Lewis: August 4, 1805

August 4th 1805. Set out very early this morning and steered S. E. by E.
about 4 Miles when we passed a bould runing creek about 12 yards wide the
water could and remarkably clear, we then changed our course to S. E.
passing obliquely across a valley which boar nearly E leaving the valley
which we had pursued for the 2 precedeing days. at the distance of 3 miles
we passed a handsome little river which passes through this valley; it is
about 30 yards wide affords a considerable quantity of water and I believe
it may be navigated some miles. I then changed my rout to S. W. passed a
high plain which lyes between the vallies and returned to the S. valley,
in passing which I fell in with a river about 45 yards wide which I waideg
and then continued my rout down to it’s junction with the river just
mentioned, and from thence to the entrance of the creek which falls in
about 2 miles below; still continuing my rout down this stream about three
miles further and about 2 M. below our encampment of the last evening this
river forms a junction with a river 50 yards wide which comes from the N.
W. and falling into the S. valley runs parrallel with the middle fork
about 12 miles. this is a bould rappid & clear stream it’s bed so
broken and obstructed by gravel bars and Islands that it appeared to me
impossible to navigate it with safety. the middle fork is gentle and
possesses about 2/3ds as much water as this rappid stream, it’s cours so
far as I can observe it is about S. W. and it appears to be navigable; its
water is much warmer than that of the rappid fork and somewhat turbid,
from which I concluded that it had it’s source at a greater distance in
the mountains and passed through an opener country than the other. under
this impression I wrote a note to Capt. Clark recommending his taking the
middle fork provided he should arrive at this place before my return which
I expect will be the day after tomorrow. the note I left on a pole at the
forks of the river and having refreshed ourselves and eat heartily of some
venison we killed this morning I continued my rout up the Stard side of
the N. W. fork, determining to pursue it untill 12 OC. the next day and
then pass over to the middle fork and return to their junction or untill I
met Capt. Clark. we encamped this evening near the point where the river
leaves the valley and enters the mountains, having traveled about 20
miles.-

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Sunday August 4th 1805. Set out very early this morning and Steered S. E.
by E. 4 M. when we pased a bold runing Creek 12 yds. wide, the water of
which was clear and very cold. it appears to be formed by four dranes from
the snowey mountains to our left. after passing this creek we changed our
direction to S. E. passing obliquely across a valley which boar E leaving
the valley we had pursued for the two peceeding days. at the distance of 3
Ms. we passed a handsome little river which meanders through this valley;
it is about 30 yds wide, affords a considerable quantity of water and
appears as if it might be navigated some miles. the currant is not rapid
nor the water very clear; the banks are low and the bed formed of stone
and gravel. I now changed my rout to S. W. passed a high plain which lies
betwen the valleies and returned to the South valley, in passing which I
fell in with a river about 45 yds. wide gravley bottom gentle currant
waist deep and water of a whitish blue tinge. this stream we waded and
continued our rout down it to the entrance of the river just mentioned
about 3/4 of a mile. still continuing down we passed the entrance of the
creek about 2 miles lower down; and at the distance of three miles further
arrived at it’s junction with a river 50 yds. wide which Comes from the S.
W. and falling into the South valley runs parallel with the middle fork
about 12 miles before it forms a junction. I now found that our encampment
of the last evening was about 11/2 miles above the entrance of this large
river on Stard. this is a bold rappid and Clear Stream, it’s bed so much
broken and obstructed by gravley bars and it’s waters so much subdivided
by Islands that it appears to me utterly impossible to navigate it with
safety. the middle fork is gentle and possesses about 2/3rds as much water
as this stream. it’s course so far as I can observe it is about S. W., and
from the opening of the valley I beleive it still bears more to the West
above it may be safely navigated. it’s water is much warmer then the rapid
fork and it’s water more turbid; from which I conjecture that it has it’s
sources at a greater distance in the mountains and passes through an
opener country than the other. under this impression I wrote a note to
Capt Clark, recommending his taking the middle fork povided he should
arrive at this place before my return, which I expect will be the day
after tomorrow. this note I left on a pole at the forks of the river, and
having refreshed ourselves and eat heartily of some venison which we
killed this morning we continued our rout up the rapid fork on the Stard
side, resolving to pursue this stream untill noon tomorrow and then pass
over to the middle fork and come down it to their junction or untill I
meet Capt Clark. I have seen no recent Indian sign in the course of my
rout as yet. Charbono complains much of his leg, and is the cause of
considerable detention to us. we encamped on the river bank near the place
at which it leaves the valley and enters the mountain having traveled
about 23 miles. we saw some Antelopes deer Grains, gees, and ducks of the
two species common to this country. the summer duck has ceased to appear,
nor do I beleive it is an inhabitant of this part of the country. the
timber &c is as heretofore tho there is more in this valley on the
rapid fork than we have seen in the same extent on the river since we
entered this valley. the Indians appear on some parts of the river to have
distroyed a great proportion of the little timber which there is by seting
fire to the bottoms. This morning Capt. Clark set out at sunrise, and sent
two hunters ahead to kill some meat. at 8 A.M. he arrived at my camp of
the 2ed inst. where he breakfasted; here he found a note which I had left
for him at that place informing him of the occurences of my rout &c.
the river continued to be crouded with Islands, rapid and shoaly. these
shoals or riffles succeeded each other every 3 or four hundred yards; at
those places they are obliged to drag the canoes over the stone there not
being water enough to float them, and betwen the riffles the current is so
strong that they are compelled to have cecourse to the cord; and being
unable to walk on the shore for the brush wade in the river along the
shore and hawl them by the cord; this has increased the pain and labour
extreemly; their feet soon get tender and soar by wading and walking over
the stones. these are also so slipry that they frequently get severe
falls. being constantly wet soon makes them feble also. their hunters
killed 2 deer today and some gees and ducks wer killed by those who
navigated the canoes. they saw deer antelopes Grains beaver Otter &c.
Capt. Clark’s ancle became so painfull to him that he was unable to walk.This
evening they encamped on the Stard. side in a bottom of cottonwood timber
all much fatiegued.