Clark: June 28, 1806

Saturday June 28th 1806 This morning we Colected our horses and Set out as
usial after an early brackfast. we continued our rout along the dividig
ridge over knobs & through deep hollows passed our encampmt of the 14
Sept. last near the forks of the road leaving the one on which we had Came
one leading to the fishery to our right imediately on the dividing ridge.
at 12 oClock we arived at an untimberd side of a mountain with a southern
aspect just above the fishery here we found an abundance of grass for our
horses as the guids had informed us. as our horses were hungary and much
fatiegued and from information no other place where we could obtain grass
for them within the reach of this evening’s travel we deturmined to remain
at this place all night haveing come 13 m. only. the water was distant
from our Encampment we therefore melted Snow and used the water. the whole
of the rout of this day was over deep Snow. we find the travelling on the
Snow not worse than without it, as easy passage it givs us over rocks and
fallen timber fully compensates for the inconvenience of sliping, certain
it is that we travel considerably faster on the snow than without it. the
Snow Sinks from 2 to 3 inches with a horse, is course and firm and seems
to be formed of the larger particles the surface of the snow sees to be
rather harder in the morning than after the Sun Shines on it a fiew hours,
but it is not in that situation so dense as to prevent the horses from
obtaining good foothold. I killed a Small black pheasant; this bird is
generally found in the Snowey region of the mountains and feeds on the
leaves of the pine & fir. there is a Species of Small huckleberry
common to the hights of the mountains, and a Species of grass with a broad
succulent leaf which looks not unlike a flag; of the latter the horses are
very fond, but as yet it is generally under the Snow, or mearly makeing
it’s appearance as it confined to the upper part of the highest mountains.