" game is by no means as abundant as below; we killed one male bighorn and a mule deer today; saw buffalow at a distance in the plains…"  Lewis

June 2, 1805

 " I thought it best now to loose no time or suffer an opportunity to escape in providing the necessary quantity of Elk’s skins to cover my leather boat which I now expect I shall be obliged to use shortly… killed 6 Elk 2 buffale 2 Mule deer and a bear." Lewis

June 3, 1805

The Corps of Discovery arrive at the junction of two rivers.  " An interesting question was now to be determined; which of these rivers was the Missouri, or that river which the Minnetares call Amahte Arz zha or Missouri, and which they had discribed to us as approaching very near to the Columbia River."  Lewis

June 4, 1805

Lewis and Clark split into groups to explore which river could be the true Missouri: " Capt. Lewis & my self with a Small party of men Set out early – those who accompanied Capt Lewis were G. Drewyer Serjt. Pryor, J Shields, P. Crusat J.B. de Paage, R. Winser, went up the N. side of the N. fork. Those who accompanied me were Serjt. Gass Jos: & Ruben Fields G. Shannon & my black man York, and we set out to examine the South Fork." Clark

June 5, 1805

 Lewis writes: " we returned to the river which then boar North 2 mes. From the same point, I discovered a lofty single mountain which appeard to be a gret distance, perhaps 80 or more miles. From it’s conic figure I called it tower Mountain*."

 Clark writes: " From the ridge at which place I struck the river last, I could discover that the river run west of South a long distance, and has a strong rapid Current, as this river Continued its width debth & rapidity and the Course west of South, going any further would be useless, I deturmined to return."

June 6, 1805

Lewis realizes that the northern fork is not the Missouri, meanwhile Clark’s exploration team journeys back to the camp.

Lewis writes:

" I now became well convinced that this branch of the Missouri had it’s direction too much to the North for our rout to the Pacific, and therefore determined to return the next day."

Clark writes:

" we set out early & traveled down the little river… we arrived at our camp on the point, where I expected to meet Capt Lewis – he did not return this evening."

June 7, 1805

Lewis’march is detained due to the rain. Captain Clark anxiously awaits his arrival.

 Lewis writes:

"it still continues to rain . in passing along the face of one of these bluffs today I sliped at a narrow pass of about 30 yards in length and but for a quick and fortunate recovery by means of my espontoon I should been presipitated into the river down a craggy pricipice of about ninety feet."

 Clark writes: