Lewis and Clark journal entry from June 28, 1806. Lewis wrote, “we continued our rout along the dividing ridge
passing one very deep hollow and at the distance of six miles passed
our encampment of the [15th
] of September [1805]. . . . about eleven
O’clock we arrived at an untimbered side of a mountain with a
7
Southern aspect just above the fishery here we found an abundance
of grass for our horses as the Indians had informed us. as our horses
were very 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 determined
to remain at this place
all night having come
13 miles only.”
“I observed a range of
high mountains
Covered with Snow . . . Their top bald or void of timber. . . . From this
mountain I could observe high ruged mountains in every direction as far as
I could See.”
— Captain William Clark<br><br>Map: <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd606365.pdf" target="" rel="">https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd606365.pdf</a><br><br>Credit to: <a href="http://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/nez-perce/lewis-clark-lolo-trail.pdf" target="" rel="">http://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/nez-perce/lewis-clark-lolo-trail.pdf</a>
Wendover Ridge Rest Site
Roughly one and a half to two miles south of this point is the Wendover Ridge Rest Site. Lewis and Clark expedition stopped there September 15, 1805. Stopping to wait two hours for those at the rear to catch up, Clark
wrote in his journal:
“about 2 hours the rear of
the party came up much
fatigued & horses more
So, 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.”<br><br>Map of the hiking trail: <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd606365.pdf" title="Link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd606365.pdf">https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd606365.pdf</a><br><br>Credit to: <a href="http://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/nez-perce/lewis-clark-lolo-trail.pdf" target="" rel="" title="Link: http://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/nez-perce/lewis-clark-lolo-trail.pdf">http://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/nez-perce/lewis-clark-lolo-trail.pdf</a>
Snowbank Camp
Lewis and Clark journal entry from September 15, 1805. Expedition members completed the difficult climb up Wendover
Ridge and finally arrived back on the Lolo Trail. Clark described their
situation: “[W]hen 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 remn. of our Colt & make our Supe,
evening verry cold and cloudy." They awoke to four inches of new
snow the next morning.<br><br>Credit to:<a href="http://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/nez-perce/lewis-clark-lolo-trail.pdf" target="" rel="">http://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/nez-perce/lewis-clark-lolo-trail.pdf</a>
Cayuse Junction
Cayuse Junction features multiple dispersed campsites
Bear oil and Root
Lewis and Clark journal entry from June 27, 1806. Lewis wrote, “[We] arrived at our encampment of September [16,
1805]. . . and again ascended to the dividing ridge on which we
continued nine miles when the ridge became lower and we arrived at a
situation very similar to our encampment of the last evening tho’ the
ridge was somewhat higher and the snow had not been so long
desolved of course there was but little grass. here 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.”<br><br>Credit to: <a href="http://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/nez-perce/lewis-clark-lolo-trail.pdf" target="" rel="">http://npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/1/nez-perce/lewis-clark-lolo-trail.pdf</a>
iNaturalist Observations
