Meriwether Lewis I now prevailed on the Chief to instruct me with rispect to the geography of his country. this he undertook very cheerfully, by delienating the rivers on the ground. ... he placed a number of heaps of sand on each side which he informed me represented the vast mountains of rock eternally covered with snow through which the river passed. ... the Chief further informed me that he had understood from the persed nosed Indians who inhabit this river below the rocky mountains that it ran a great way toward the seting sun and finally lost itself in a great lake of water which was illy taisted, and where the white men lived. ...my rout was instantly settled in my own mind, ... I felt perfectly satisfyed, that if the Indians could pass these mountains with their women and Children, that we could also pass them ;

	... Capt. Clark arrived with the Interpreter Charbono, and the Indian woman, who proved to be a sister of the Chief Cameahwait. the meeting of those people was really affecting, particularly between Sah-cah-gar-we-ah and an Indian woman, who had been taken prisoner at the same time with her and who, had afterwards escaped from the Minnetares and rejoined her nation.æMeriwether Lewis We saw her coming with the white men carrying her babe on her back in a wrapped willow cradleboard. She came up over a foothill which had loose shale rockes on one side. They were very careful to walk on the better side of the hill as they came down among us. Told by Rose Ann Abrahamson, Lemhi Shoshone

	Meriwether Lewis we soon arrived at the extreem source of the Missouri; here I halted a few minutes, the men drank of the water and consoled themselves with the idea of having at length arrived at this long wished for point. one of the women who had been assisting in the transportation of the baggage halted at a little run about a mile behind us, and sent on the two pack horses which she had been conducting by one of her female friends. I enquired of Cameahwait the cuase of her detention, and was informed by him in an unconcerned manner that she had halted to bring fourth a child and would soon overtake us; in about an hour the woman arrived with her newborn babe and passed us on her way to the camp apparently as well as she ever was.

	Meriwether Lewis . . . at the distance of 4 miles further the road took us to the most distant fountain of the waters of the Mighty Missouri in surch of which we have spent so many toilsome days and wristless nights. two miles below McNeal had exultingly stood with a foot on each side of this little rivulet and thanked his god that he had lived to bestride the mighty & heretofore deemed endless Missouri. after refreshing ourselves we proceeded on to the top of the dividing ridge from which I discovered immence ranges of high mountains still to the West of us with their tops partially covered with snow. ... here I first tasted the water of the great Columbia river.

	Meriwether Lewis (Chief Cameahwait) ... I gave him the flag which I informed him was an emblem of peace among whitemen and now that it had been received by him it was to be respected a the bond of union between us.

	Joseph Whitehouse the men at Camp employed dressing their Deer Skins & makeing their mockasons &c. I am employed makeing up their leather Shirts & overalls. ... we being out of fresh meat & have but little Salt meat we joined and made a fish dragg out of willows tyed bunches of them together and made it long enofe to reach across the River, and Caught with it 520 different kinds of fine pan fish. we divided them with the natives. Gave them a mess of boiled corn which they were fond of. they appear to be verry kind and friendly. ... they all Camp with us and are peacable,

	Joseph Whitehouse the guide which we engaged to go with us tells us that we could go a road which would be Smooth & leads to the Southward but we would be 2 days without water and no game on that road. but he could Show us a hilley rough roud [rout] over the mountains to the north of the River which would take us in 15 days to Salt water, or in 10 days to a large fork of the River, where it would be navagable. So we concluded to go that roud

	Patrick Gass ...Captain Clarke and his party returned, after having been down the river about 12 miles. They found it was not possible to go down either by land or water without much risk and trouble. The water is so rapid and the bed of the river so rocky, that going by water appeared impracticable; and the mountains so amazingly high, steep and rocky, that it seemed impossible to go along the river by land. ... we all turned back up the river again, poor and uncomfortable enough, as we had nothing to eat, and there is no game. We proceeded up about 3 miles, and supperless went to rest for the night.

	William Clark I wrote a letter to Capt. Lewis ... Stating two plans one of which for us to pursue &c. and despatched one man & horse and directed the party to get ready to march back, The plan I stated to Capt. Lewis if he agrees with me we shall adopt is. to procure as many horses (one for each man) if possible and to hire my present guide who I sent on to him to interigate thro' the Intptr. and proceed on by land to Some navagable part of the Columbia River, or to the Ocean, depending on what provisions we can procure by the gun aded to the Small Stock we have on hand depending on our horses as the last resort.

