Nee Me Poo Trail #40 to Castle Butte

Inscription of the post:<br><i>This trail so old it used from time of creation by Nez Perce people to go to Montana to hunt Buffalo and some time to war other tribes of Indians, when Red Bear come to Indians Post Office on this trail, he tell Lewis - Clark and all, stop here, this is very place Indians come to send message - and to get Indian spirit medicine and do Indian worship in Indian custom - Here is where the Monster - the Big Coyote come to make powerful medicine for Indian...."&nbsp;</i>-- Sam Lott - Many Wounds<br><br><i>"Tribal members are still using the trail as they did for thousands of years and generations. The are still hunting, fishing, picking berries, and gathering plants for food and medicine."</i><span>&nbsp;-- Sandi McFarland 2003<br></span><br>Indian Post office is still a sacred place to be honored and respected.<br><br><i>"It's like walking on sacred ground."</i><span>&nbsp;-- Mylie Lawyer 2002<br></span><br>Lonesome Cove Camp, Cape. William Clark, September 16, 1805<br><i>"... Steep hills Side &amp; falling timber Continue to day, and a thickly timbered Countrey of 8 different kinds of pine,</i><i>which are So covered with snow, that in passing thro them we are continually covered with Snow, 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 mocker sons which I wore, after a Short delay in the middle of the Day, I took one man and proceeded on as fast as I could about 6 miles to a Small branch passing to the right, halted and built fires for the party agains their arrival which was at Dusk verry cold and much fatigued we Encamped at this branch in a thickly timbered bottom which was Scercely large enough for us to lie leavil, men all wet cold and hungary. Killed a Second Colt which we all Suped hartily on and thought it fine meat."<br></i><br>Credit to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=140783" target="" rel="">https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=140783</a>&nbsp;for the description.

Lewis and Clark journal entry from September 16, 1805. Private Whitehouse described this campsite: “towards evening we
descended the mountain down in a lonesome cove on a creek where we
Camped in a thicket of Spruce pine &amp; bolsom fir timber. all being
tired &amp; hungry, obledged us to kill another colt and eat the half of it
this evening. it has quit Snowing this evening, but continues chilley
and cold.” Clark wrote, “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 mockersons
which I wore. . . .”<br><br>Credit to:&nbsp;<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>

Sitting at 6,447 above sea level in the Clearwater Mountains. A natural rock formation formed by erosion.

Lewis and Clark journal entry from September 17, 1805. Private Whitehouse noted: “Camped at a Small branch on the
mountain near a round deep Sinque hole full of water. we being
hungry obledged us to kill the other Sucking colt to eat.”<br><br>Credit to:&nbsp;<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>

<span>On June 27, 1806, the expedition proceeded east on the rugged Lolo Trail. Clark wrote, “we halted by the request of the Guides a fiew minits on an ellevated point and Smoked a pipe on this eminance the nativs have raised a conic mound of Stons of 6 or 8 feet high and erected a pine pole of 15 feet long. from hence they informed us that when passing over with their families some of the men were usually Sent on foot by the fishery at the enterance of Colt Creek in order to take fish and again meet the party at the quawmash glade on the head of Kooskoske river. from this place we had an extencive view of these Stupendeous Mountains principally Covered with Snow like that on which we Stood; we were entirely Serounded by those mountains from which to one unacquainted with them it would have Seemed impossible ever to have escaped […] after haveing Smoked the pipe and Contemplating this Scene Sufficient to have dampened the Spirits of any except Such hardy travellers as we have become, we continued our march.”<br></span><br>Smoking place is located within Clearwater nation forest along the motorway. Located Up the hill on the ridge.