill dark for the want of a good place."