	William Clark proceded on thro' thickets in which we were obliged to Cut a road, over rockey hill Sides where our horses were in [per]peteal danger of Slipping to their certain distruction & up & Down Steep hills, where Several horses fell, Some turned over, and others Sliped down Steep hill Sides, one horse Crippeled & 2 gave out. Some rain at night.

	William Clark horses verry Stiff . . . at dusk it began to Snow, at 3 oClock Some rain. ... we met with a great misfortune, in haveing our last Th[er]mometer broken, by accident ... rain which termonated in a Sleet

	Patrick Gass we pursued our journey up the creek, which still continued fatiguing almost beyond description. The country is very mountainous and thickly timbered; ... Having gone nine miles we halted for dinner, which was composed of a small portion of flour we had along and the last of our pork, which was but a trifle. -- Our hunters had not killed any thing.

	Joseph Whitehouse ... we could not talk with them as much as we wish, for all that we Say has to go through 6 languages before it gits to them and it is hard to make them understand all that we Say. these Savages has the Strangest language of any we have ever Seen. they appear to us to have an Empeddiment in their Speech or a brogue or bur on their tongue but they are the likelyest and honestst Savages we have ever yet Seen.

	See how poor and torn their clothes are . . . they did not take with the robes Chief Three Eagles had given them. Perhaps the white men did not understand they were gifts . . . – Pierre Pichette and Sophie Molese, Salish Elders

	William Clark we [were] detained untill 8 oClock to thaw the covering for the baggage ... Groun[d] covered with Snow, ... we met a part[y] of the Tushepau nation, of 33 Lodges about 80 men 400 Total and at least 500 horses, ... they [are] Stout & light complected more So than Common for Indians, ... I was the first white man who ever wer on the waters of this river.

	John Ordway this creek has got to be a Small handsome River and gentle current we have to wade it often and find it as deep as the horses bellys.

	Meriwether Lewis As our guide informes that we should leave the river at this place and the weather appearing settled and fair I determined to halt the next day rest our horses and take some scelestial Observations. We called this Creek Travellers rest . . . a fine bould clear runing stream.

	Joseph Whitehouse ... assended a high rough mountain rockey & a verry rough trail to follow. we proced. on along the ridge which was covred with pitch pine timber. night came on and we had to go through the thickets of pine and over logs &c. untill about 10 oClock at in the evening before we could git any water. then descended a Steep part of the mountain down on the Creek which we left at noon, and Camped on the bank of the creek where we had Scarsely room to Sleep. Came 17 1/2 miles this day. Saw high Mountains to the South of us covred with Snow, which appears to lay their all the year round. Scarsely any feed for our horses.

	Joseph Whitehouse ... passed a warm Spring, which nearly boiled where it Issued out of the rocks a Short distance below the natives has dammed it up to bathe themselves in, and the water in that place is considerable above blood heat. it runs out in Sundry places and Some places cooler than others. Several of us drank of the water, it has a little sulp[h]ur taste and verry clear. these Springs are very beautiful to See, and we think them to be as good to bathe in &c. as any other ever yet found in the United States.

	Joseph Whitehouse ... passed a warm Spring, which nearly boiled where it Issued out of the rocks a Short distance below the natives has dammed it up to bathe themselves in, and the water in that place is considerable above blood heat. it runs out in Sundry places and Some places cooler than others. Several of us drank of the water, it has a little sulp[h]ur taste and verry clear. these Springs are very beautiful to See, and we think them to be as good to bathe in &c. as any other ever yet found in the United States.

	William Clark Several horses Sliped and roled down Steep hills which hurt them verry much the one which Carried my desk & Small trunk Turned over & roled down a mountain for 40 yards & lodged against a tree, broke the desk the horse escaped and appeared but little hurt Some others verry much hurt, ... when we arrived at the top As we Conceved, we could find no water and Concluded to Camp and make use of the Snow we found on the top to cook the remns. of our Colt & make our Supe, evening verry cold and cloudy. ... nothing killed to day except 2 Phests. From this mountain I could observe high ruged mountains in every direction as far as I could see.

	William Clark began to Snow about 3 hours before Day and continued all day the Snow in the morning 4 inches deep on the old Snow, and by night we found it from 6 to 8 inches deep, ... I have been wet and as cold in every part as I ever was in my life, indeed I was at one time fearfull my feet would freeze in the thin Mockirsons which I wore, ... men all wet cold and hungary. Killed a Second Colt which we all Suped hartily on and thought it fine meat. to describe the road of this day would be a repition of yesterday except the Snow which made it much worse

	Joseph Whitehouse the mare which owned the colt, which we killed, went back & led 4 more horses back to where we took dinner yesterday. the Snow melted So that the water Stood in the trail over our mockasons in Some places. verry Slippery bad travvelling for our horses. we assended verry high mountains verry rockey. ... we being hungry obledged us to kill the other Sucking colt to eat. one of the hunters chased a bear in a mountn. but killed nothing. we expect that their is game near a head. we hear wolves howl & Saw Some deer Sign &c.

	William Clark The want of provisions together with the dificul[t]y of passing those emence mountains dampened the sperits of the party which induced us to resort to Some plan of reviving ther sperits. ... Encamped on a bold running Creek passing to the left which I call Hungery Creek as at that place we had nothing to eate.

	Patrick Gass Having heard nothing from our hunters, we again supped upon some of our portable soup. The men are becoming lean and debilitated, on account of the scarcity and poor quality of the provisions on which we subsist: our horses' feet are also becoming very sore. We have however, some hopes of getting soon out of this horrible mountainous desert, as we have discovered the appearance of a valley or level part of the country about 40 miles ahead. When this discovery was made there was as much joy and rejoicing among the corps, as happens among passengers at sea, who have experienced a dangerous and protracted voyage, when they first discover land on the long looked for coast.

	William Clark The want of provisions together with the dificul[t]y of passing those emence mountains dampened the sperits of the party which induced us to resort to Some plan of reviving ther sperits. ... Encamped on a bold running Creek passing to the left which I call Hungery Creek as at that place we had nothing to eate.

	Meriwether Lewis the pleasure I now felt in having tryumphed over the rockey Mountains and decending once more to a level and fertile country where there was every rational hope of finding a comfortable subsistence for myself and party can be more readily conceived than expressed, nor was the flattering prospect of the final success of the expedition less pleasing.

	Maybe too, these were the people about whom prophecy spoke. One day strangers would come with a paper. The paper would tell them that one day their name could go into a book. It might be the Bible, or an allotment book, for prophecy also said the people would draw lines saying this is yours, this is mine.æTold by Allen Pinkham, Ni Mii Pu

	William Clark I met 3 (Indian) boys, when they saw me [they] ran and hid themselves, ... They call themselves Cho pun-nish or Pierced I find myself verry unwell all the evening from eateing the fish & roots too freely

	William Clark (First draft) several 8 or 9 men sick, Capt. Lewis sick all Complain of a Lax & heaviness at the stomack, I gave rushes Pills to several hot day. (Second draft) Capt. Lewis scercely able to ride on a jentle horse which was furnished by the Chief, Several men So unwell that they were Compelled to lie on the Side of the road for Some time others obliged to be put on horses. I gave rushes Pills to the Sick this evening.

	Patrick Gass All the men are now able to work; but the greater number are very weak. To save them from hard labour, we have adopted the Indian method of burning out the canoes.

	Patrick Gass In the evening, in passing through a rapid, I had my canoe stove, and she sunk. Fortunately the water was not more than waist deep, so our lives and baggage were saved, though the latter was wet.

	Meriwether Lewis The Spurs of the Rocky Mountains which were in view from the high plain today were perfectly covered with snow. the Indians inform us that the snow is yet so deep on the mountains that we shall not be able to pass them untill the next full moon or about the first of June; others set the time at still a more distant period. this [is] unwelcom inteligence to men confined to a diet of horsebeef and roots, and who are as anxious as we are to return to the fat plains of the Missouri and thence to our native homes.

	Patrick Gass The natives treat us very well; the Officers practice as physicians among their sick, and they gave them a very handsome mare and colt. ... We now find a great many more men among the Indians than when we went down last fall; and several chiefs, which had then been out at war.

	Eveyone talked. Chiefs, talk, Lewis talk, Clark talk, Twisted Hair talk, red Bear talk, my father papa talk, Sacajawea talk, her white husband talk, and all make presents to other people.æMany Wounds the younger, Ni Mii Pu.

	Meriwether Lewis ... we sent Reubin Feilds in surch of the horse which the indians had given us to kill. ... he returned with the horse and we killed and butchered him;.... we also sent Sergt. ordway and 2 men this morning over to Lewis's river for salmon, ...

	Patrick Gass ... three men, who had gone over to Lewis's river, about two and an half days' journey distant, to get some fish, returned with a few very good salmon, and some roots which they bought at the different villages of the natives, which they passed. One of these men got two Spanish dollars from an Indian for an old razor. They said they got the dollars from about a Snake Indian's neck they had killed some time ago. There are several dollars among these people which they get in some way.

	William Clark we made a digest of the Indian Nations West of the Rocky Mountains which we have seen and of whom we have been repeated[ly] informed by those with whom we were conversent. they amount by our estimate to 69.000 (about 80,000) Souls.

	John Ordway we proceeded on ... up a high mountain. when we got about half way up it the ground was covred with Snow 3 or 4 feet deep as we ascended higher it got deeper untill we got to the top of the mountain where it was 12 or 15 feet in . . . if we could even find the road which is impossable without a guide as their is no sign of a road or trail here so we halted on the top of this mountain and our officers consulted on what was best to do. at length determined to our Sorrow to return to where we might git feed for our horses. ... set in to hailling & raining at this time verry cold and disagreeable. so we turned back much against our expectations when we started went back on hungry creek & followed up it about 2 miles & Camped for the night.

	Meriwether Lewis ... in the event of their not being able to detain the indians, that Sergt. Gass, R & J. Feilds and Wiser should accompany the indians by whatever rout they might take to travellers rest and blaize the trees well as they proceeded and wait at that place untill our arrival with the party. ... Drewyer brought with him three indians who had consented to accompany us to the falls of the Missouri for the compensation of two guns.

	John Ordway we proceeded on ... up a high mountain. when we got about half way up it the ground was covred with Snow 3 or 4 feet deep as we ascended higher it got deeper untill we got to the top of the mountain where it was 12 or 15 feet in . . . if we could even find the road which is impossable without a guide as their is no sign of a road or trail here so we halted on the top of this mountain and our officers consulted on what was best to do. at length determined to our Sorrow to return to where we might git feed for our horses. ... set in to hailling & raining at this time verry cold and disagreeable. so we turned back much against our expectations when we started went back on hungry creek & followed up it about 2 miles & Camped for the night.

	Meriwether Lewis from this place we had an extensive view of these stupendous mountains principally covered with snow like that on which we stood; we were entirely surrounded by those mountains from which to one unacquainted with them it would have seemed impossible ever to have escaped; in short without the assistance of our guides I doubt much whether we who had once passed them could find our way to Travellers rest in their present situation for the marked trees on which we had placed considerable reliance are much fewer and more difficult to find than we had apprehended. ... we encamped for the night having traveled 28 miles over these mountains without releiving the horses from their packs or their having any food. ... our meat being exhausted we issued a pint of bears oil to a mess which with their boiled roots made an agreeable dish.

	Meriwether Lewis warm springs ... the prinsipal spring is about the temperature of the warmest baths used at the hot springs in Virginia. In this bath which had been prepared by the Indians by stoping the run with stone and gravel, I baithed and remained in 19 minutes, it was with dificulty I could remain thus long and it caused a profuse sweat two other bold springs adjacent to this are much warmer, their heat being so great as to make the hand of a person smart extreemly when immerced. ... both the men and indians amused themselves with the use of a bath this evening. I observed that the indians after remaining in the hot bath as long as they could bear it ran and plunged themslves into the creek the water of which is now as cold as ice can make it; after remaining here a few minutes they returned again to the warm bath, repeating this transision several times but always ending with the warm bath.

	William Clark Weather Diary Decended the mountain to Travellers rest leaveing these tremendious mountains behind us, in passing of which we have experienced cold and hunger of which I shall ever remember. ... our food was horses of which we eate three.